What I learned at school today...

About 23 years ago I was in Duluth for the weekend and was interviewed by the news... Rock Hudson had just announced that he had Aids and the Duluth news wanted to know what I thought about it. I remember saying that I really didn't know too much other than you can get it from having sex and you can die from it. I remember saying that maybe this would scare everyone into taking precautions and that condom sales would skyrocket.

Today my patient at clinicals was a 46 year old male who was HIV+ and was suffering from end-stage Aids. After I learned who my patient was yesterday afternoon, I had to give myself a crash course on HIV and Aids and everything that goes along with it. Not to mention I had to make drug cards for all the drugs he was taking (25+). I felt sorry for myself the whole time because I was tired from staying up late the night before studying for my test and I was exhausted.

I now feel guilty for complaining and completely thankful that I have my health.

This kind, grateful, and well-mannered man would probably love to spend 10 minutes in my exhausted shoes. The sad thing about Aids is that you just don't suffer from the virus; the virus affects all of your systems. So anything with your body from head to toe that could go wrong, probably will. And what isn't affected by the virus, will most likely be affected by one of the tons of drugs that Aids patients are on. Even though he felt absolutely miserable, was paralyzed on one side, was in intense pain, and was in the process of going through kidney failure, he always thanked me for whatever it was I did for him. I felt privileged and honored to be his student nurse today.

On a lighter note, I was very excited today because my patient needed the flu vaccine and they were going to let me do it (I've never done this... or even have learned how to do it)! But sadly, his arms were so wasted away that his primary nurse felt that he better do it instead. Part of me was bummed... part of me was relieved!

And, before I go, one vent: I've noticed that there are quite a few doctors/surgeons from India. Now, I have nothing against people from other countries, however, if your accent is so thick that people can't understand you, and you want to work here in America in the medical field where English (for now) is the primary language, wouldn't you want to take classes that teach you to speak without the accent? In fact, shouldn't they require it? People are sick in the hospital, barely able to focus on what is being said, and then they get a doc who comes in speaking fast, low, and with a thick accent -- how are they going to possibly understand one word? My patient is a little hard of hearing (HIV even affected his hearing), it states this all over his chart. This Doc from India (not his normal doc) was making his rounds and didn't even take the time to notice that my pt was hard of hearing. So he is talking softly, fast, and with a thick accent. COME ON! Not to mention he did no assessing of any kind and never left the foot of the bed. I was PISSED OFF! That is so ridiculous! And it was one of the coldest interactions I had ever witnessed.

That's all the news from the nursing student in the north for today! Take care of yourselves!

Summer... or is it winter?

My god, is it ever going to warm up? I am so anxious to get outside and do stuff in my yard, but it is just way too cold and gloomy! I waited all winter for this?

My sophomore year (again) is done. My nursing classes were frustrating, but went well (got an A so I really don't have to much to complain about, do I?). I had a brief taste of clinicals at Benedictine Health Center on the sub-acute floor. My first patient only had 2 minutes of exposure to me and then he got the news that he had an untreatable obstructed bowel and was going to die. Great start to my career.

My other classes went well as well. I got an A- in Nutrition (I was robbed!) and an A in Financial Management. Just waiting to hear about my German grade...

So far my summer vacation has been spent getting the house ready for Brandon's big Confirmation shindig. Jeff has been helping me prep the house to be painted... replacing boards and stuff. I also want to get my fireplace replaced before then and at least get the family room painted. I'd like to get new flooring put in there as well, but I just don't know if there will be enough time.

I did manage to get my front flower gardens cleaned out during the couple of warm days we did get last week. The few daffodils and muscari that the deer didn't eat are blooming nicely.

I checked the schedule for The New Adventures of Old Christine and it doesn't look like she is going to be on at all during May! Figures, now that I have all the time in the world to watch it!

Just finished watching Walk The Line. LOVED it. Joaquin Phoenix was very convincing as Johnny Cash. And I was impressed with his and Reese Witherspoon's singing. I know I'm behind in seeing it since it was released in 2005... I'm behind in a lot of things! If you haven't seen it yet, I highly recommend that you do. I found some great photos of June and Johnny if you are interested: http://www.junecartercash.com/index.html.

As a lot of you know, I am fascinated with old and often abandoned buildings as well as old things. My house is filled with old things that have been in my family, or things I have collected over the years. My newest fav is a trunk I picked up at my fav antique store in Two Harbors. I've been asked a few times why I love old things so much, and I sometimes find it hard to explain. Well, I ran across an excerpt from a book entitled No Smooshing, by Gary E. Anderson, that I thought sums up why I feel the way I do about old things pretty well. Check it out if you have a spare minute or two: http://www.streetdirectory.com/travel_guide/2674/family/the_sadness_of_old_buildings.html

Well, that's all the news for now! I apologize if I seem like I have been ignoring any of you the last several months... please know that it nothing personal; school just tends to occupy all of my time. This is why God gives students their summers off! If you want to get together with me over the summer, give me a holler!