Major: Nursing
Home-town: Started Ivy Tech Community College after attending a small high school
Goals: To be an surgery nurse, helping people everyday
Favorite part of Ivy Tech Community College: Personal attention and small class sizes 

April 25, 2008

This semester is coming to an end and I have registered for my summer semester. The nursing department is rearranging the schedule so I don't have a solid one yet but I know that I will be in psychology and Complex family. In the fall I will have Med/Surg 3 and I will be done in December. I am nervous becuase we have to be at clinicals at 6:00 in the morning and about the facility we will be at. Again, I am not sure yet what my schedule is but I will let you.

The trip to Indy was fun. I drove up with a group of friends and we stayed at the Columbia Club the night before. I didn't sleep very well, I never can anywhere but my own bed. We ate at PF Chang's for supper and it was good. We also went bowling at a place called Jillians. The State Boards was very intimidating and there was a lot of people with disciplinary hearings. Most of the hearings we saw were people with a history such as a DUI trying to get their license back to normal status. Afterwards,we ate at the Spaghetti factory for lunch and headed back home. We had a test the next day we had to study for. That was not fun, especially after having very little sleep. Chat with ya later!

April 11, 2008

I got to experience "new life" at clinicals. I was able to go to labor and delivery at Regional to see a c-section delivery and a vaginal delivery of two different baby boys. It was a great experience to see and learn what actually occurs in the process. I also was able to go to surgery and see an elderly women get plaque removed from her carotid artery. I didn't actually get to see the plaque get removed but I saw the process up till then. The artery was the size of my pinky around.

I am in the process of possibly getting an SNA (student nursing associate) job at Union still. I have applied and am going to the open interview session next Friday. I really want this job to develop some additional experience and build my knowledge and confidence. Wish me luck.

Next week we are going to the Indiana State Board of Nursing and watch how they do what they do. It is like a court hearing about different nurses who did something against their license. Basically, the license and life is on the line and an be removed. It looks like it is going to be a long day too.

March 28, 2008
This week has been a crazy week. I have become so stressed out that I have had a stiff neck and a headache almost every day. This rotation of courses involves lots of papers and presentation. They are not hard; it just takes a lot time.

OB/ PEDS has been a very big learning experience for me since I have no kids and all. I am so proud of myself I got the highest grade in the class  on our first OB exam. I was pretty shocked.

I have been trying to get a job as an SNA which is a student nursing assistant. I have been playing phone tag with the lady in charge. Ibelieve it will help me learn more and become more confident. We'll seewhat happens I guess.

March 14, 2008

Spring break is unfortunately over. I didn't go to Florida to visit my mom like I normally do. I hope to go after this semester before the summer semester starts. I did not do much during break which was nice. I had to baby sit a couple of days and I went out to eat a few times. I got my hair colored and cut and started tanning. I felt like I needed a makeover during the break since I didn't go anywhere.

I finally set my wedding date since we have been engaged for almost three years now and all. I decided May 2, 2009, I will be graduated in December 2008 so by then I hope to have been working for a few months and developed some benefits. I also hope by then we will have our place at least almost  built or a modular put in.

I hope everyone else had a good break. I start my new rotation of OB/PEDS classes next week so I will update you how it goes.

February 26, 2008

I have all most completed my Med Surg 2 course. I have one more test this week and it is my final. There is so much material to go over I don't know where to start. I start OB/PEDS rotation next week. Med Surg 2 was a little bit more difficult but I made it. Clinicals are over and it was a lot of fun. I wish we could have had a lot more time with the hands on things. I did learn a lot and got to see lots of interesting situations though. I am so going to miss Union's chocolate chip cookies they have in the cafeteria. They are soft and gooey all the time. MMmmmm...... I will be at Regional in Terre Haute during OB/PEDS rotation. I'll let you know how it goes.

I had to do a presentation for clinicals and it was hard to get everything else done at the same time. I had a partner and our presentation was a type 1 Diabetes Mellitus patient who received a below the knee amputation.

We had to provide post op patient teaching and the types of prosthesis to use. My partner and I did a good job and received all points possible. I am so glad it is over. One less thing on my list to do. Spring Break is coming up and I am so ready for it. I won't be going to Florida this break to see my mom like I usually do. I hope to job shadow a nurse at Union.

The nurse I want to shadow was very nice and helpful during our clinicals and I hope to learn a lot one on one. Maybe I'll get to visit my mom after this semester before we start our summer semester. Just think after this semester I only have two more to go. It is crazy to think this semester is almost over. I hope everyone has a good spring break.

February 6, 2008

Things are going great in the nursing program. I am really enjoying being at the hospital. I have given two pneumonia vaccines so far and learned a lot from the hands on experience with everything. I also have learned a lot by observing various things. This week is our last week on our current floor. Next week we switch floors with the other group for two and half weeks and then we are done. After that, I start OB/Peds. and may be somewhere else for clinicals.

I was so excited here recently because I got an A on my second test in Med Surg 2. I didn't so good on the first test because I wasn't sure what to expect and didn't really know how to study the best way. I made up for it though. We generally have a test every week and a quiz. I can't believe its already almost midway through the semester. Before you know it will be spring break. I am ready for another break, how about you?

Well, I will chat with you all later. I will let you know how the transition goes to the other floor. By the way, my car is great and I love it!

January 3, 2008

Hello everyone! This break from school was much needed. I had the best Christmas ever. My fiance surprised me with a 2004 silver Dodge Stratus R/T that I just love. It only has 39,000 miles on it and is a 4 door with a sunroof. Guess what?? It has air conditioning and it runs...quietly!! My old car was given to him to drive to work and back so he can save his money and gas. Although, it is needing work. I also got some cute clothes that I really needed, things for my car, and just a bunch of little nick-nacs. Christmas was great! I also went to visit my mom in Florida for ten days. When I arrived we stayed in Tampa and got pedicures and went to this Aqua Marine Aquarium in Clearwater. It was small but it had lots of neat things. We seen sea otters, different sea turtles, stingrays, bottle-nose dolphins, and lots of other smaller fish. I had a great time! The new semester is almost here. Good luck everyone and I hope you all had a great break and happy holidays!

December 13, 2007

I have now completed my first semester in the nursing program and it wasn't easy but I made it. Next semester I am only 11 credits. I had to take a lousy 1 credit course online in order for me to be full time for financial aid and stay on insurance. Hopefully it is not a hassle because I will be gone all day everyday. I have class on Monday and Friday; clinicals on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

Now that school is out I don't know what to do since I quit my job. I am definitely catching up on my tv shows. I am going to visit my mom for 10 days in Florida. I need a vacation. I have a couple Christmas get togethers to go to but other than that I will be sitting on the couch probably.

I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year. I'll see you in 2008.

November 29, 2007

Only 2 weeks left in the semester. I am finished with clinicals and lab. I just have 2 more tests including a final in both of my classes. So in these last weeks I will be extra busy.

Thanksgiving break was nice. I spent the day with my fiance's family and ate lots of great food. It was nice to spend a day without my nose in a book. I also got to baby sit my nephew a little bit while his mother and grandmother put up Christmas decorations.

In our last week of lab we learned how to administer an IV. We practiced on fake arms and then checked-off on our partners. I got mine in my right hand and I will admit that it hurt. I have never really had an IV before except once in my hand when I got my wisdom teeth taken out. I administered one on the hand of my classmate and got blood. You are basically inserting the IV catheter and needle into the vein. You know you got it when you get blood on return. It was a good learning experience.

During Christmas break I plan to relax. I hope to be able to go to Florida to visit my mom. Next semester we start OB and pediatrics and also Medical Surgical 2. We will have our clinicals at the hospitals here locally. I am excited and I will continue to keep you posted.

November 8, 2007

Hello everyone! Tomorrow is my official last day of working. Things were getting too stressful and my grades were starting to slip. We have done a lot of things in lab in the last couple weeks. We did sterile dressing changes which was a little harder than it looked. The key is to not contaminate your sterile field and when there is such a small space it is easy to do it. On Monday we did sterile straight catheters on females. Don't worry we have manikins that we do this on. Today, we practiced medication administration with injections. When we check off with our teachers we have to inject a classmate with a subcutaneous injection of regular saline. Which is basically inserting a little needle at a 45 degree angle in the arm. I am a little nervous about that.

Thanksgiving break is coming up and I can't wait. I need another break and I am ready to eat some Turkey. I am not sure what the plans are that week as far as where I am going to eat.

Well, I hope every one has a great holiday and I will chat with you the next time.

October 26, 2007

Where has the month gone. Then again, where has the year gone. I don't know about you guys but I feel like this year is going by so fast that I can't keep up. It is starting to darker faster in the evenings now. I really am not looking forward to the cold weather either. Halloween is right around the corner. I usually don't do anything for halloween. I have only been to a haunted house once in my life. Guess what I will be doing? You got it...studying! Yes, I have no life.

Everything is back to normal in Parke County. No more fattening foods. I didn't get to go the last day of it and I was sad because I didn't get my peanut butter cup and pumpkin ice cream. Although, I did get some almost every other day before that!

Well guys and gals, I will chat with you later. I've got to get back to work. Have a good weekend!

October 11, 2007

It's coooooldddd! I would say Fall has arrived. The Parke County Covered Bridge Festival starts tomorrow on the 12th and goes through until the 21st. I live in Parke County about a few minutes south of Bridgeton and I am looking forward to some awesome pumpkin ice cream and of course the wonderful fattening food. Although, I am not looking forward to the traffic and slow drivers that don't know their way through the country side. No affense to those who may be one of them, it is just frustrating when they drive 25 mph. I have road rage as you can probably tell.

Today at school we had a music group put on a concert in the commons and they were pretty good. One guy played the guitar and harmonica while the other sang and beatboxed. They are called Scratch Track and you can check them out on their website @ www.scratchtrackmusic.com or www.myspace.com/scratchtrack.

Next week we have our fall break on Tuesday and Wednesday and I am ready for it. I do have to work all day on Tuesday but will be off on Wednesday. I have so much homework and studying to do. It is hard to keep up with everything. I hope I atleast get to go to the festival this year for a little bit. Well, I have to get back to work and I will chat with you next week. Have a good weekend.

September 27, 2007

Things are starting to get more stressful. I have so much to do and so little time to do it. It is hard working while in the nursing program. I have been thinking about taking out a loan and taking some time off work because eventually I will probably have to anyway. I believe during the summer semester we go five days a week therefore I wouldn't be able to work.I really don't want to take out a loan because I don't want to pay it back but I need money for gas,school, and personal necessities. If anyone has any advice about getting financial assistance such as a loan or anything else could you please let me know?

Last weekend I became and aunt again! My future sister-in-law, my fiance's sister, gave birth to a boy on September 20th at 10:46pm. He weighed 8lbs 8oz was 19 1/2 inches long and had lots of hair. He's a cutie!

This weekend I have to go to a wedding in Crawfordsville and next week I have two tests, a quiz, and lots of homework. Like I said before I have lots to do and no time to do it. I love weddings so I just have to go and I know they will come to my wedding when I have it.

Today, I had orientation at my clinical site for the nursing program. The facility was nice and they have a neat glass bird cage in the center of the building full of different types of birds. It was really cool.

Well, I hope everyone has a nice weekend. I have to get back to my studying and I will keep you posted on things.

September 14, 2007

Hi guys it's Courtney! The semester is under way and it seems that it is flying by. Next week is my last week of my first five week nursing course.

We recenlty learned positioning, hygeine, and vital signs in our lab. The week of September 24th I start a different course as well as my clinical.

I will be doing my clinical at the Southwood nursing home facility in Terre Haute. I am so nervous and don't know what to expect. It has been hard going to school all day and working on the other days. I don't get home until later in the evening and before I know it is time for bed. I know it is sad I actually have a bed time but you have to when you get up around 5:00 am for school. Well, I will chat with you next time and wish me luck.

August 31, 2007

My name is Courtney and I am starting the nursing program with Ivy Tech at the Terre Haute campus this fall. I chose to attend Ivy Tech because of the great class sizes and being able to connect one-on-one with instructors. Coming from a small high school I felt that it would be easy to relate and transition. I chose the nursing program because I enjoy helping others in need and I have always been fascinated with the medical field. I also have family members in the medical field so I have grown up around it as well. I have my first test coming up and I am very nervous. So far, I enjoy my classes and my instructors are great. I am also working while I am taking classes so it makes it even more stressful. I work hard at everything I do and take one day at a time.