Hey guys!

How is life? How's school? How's the fam? I don't know about you but these past few days feel like they are starting to blur together. Recently I've found myself so busy that I've been forgetting to "life".  Activities not school or work-related are not getting done! For example, I washed my laundry almost 3 weeks ago, and my clothes are still sitting a basket waiting to be folded. I keep telling myself I'll get around to it (same thing I said about cleaning my room, washing my car, and cleaning out my closest), but time is one thing I never seem to have anymore. When I do have free time I find myself catching up on much-needed sleep. 

I spent the first part of this week panicking and stress eating chipotle in anticipation of today.

Today I had a psych simulation, and if I had to describe it in one word, it would be wow. 

Just wow.

To provide a little background for my new friends, simulation is a type of clinical that nursing students have to do. This clinical experience is usually done at the college and ran by your everyday teachers. Basically you and 1-2 other students enter a room that is set up exactly like a patient room's in a real hospital. In the room there will be either an actor or, in my case, a fancy mannequin that breaths, blinks, and has a microphone for someone to speak through. This mannequin resembles a real person as they have all the same body sounds (lung sounds, heart sounds, pulse, abdominal noises), blood pressure, and places to inject shots and take blood. Your teacher provides a scenario (similar to a case study) and then with the ridiculous amount of cameras placed around the room they will watch you attempt to treat the patient (or just keep them alive).

As a 3rd-semester nursing student, I have completed quite a few simulations and spent a good amount of time in the hospital. I feel confident when providing patient care, but it's amazing how quick sim can change that. Sim always has a way of making you feel incompetent and like you know nothing. Honestly, at this point when I go to simulation, I go with zero expectations and no pride. With no expectations and pride, I no longer feel embarrassed when the teacher points out the alcohol bottle that has been hiding behind the patient this entire time or frustrated when I can't get my psych patient to talk about anything except his dog, peanut. 

Don't get me wrong.

Simulation is a great learning experience. 

But typically the learning doesn't occur until after the instructors have pointed out all of your mistakes, and you've finished stress eating chipotle for the 4th time this week. 

Today I left the simulation with my head hanging in shame and embarrassment as I ordered Chipotle online (meal #5 if your counting). You're probably thinking that I'm exaggerating (which I might) but today was definitely an all-time low. My teachers couldn't stop laughing at what happened in the patient's room and my classmates couldn't keep a straight face while we reflected on what happened today. After everything that happened today I can honestly say I learned 3 important things:

1. When dealing with a patient admitted for alcohol abuse make sure to check the ammonia level. Not the pneumonia level.
2. Don't try to bargain with a confused patient. Trust me on that. 
3. I would not survive as a psych nurse
4. Ativan is your BEST friend

My next Sim isn't for another 2 weeks. YAY! My next sim is OB related. BOO! If there's one thing I do not like doing it' is watching women suffer through labor. How any L&D nurse wants children, the world will never know. 

Until next time!