Semester Two, Week Twelve

"Do I need to write you a doctor's note for fear of success so you don't have to take your finals?"

This is what a doctor friend of mine asked me today, after I lamented about the trials of nursing school, and what if I fail, and what if, what if, what if.......

It's true, I realized. I cannot see myself as a success. When it comes down to it, I can't see myself as an RN. Or having a BSN. Or working in a nursing capacity.

So, hence the fear of success.

But, I've got three weeks left to the semester, then I'll take seven (!!!) credits this summer, work full-time, and start up second year in the fall.

Did I learn anything this week? Sure, I learned about all the various rashes/viruses that cause them in children (except for scarlet fever; that's a bacterial infection.)

I learned about hydrocephalus, both communicating and non-communicating, meningitis, ICP, and medical emergencies in the child. Did you know if a child is unconscious for any period of time, get them to a doctor ASAP, because it doesn't matter if they were out for 30 seconds or 30 minutes; they present differently with brain bleeds and hydrocephalus than adults.

In obstetrics, we covered post-partum hemorrhages. Sounds pretty dicey, if you ask me. In fact, all of child-birth sounds dicey to me. It's a wonder anyone is born alive.

I'm pretty annoyed with myself today. I had a patient pass out on me today, and I never thought to check her pulse. I merely gave her a sternal rub, tried to rouse her, and nothing. It wasn't until after the RN and doctor arrived that I realized how idiotic I was. You think you're advancing, and then....

:(