Congratulations to our 4 students graduating with Honors in Nursing; Abigail Richardson, Brad Farrell, Katie Ogden, and Stanka Thatcher. They presented the results of their honors projects at the 2012-2013 Scholars Day.
Busy-iness and Vera Bradley
It’s been entirely too long since I’ve written a post, but this semester is crazy busy! So, here’s a brief synopsis.
Recently the Junior class concluded our ICU and psych clinicals for the semester, and this week, our dreaded Care Maps are due! Always a very stressful, crazy time of the semester.
But you can’t have all of this stress without a little fun, right? This week happens to be my favorite week of the ENTIRE year (yes, more so than Christmas!). It is the week of the annual Vera Bradley Outlet Sale in Fort Wayne, Indiana! On Tuesday, I made my first of THREE planned trips to the event, with plans for two additional trips this weekend. I always have a blast going with my friends and family… And what better way to de-stress, than by wrecking your bank account with bright, colorful purses and accessories. (My friends tell it’s time for a 12-step program.)
My personal favorite bargain so far, was actually NOT a purse or a tote bag, but a pair of Vera Bradley House Slippers.
That’s pretty much the only update I have for now… I have lots of Care Mapping and Shopping to do! But here are a few pictures from The outlet sale!
Senior Nursing Trip ??? WHAT
Today the whole Junior Nursing class received news about a well waited for surprise. The whole class was sitting and waiting on lecture to begin. We realized that the schedule was set back because Professor Thompson was up with the sophomores so we all were talking. Then appeared Professor Pierce at the doorway and was soon followed by the whole Nursing Department faculty! Dean greeted us with saying she came to discuss plagiarism with us. We all knew she was kidding, so she went on to say that she was going to reveal our Senior Trip options.
The first trip revealed was a trip to Macon, Georgia to serve at a Children’s home serving the homeless, neglected, abused, and orphaned population with Professor Weller and Vincent. The second trip revealed was to Uganda with Professor Neal providing medical care to people in the villages outside Kampala. And the last trip was introduced by Dean saying hold your panties which we instantly knew it was Professor Pierce talking us to India, and our instincts were correct. There in India we will be helping with medical camps in Salem.
I know that these are all great trips and I am torn with a decision to make. I really want to travel out of the country so for me that throws out Georgia and leaves me with India or Uganda. I really would love to go both places. My thinking is that I have been to Morocco but that was not what I would consider Africa… Uganda is true Africa. BUT I have not been to that side of the world yet where India is….
Decisions Decisions….
I will let you know what my decision is in the next post 
Diagnosis: Senioritis
I think every senior nursing major can agree that we feel EXACTLY like the cat in this video. We had 3 tests today, one on Thursday and WE LEAVE FOR OUR NURSING TRIPS THIS WEEKEND!!! Pheww! Earlier in my college career, people always told me that it was going to go fast and to just enjoy it, and BOY, they weren’t kidding! This year has FLOWN by! Though our weeks are filled with tests and preparation for graduation and boards, they still seem to zoom by! We are all gradually starting to really feel like adults: signing leases, applying for big kid jobs, real furniture shopping, looking to move, and some are even getting married! It seems like just yesterday I was decorating my dorm room with lanterns, tube lights, and posters of Usher. Man, where has the time gone?!
Winter on AU’s Campus
One of my stress relievers/hobbies outside of nursing school is photography. Here are some of my favorite pictures that I took as I walked around campus (my break from studying for my Pediatric exam).
Taking Nursing To New Heights
On Thursday, the Junior Nursing students took a field trip – yes, college kids take these, too! – to Saint Vincent Anderson Regional Hospital’s helipad, to tour a StatFlight medical helicopter. These helicopters are used to transport the critically ill, or those patients requiring emergent care in a very timely manner. Time is of the essence, and often these patients need to be transported to the appropriate facility, as soon as possible. Aside from doing inner-facility transports, this helicopter can land on highways, in corn fields, and even parking lots, to assist local ambulance companies and fire departments on serious accident scenes. A flight crew consists of a three-member team: a paramedic, a registered nurse, and a pilot – all of which have extensive training, and several years of experience under their belts.
Having been an EMT for three years, I’d be lying if I said this hasn’t been an area of Nursing that has always interested me. I remember the very first time I loaded a critically ill patient into a helicopter. As morbid as it sounds, I remember thinking “this is awesome!”. It is a career that is always adrenaline driven, and comes with a certain sense of excitement.
After touring the helicopter, and talking with the flight crew, I think it is safe to say that several members of the Junior class are now thinking of taking their nursing career to “new heights”, and actively considering pursuing a career in flight nursing!
What a huge relief!
Phew today we had our Cardiac test! It was a biggie! I mean we have been studying the content since school started back up. I don’t think I agree that Professor Cary is “Scary Cary” as the sophomores call her BUT I have no doubt that her tests are scary!!! She teaches the toughest content so it is expected to be hard I guess. Such a relief to move on, now onto disasters! literally… Should be interesting we have a scenario Thursday like we were just in a disaster! Also after we get to go see the emergency hospital helicopter! Thursday should be a fun day.
I am liking the ICU vs Med Surg but I can’t really say much because our first day was a slow get the feel day and last time I just had cath lab observation. I have to say it was pretty sweet. I really want to do cardiac nursing… Even though no one had anything wrong with them 
it was still ok, cool to see the contrast dye pumping through the heart. The nurse that I followed around graduated from AU! SO there is hope haha.
I will be sure to blog later!!! Next time will be pics of disaster lab and the helicopter fun!!!
The Mind of an Engaged, Senior Nursing Student…
So to be completely honest, I’m going insane. Senior nursing student + applying for RN positions + working in Indy + lab assistant + wedding planning = complete and utter chaos. Chaos! I am used to functioning with stress…but this is a whole new level. I am loving everything I’m doing (especially wedding planning!) but I can’t keep up with it all. I have a wonderful mother who is getting most of the big wedding plans done, like talking to the church and booking venues. I have yet to pick a bridal party…or dresses…or even save the dates…or anything! I am both scared and excited for my future. I will be applying for RN positions very soon and it’s terrifying. Thank goodness I can still keep up with my school work (which is the most important thing). My fiance and I have to figure out where we will be living once we’re married. However, we can’t do that until we know where I will be working and where he will be for grad school. I also have wonderful grandparents who are letting me live with them once my lease here at school is up and before my wedding in November.
I have an amazing support system. I wouldn’t be able to do anything without them. My friends and family helping with wedding plans and my fiance (who thinks I’m nuts, by the way, for freaking out about the wedding. HE thinks he could plan a wedding in a month! Don’t get me started…boys just don’t know anything) Anyways, he makes sure I don’t absolutely lose my head. I really am loving every second of my life right now… it’s just a bit crazy
Sorry about the rambling – I just needed to get it all out, and why not share it with you all!
Thanks for reading my crazy thoughts!
Kayla
Part 2:
Continuation of my last entry:
Christmas break: I wanted to get as many hours in as I could at the hospital, so I decided to sacrifice having a big chunk of time back in Ohio (where my parents live) and just have a weekend or two home.
While in Ohio, I got the chance to spend a lot of solid time with my family and finally get to see my older brother (he is currently in the police academy and we have COMPLETELY opposite schedules). As promised earlier, here are a few more pics-
That first pic is of my brother and I “sledding”- I’m driving and he’s the one eating snow and the second is of us carrying on a family tradition. For the past 22 years (give or take 
), I have gotten on my Dad’s shoulders to put the angel on top of the Christmas tree. This year, he decided that it would probably be best if he passed on the torch to someone a bit younger so my brother Mitch stepped in. Oh, and that’s Clair, our chocolate lab trying to help too.
Unfortunately all good things have to come to an end, and classes resumed in mid/late January. Since then, the whole senior class has been buckling down and focusing on the prize (graduation). One of the rather large and exciting opportunities that stands between us all and graduation is the chance to go on an intercultural trip through the nursing department. We all were able to choose where we wanted to spend our 2 week adventure with our options being: Belize, Chicago/ Indianapolis, and Uganda. Soooo In April, I’ll be traveling across the world to Uganda !! I. CAN. NOT. WAIT! The one and only down fall with that though is the slew of vaccinations and medications that we are required to get prior to going. Oh well, I’d rather feel crummy from the meds than get typhoid or yellow fever (yikes!)
Goodness, I need to get going on some homework (I’ve procrastinated far too long, good ol’ Senioritis), but I really will try to write more! Until then.
-peace
Nearing the end!
I’ve come to realize that I am quite possibly one of the worst bloggers ever. Not only do I never know what to write about, but I haven’t even attempted since November…whoops! Nonetheless, here is. Before I write about what I have been up to currently, let me make up for my slacking and fill you in on a few things since November (I’ll even add some pictures to spice it up a bit)
After Thanksgiving break and the beloved Black Friday adventures, it was back to the grind in hopes of making it through finals week and to our LAST Christmas break…ever. I’ve been blessed to have a wonderful study buddy, friend, partner in crime, and now roommate to spend endless hours with in preparation for exams over the last 3 years. We’ve made it a tradition that every weekend before a big test, we clear our schedules and lock ourselves in our house all weekend, plowing over notes, quizzing each other, and coming up with ridiculous ways to remember various material. Strangely, we have both come to love these weekends. They usually they consist an unhealthy amount of coffee, not showering all weekend (go ahead and judge, we don’t care), numerous pictures of goofy faces, alternating between different sweatpants, and a disgusting amount of laughter! Here are a few of our favorite pics:
We finally both made it to the long awaited Christmas break and got a chance to relax a bit and hang out with our families.
Unfortunately I’m not tech-savvy (or patient) enough to figure out how add multiple pictures so that they look somewhat organized, so be looking for a part 2 to this post.