tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5264704362063164302024-03-13T00:38:23.391-07:00Free Speech Is My Anti-DrugNow - An RT Student Blog!CMichellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02053870249358547122noreply@blogger.comBlogger152125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526470436206316430.post-75140445656569688812011-01-30T06:20:00.000-08:002011-01-30T07:00:42.678-08:00Update and Peace OutHey anyone that stumbles across this blog!<br /><br />Wow, of course a lot has happened since that last post in June.<br /><br />Right before my PRN orientation/training period at Home Hospital ended, I landed a full-time job at Big City Hospital. The same hospital we did most of our clinicals in school and the same hospital I vowed I would NEVER work at because I hated it there.<br /><br />It was just okay at first. I was working there with 2 of my best friends from school and some more of my classmates.<br /><br />I ended up hating it. Loathing it. I quit.<br /><br />I simply could not go out first rounds with 10-20 more treatments than I could possibly do. I could not go home one more day worrying about some of my patients. I could not worry so much about something that I had to call back up at work and see how the patient or situation was going. Working there made me start to HATE Respiratory Therapy. <br /><br />The money was GOOD. But I am not that person. I'd rather be happy with my job than happy with the pay.<br /><br />Just as I was preparing to leave BC Hospital, a job for a Hyperbaric Technician came up at Home Hospital. I had already given my RT boss there a heads up that I wanted to get back on PRN as much as possible. So I just went and talked to the Director of Wound Care to talk about the HBO position just out of curiosity.<br /><br />She ended up really wanting an RT as the new HBO Tech. Being ACLS certified helped. And she really liked me.<br /><br />She called to offer me the job a couple days later. A few days after that, she flew me and 2 of my future co-workers to San Antonio for the Hyperbaric Training Course.<br /><br />I started, got trained by the existing Tech before he left, and have been loving it ever since.<br /><br />Yeah, sometimes things get on my nerves, I get worked up about things sometimes, my boss irritates me sometimes and has the attention span of a bumble bee...... <br /><br />When I'm home, I don't think about work. I will never have more work than I can handle. And just when I think, "Golly, I sure do miss giving breathing treatments," I pick up a PRN shift in Respiratory and get that out of my system.<br /><br />I think I stay so happy because it's NOT Big City Hospital. I think I have been at my personal low there (and at a couple other jobs in the past), and almost nothing can approach that low.<br /><br />I love my job. Life is so great.<br /><br />I've been catching up on things I dreamed about doing while I was in school. I've finished a book and reading a couple others. We're planning a garden.<br /><br />I'm having weight loss surgery in 9 days.<br /><br />So I'm officially ending this blog. It's a happy ending!<br /><br />I will start a new blog probably. Still thinking of a name.<br /><br />Good luck everyone and thanks for reading!! :)<br /><br />Peace out.CMichellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02053870249358547122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526470436206316430.post-70958047945715679222010-06-04T11:19:00.000-07:002010-06-04T11:25:51.062-07:00RRTI am now an RRT!!!!<br /><br />Wow, those tests were hard!<br /><br />Now, I really and truly have my life back! There's so many possibilities for me to spend my free time. It's almost overwhelming all the things I wanted to do while I was in school and now I can FREELY DO THEM without guilt.<br /><br />So far, I have a PRN position at the hospital I've been working at 4 years now doing various things. Now I'm just higher on the totem pole. I start orientation next week for a few weeks and then I'll be working whenever. In the mean time, I'm still searching for something full-time, but it's kinda slim at the moment.<br /><br />So, should I end this blog? I've already started another RT related blog, but I'm not sure I want to keep up with just blogging about my career. There's so much more to my life than work and there's so much more to come! IDK, I'll think about it.<br /><br />Good luck to those still in school! If you're out, take your tests as soon as you can. I got my CRT and RRT within a month of graduation. I think that was a marvelous idea.CMichellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02053870249358547122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526470436206316430.post-65888002449157594582010-05-01T10:40:00.000-07:002010-05-01T10:41:35.464-07:00Oh, BTW....Graduation in 6 days. Officially done in 3.<br /><br />So ready.<br /><br />That is all....CMichellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02053870249358547122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526470436206316430.post-67914373995817723492010-03-31T17:40:00.000-07:002010-03-31T17:56:34.823-07:00Yikes..December 24th since my last post? What a shame.<br /><br />Anyway, 30something days till graduation and I am so ready. The biggest shock lately? Half of the class isn't "walking the stage" at graduation by choice. One of those people is me.<br /><br />When I made this announcement, one of my classmates was totally wound up over it, "You HAVE to go to graduation. You HAVE to walk. You need that CLOSURE."<br /><br />Honey, graduation day I'll be chillin' by a pool somewhere or riding my bike free 'n easy on the Trinity Trail. I refuse to give school one more slice of my time.<br /><br />I don't know about anyone else out there, but school has been a beating. This semester especially. We all want out. We all want our lives back. We all wanna be paid now that we've had 2 years of hard labor in hospitals we may or may not have liked. And, for crying out loud, WE'RE DONE WITH ALL THE 8,921 PFT ROTATIONS WE'VE HAD TO DRAG THORUGH. UUGGHH!!!!!!1<br /><br />Heh.<br /><br />Anyway, soon this series of As Respiratory School Turns will be over. I hope I look back and not be mad at how I spent 2 years of my life. Not continue to be so dang jaded. Then again, what would I have done the past 2 years if I wasn't doing this?<br /><br />....?<br /><br />Eh.... I would be like, a master seamstress by now. Maybe not.<br /><br />I wouldn't have made great friends, I wouldn't have had some good times, I would have had that handful of bad times (no patients involved) that directly affected me - that I learned from.<br /><br />I wouldn't have all this tremendously unique education. I wouldn't be ready to work and do what I've wanted to do in general with my life.<br /><br />I'm thankful that everything has stayed intact the past 2 years. Where others have broken up, filed for divorce, and friendships have deteriorated, I have managed to stay an even course. I am SO THANKFUL and I owe it to God for many answered prayers. Also, of course, thankful for my stunning Spouse.<br /><br />I appreciated the full experience. That's my clousure.<br /><br />Besides, I've already walked a college stage once, I don't feel it really necessary to do it again.<br /><br />I'm sure there's a possibility that I will have the opportunity to walk one again. I am, after all, a "Career Student."<br /><br />Peace out.CMichellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02053870249358547122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526470436206316430.post-30445574538015393692009-12-24T07:06:00.000-08:002009-12-24T07:25:28.347-08:00Graduation EveIn 18 days, I will return to school for what is the last semester before I graduate - hopefully.<br /><br />Last semester was horrible. I took on a bit too much with school and work. It's all good now. I'm still thanking God every day for such a "stunning" husband.<br /><br />I know I haven't posted in a super long time. I should have, to get my thoughts out there. But there was a time where if I wasn't at school or studying, I'd just rather go to bed. And I did.... several times.<br /><br />I'm not gonna sugar-coat this, but if you're thinking about RT school, know that it is very challenging. Mentally prepare yourself for the change in your lifestyle. This aspect may not effect everyone the same. But, for me, when your life consists of just working a cake job full-time and pretty much doing anything you want in your spare time, to working barely-part-time and not being able to plan a single thing in your life because of tests and school, it can be a slap in the face.<br /><br />Oh, and when it's Summer semester and for the first time you walk up to a patient on a ventilator and your face must look screwed up like you're watching a ghost so your instructor says, "It's okay, you'll be fine, it's just 'a box that blows air,'" that's clever or whatever, but, no, there's just a smidge more to it than that. Know your vent stuff, those things can do amazing stuff.<br /><br />On the eve of graduation, my advice is still: record your lectures. Also, avoid the drama as best you can, make time for yourself - find just an hour or so to do a hobby or activity you used to have so you don't feel like you've totally lost yourself in the chaos.<br /><br />Breaking my sewing machine out of storage this winter break has brought me so much joy, even when the thing was acting crazy and making me frustrated. Reading fiction and non-school books has also been wonderful. It's nice to have these things back and I plan on setting aside just a bit of time next semester to continue to enjoy these things. <br /><br />Another hobby I took up is going to church. It has helped so much. I should have gotten into it sooner. Sunday is a day I am always looking forward to.<br /><br />I hope all my RT student fellow-bloggers and any readers out there who happen to stumble by have a Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!<br /><br />See you then :)CMichellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02053870249358547122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526470436206316430.post-88665098523157956762009-10-18T19:39:00.000-07:002009-10-18T19:49:17.844-07:00Wash Your Freakin' Hands....you're the reason people (read: children) are DYING of the SWINE FLU.<br /><br />EVERY TIME I visit the ladies' room at school (which is often, I drink water like crazy), there is ALWAYS some nasty woman (or 2) who don't even pretend to wash their hands. <br /><br />Tinkle, flush, peace out.<br /><br />REALLY?<br /><br />We're rotating through Big Children's Hospital right now, and my classmates have seen first-hand how bad H1N1 (and the flu in general) is affecting people. Conspiracy or not, people are dying of the flu. Healthly people, dying of the FLU. I simply cannot understand that.<br /><br />So, y'all, PLEASE WASH YOUR HANDS! You can run around with pee-pee hands in your own home, but don't subject us HYGENIC, smart people to your nasty germs!! <br /><br />Disgusting.<br /><br />P.S. School is getting old. 7 months left. *sigh*CMichellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02053870249358547122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526470436206316430.post-7065573252018834382009-08-26T18:03:00.000-07:002009-08-26T18:17:35.835-07:00It's That Time<div><br /></div><div>Behold: September:</div><div><br /><br /></div><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374444163162307650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Px4d_-8vT5tkWn0RFNgOAduUBTGWUBITjI-7XhZ0CjaSswipQH6Ue7b6tGOLAwGl9dWu1xszqK4ozur8ubQPBwFWLG0jkKvrswG518K3PyTia-1n1lCsrIrTmMjR6pnhpq0ms6wNBZ0/s400/IMG_2406.JPG" border="0" /></p><div><br /><br /></div><p></p><div><br /><br /></div><p>And I don't even have Microbiology junk on there yet.</p><div><br /><br /></div><p>I don't like making plans....</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374445771284638210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4gGZNdRUBHDmf7XuZzFxacxHG5aHPRieAvMNQu3dz_8dOeBc8oumG7gGykkk4-pcEbnRhhvNRJuo6_guV0MlSIowyiqxNI-MiOkiproZdKztcfz3Qzo8mnYDT-5XL8mC-Sm5G1MwPf_Y/s400/IMG_2405.JPG" border="0" />....because then school starts and it gets cancelled. These things I'll be doing instead of going to the concert are fun and important. The fun thing is (if I choose to accept the mission) I might play a "Trauma Patient" for County Hospital. Interesting.<br /><br /><br /><br /><p><br /></p><br /><br /><div></div>CMichellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02053870249358547122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526470436206316430.post-84970324740793565962009-08-19T06:52:00.000-07:002009-08-19T07:03:49.060-07:00Oh, BTWI AM ON BREAK!!!!<br /><br />We went to the beach and had a nice time. I got sunburned. I don't care, I was at the BEACH, on VACATION. Something that I was losing hope for around the middle of July when heavy despair was setting in.<br /><br />So, I am officially a 2nd year student. What does that mean? Hell if I really know, but apparently it's awesome.<br /><br />Actually, it means "the hardest part is over." Or, I no longer have an excuse to feel like I don't know what I'm doing. I can get a "student position" if anyone is hiring. It's all downhill from here.<br /><br />Next semester, I'm taking Microbiology and Concepts of Physical Fitness to fulfill my degree requirements. The moral of the story: 16 hours that I'll be taking in the Fall.<br /><br />HELLO AGAIN, STRESS. So good to have you again, NOT! At least there are only 2 days of Clinic instead of 3 this semester.<br /><br />In other news, Spouse has done a good job and there's actually stuff growing in our vegetable garden! We're thinking about getting chickens and keeping bees since we're just gonna try to stay where we are now instead of putting the house on the market again. It's not so bad, it's the driving an hour to get anywhere that's the pain in the arse.<br /><br />I've been working more hours since I've been on break. I should actually be starting on the filing that I have been behind on for about 4 months....<br /><br />I hope everyone (both of you) are having a great summer!!CMichellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02053870249358547122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526470436206316430.post-63063352629367215302009-08-07T14:34:00.001-07:002009-08-07T14:45:06.750-07:00Summer School Is A Drag: Part III think it's totally reasonable and expected that I am losing my sanity.<br /><br />This has been t h e l o n g e s t s u m m e r s e m e s t e r E V A R ! ! ! ! And it shows in my mental status.<br /><br />This semester has almost stripped me of my pleasantness. I feel like I'm in a bad mood most of the time. And, oh, the irritability!!<br /><br />Two more days though, and I'm free for 12 days. Good, just long enough for a quick 12-step program of some sort.<br /><br />But in these 2 days I have a Clinical final (Program comprehensive) and a little gem called a "Skills Final" where I must demonstrate I know how to do a random thing out of all the hands-on things we've ever learned to do. From the beginning of the program. Almost a year ago.<br /><br />Everyone's all freaked out about it, and the instructors told us not to do that, we'll be fine. Doesn't count that much percentage in your overall grade, yada yada. We'll see how it goes.<br /><br />I long to be on a beach so badly. I must get away from these people. I must get away from ANY hospital for a whole minute. And who lied and said it must be quiet in an ICU?!?!? That place is louder and more annoying than a Britney Spears concert.<br /><br />There's a lot more I could vent about, but I won't. I'm tired. Oh, how TIRED I am. Three days of Clinical, the heat, and the driving are all piling up. My brain is SO exhausted.<br /><br />So I'll rest it now.CMichellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02053870249358547122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526470436206316430.post-3431261302940890782009-06-18T14:02:00.001-07:002009-06-21T08:05:07.902-07:00Summer School Is A DragThe amazing amount of irritability everyone in my class has this semester is astonishing. We spend too much time together, so we're starting to get on each other's nerves.<br /><br />The same people get on my nerves, but I deal with it.<br /><br />Today, at lunch with a few of my classmates, there was a discussion about whether or not certain pharmaceuticals (of the anti-depressant/anti-phychotic type) would be of use while in this program.<br /><br />I disagree.<br /><br />Yes, this semester has been damn stressful, and at times, a little out of control and overwhelming.<br /><br />But don't throw any pills at me.<br /><br />I'm just gonna start going to church.<br /><br />Seriously. Starting next Sunday.CMichellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02053870249358547122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526470436206316430.post-77739088901804557412009-05-21T14:24:00.000-07:002009-05-21T14:58:48.158-07:00FFYS: Fend For Yourself.. Extinct??Summer is gonna be hard.<br /><br />I know, to anyone else, the word "Summer" means beaches, relaxation, vacation, the lake/river, and all the other general stuff that one would do while not in school.<br /><br />But, if you're in Respiratory school (yeah, rumor has it Nursing takes (at least part of) the summer off.. hookers) at Underdog Community College, you're in Clinic 3 days a week and in class the other 2 and study for the weekend. YAY!!!!!!<br /><br />In the past, I LOVED to cook. I loved watching the Food Network, seeing something yummy they made, then promptly went to the kitchen and made it if I had all the ingredients or bought the stuff and made it ASAP.<br /><br />Since school started, this has not been the case. Oh yeah, some certain RARE weekends where I didn't have to study for 3 tests coming up the following week, I would cook something. It felt nice. Like, reminded me of a past life or something. Don't laugh, it's true to an extent.<br /><br />So, most nights during the week, Spouse has pretty much been neglected in the dinner department, since he eats breakfast and lunch at the hospital caf where we work. Most times, he comes home to a nice, hot, frozen salisbury steak dinner. The cheap one. Bleh.. And me, something frozen too.. hell I don't even remember what I had been eating for dinner. My memory is full of Anatomical Alterations and Clinical Manifestations of respiratory diseases.<br /><br />ANYWAY, I want to abolish FFYS. And Spouse doesn't need to eat those sodium-filled (nasty) frozen dinners.<br /><br />What a joy a crockpot is!! I make a kick-ass tortilla soup in the crock, why not make something quick and easy to just slightly prepare the night before and then throw into the pot before heading off to school in the morning?<br /><br />So, I'm gonna give it a shot. <a href="http://www.blogger.com/crockpot365.blogspot.com">This blog</a> has some delicious-looking recipes and a lot of them appear to be very easy. Plus, the internet has an absolute load of crock pot recipes.<br /><br />And, this weekend while the parental units are here (and my Mom and I are getting PEDICURES!! I'm excited..) I'll be cooking in the crockpot.<br /><br />That's one of my cons of loving to cook, it made the house so hot. I had forgot about that.<br /><br />I hope everyone has a nice summer. Don't talk to me about how much fun you're having. The Convention better be awesome and my team better kick ass (at least) at Sputum Bowl, that's all I gotta say about my upcoming "Summer Vacation."<br /><br />Oh, and one final thing....<br /><br />I READ A WHOLE BOOK.... FICTION!!!!<br /><br />'Twas awesome.<br /><br />Peace out.CMichellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02053870249358547122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526470436206316430.post-86486655372038409112009-05-14T10:52:00.000-07:002009-05-14T10:58:23.396-07:00I MADE IT!!It was getting a little scary there for a hot second, but I made it through another semester!! I'm very proud of my 3 B's and an A (in Pharmacology.. go figure).<br /><br />Tuesday night, my study muscle totally gave out. I just couldn't do it anymore. And, I was studying for the Clinical final, so basically, if I didn't know it now, what the hell was I doing in the Program anyway?!<br /><br />So even though I didn't study well for the Clinical final, I still made a B on the test. I guess I do know some stuff!<br /><br />Now, I have 12 days off. What to do?! I want to read some fiction books, at least 2. Most of all, I want to go to the beach really bad. I don't know if I'll end up going though. Oh well, maybe next break when we get a week off in the summer, I can plan a trip better.<br /><br />Right now, I want to just relax and not do anything.<br /><br />Peace out.CMichellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02053870249358547122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526470436206316430.post-79573229757242462942009-05-03T20:11:00.000-07:002009-05-03T20:24:44.382-07:00Wouldn't You Like To KnowThis is the 8th post of the Spring Semester. I apologize for being so scarce, you see, it's been a LONG, STRESSFUL semester.<br /><br />The grades have been moderate, with a suprising good job done in RCP Procedures II, as that was my struggling class last semester.<br /><br />I'm shaky and spastic about Diseases though. I don't think I'll flunk out, I could just do better. <br /><br />I LOVE County Hospital. It's so damn interesting and people are cool, the nurses and other RTs. Not too sure about the Residents though, one of them ran over me with a chair (I am NOT hard to miss!!) and another one repeatedly jumped in front of me during Physician rounds when I'm trying to learn. Hmph. Oh well, they're cool as hell, so I'll give 'em that....<br /><br />"Why are you up so late?" you ask, "Don't you have Clinic tomorrow?" Yes, but I'm not going. I'll be studying. I saved up my 2 absences and cashing in Monday and Wednesday.<br /><br />I actually liked this semester better than last. Maybe because the last one was the first, and I'm sure it's always the worst.<br /><br />So I was just bored, waiting for Spouse to be ready to turn in for the night, did some studying for Diseases and accomplished my goal for the evening, so thought I would make a quick post. Sorry if this post is a bit weird.<br /><br />During my ONE week off between Spring and Summer, I <em>might</em> come back and make some symbolic post to commemorate the turning of a page in the book of my life. But hopefully, I'll be off reading some fiction somewhere.<br /><br />Peace out.CMichellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02053870249358547122noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526470436206316430.post-26040514214500684602009-04-02T15:00:00.000-07:002009-04-02T15:06:44.409-07:00What Birthday?We've started learning about ventilators.<br /><br />This is, I guess, the first "really hard part."<br /><br />Oh yeah, it's hard. The class average was 77% on the first ventilator test. I made an 85%. I was like, "Woah." I felt pretty good about myself.<br /><br />So, yeah, with all that going on, plus more quizzes, tests, clinic, etc.. I haven't had much time to think about my Birthday.<br /><br />I think this is the first time in my life where I haven't had time to think about what I want to do, where I want to go.. what I even want.. for my birthday. My birthday is one of my favorite holidays.<br /><br />And anywhere we go, we have to drive, and I'm so over driving. I'm getting tired of all the driving. They need to come out with that teleportation technology soon.<br /><br />I'll keep thinking about my birthday and hopefully have a good one. After that, I can commence the nervous excitement of starting my next clinical rotation at County Hospital.<br /><br />Yessssssss!!CMichellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02053870249358547122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526470436206316430.post-85811867924258032002009-03-13T07:32:00.000-07:002009-03-13T07:42:28.234-07:00Now You See How RT School Really Is..It has been almost 1 month since my last post. That's understandable.<br /><br />For the last month, I have been studying non-stop, buried underneath Power Points, Workbooks, recorded lectures, and the stresses of Clinicals. I use the word "consumed" to describe my lifestyle the past couple months. I'm "consumed" with studying and focusing on school. I don't get much time with my husband, maybe just about an hour a night, but it's not a big deal. I don't know how the students with children handle it.<br /><br />Anyway, I studied for 6 days straight for Pharmacology and RC Procedures. My grades: 88 and 95. I was thrilled. I took a test yesterday but I don't know how I did. I don't know if I wanna know because....<br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;">SPRING BREAK IS NEXT WEEK!!</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"></span> </div><div align="left">I am soooooooooooo excited and HAPPY. I like school, it's actually been kinda fun despite all the stressful stuff. But I am so ready for a break. I have been looking forward to this for months. I will try to post pics from my trip on <a href="http://an-existence-less-meaningless.blogspot.com/">my photo blog</a>.</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">....and knowing I did badly on a test might rain on my snow-covered parade.</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">To end on a positive note, me and a couple girls from class will be keeping On The Border in business again tonight as we often do on Friday nights. Last week drove me to drink. And if you knew me well, you would have to say that it MUST have been a pretty stressful week. It was. But it ended spectacularly.</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">I hope this week will end the same :)</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">Happy Spring Break to any of y'all who are also spring breakin'!</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">Peace!!</div>CMichellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02053870249358547122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526470436206316430.post-7458251365186877292009-02-14T19:14:00.000-08:002009-02-14T19:19:27.513-08:00I Will Not Like New Pop Music.. I Will Not Like New Pop Music.. I Will Not Like New Pop Music..But, "Just Dance" by Lady Gaga (who I hadn't even heard of until like, 2 weeks ago).... I love it.<br /><br />I shouldn't have started listening to KISS FM when there wasn't ANYTHING ELSE on ANY other of the 11 stations set in my car. I like to rock! I stopped listening to new pop YEARS ago.<br /><br />But, it's an upbeat song..<br /><br />....makes me wanna study.CMichellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02053870249358547122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526470436206316430.post-83515579634862042582009-02-04T19:06:00.000-08:002009-02-04T19:19:35.583-08:00Success TipsIn observation of other students, I have assumed the following traits I must have to be successful on tests:<br /><br />1. Be unemployed.<br />2. Sit in front of the class.<br />3. NEVAR study.<br />4. Have a photographic memory.<br />5. Constantly drone on about how "bad" I do on tests.<br /><br />I like my job and I don't even work that much, I'm not giving up my block of ice by the window, I have to study A LOT, my brain doesn't take pics, and I rarely discuss my test grades. <br /><br />Anyway, I'm doing okay with what I got going now. And I'll keep trying harder as I go because it doesn't get easier. Clinicals are nerve-wracking right now because we're new to this, but every day I'm more motivated to spend every minute (not sleeping or eating) studying MORE.CMichellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02053870249358547122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526470436206316430.post-2963200159469213412009-01-30T06:29:00.001-08:002009-01-30T07:32:23.481-08:00*Toot Toot*There's a girl in my class who loves to <a href="http://freespeechismyantidrug.blogspot.com/2008/09/horn-tooting.html">toot that horn </a>of hers.<br /><br />I'm sure she's smart and all, but the way she talks doesn't match her possible IQ. Sure, I bet she's got all the time in the world to study and sits at the front of the class so she can soak information in - but, I think she's a little on the "immature" side. Whatever.<br /><br />Our first day back at Clinicals, we all went to Post-Conference, where we sit and talk about our day and then review stuff from last semester, present our articles, etc.<br /><br />Our instructors always ask, "Did anyone see anything cool today?"<br /><br />This day, the answers were:<br /><br />"We got to see a Dr. drill a hole in someone's head."<br /><br />"I saw someone's intestines."<br /><br />"We had a code."<br /><br />And then Horn-Tooter toots, "I did an ABG today!!"<br /><br />We just learned about ABGs. We have until graduation to do 3 of them. Yes, if perhaps I had the opportunity to do one on a comatose patient that day, I might have done it. However, I wouldn't have tooted my horn about it. Nobody likes a horn-tooter.<br /><br />Like I said, I'm sure she's smart, but her actions make her seem really not smart. But her being in the class is that element of entertainment we need amongst all the seriousness.<br /><br />Now for the OTHER annoyance of mine. The old poor-study-habits reveal - or - part of the "It's Not Fair" chorus.<br /><br />We had a class day and a Clinic day cancelled because of the icy weather. So we missed a lecture/review day for the tests we had coming up. Two of the tests were pushed back one day and the other test was kept on schedule.<br /><br />An hour or so before the test, our instructor revealed that some of the test had short answer/fill-in-the-blank questions.<br /><br />There was almost a small riot.<br /><br />Okay, so you have to actually say something instead of coloring in A B or C. BFD!!!! If you had known there would be short-answer questions, how would this have affected your studying? Would you have studied harder? Shouldn't you have been studying hard in the first place?<br /><br />I think some people in my class over-react. I'm just a silent observer.<br /><br />Oh well, despite all this stuff I get all opinionated about, I still love school. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed and stressed, but I make it through.CMichellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02053870249358547122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526470436206316430.post-2098752045691446662009-01-26T19:11:00.001-08:002009-01-26T19:24:22.587-08:00To Do: Repair Leak In BrainToday, our first day back at Clinic, my group discovered we REALLY need to review our stuff.<br /><br />It's amazing how much of a formula you remember, but somehow the middle -important part- of it just kinda fell out, like when we started talking about the Oxygen Dissociation Curve or something.<br /><br />Tomorrow, I have a quiz. I was studying, but I took a break to write this. My "Fun" meter was low.. in the red (you know what I mean if you play The Sims).<br /><br />Now, I'm thinking about going to bed. So.. tired..<br /><br />Overall, Clinic was good. One of the "interesting" people in class is in my group. And she <em>just happened to</em> feel hot and sick when our instructor let us help with trach care.<br /><br />I mean, to this day, people are still getting grossed out at JUST THE MENTION of something grose.<br /><br />Another instructor told us the tale of how the inner trach tube (less-technical term) was corroded with a black substance when a student removed it at a Clinical site. I think I was the only one who thought that was awesome, but sad :(, and didn't grimmace and gag.<br /><br />But, that's just how I roll.<br /><br />Peace.CMichellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02053870249358547122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526470436206316430.post-74502471735776383462009-01-21T17:14:00.000-08:002009-01-21T18:06:27.949-08:00School's Back In.. Stress Is On..Well, words can't paint a picture, so I will use pictures..<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293924108329266034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL29OlY6xFKFPNj7a0d_ijExCFnZYi-X9UOa-Fqz7jfgdK2zSfLV1DEonEGQ-n_noI91a2UJSHFdLR-EGBuNZPRKsFfdHFqqvTGlPUbUfMCm-X2Uu-W9pWbB-d4CiKtziuMWMXDovLLiQ/s400/IMG_1574.JPG" border="0" /><br />This here is a picture of my schedule for March. 8 Weeks 'till Spring Break!! February looks about the same, but I used March for the optimism of the orange week there in the middle. All those little entries are Quizzes, Tests, and Check-Offs. I'm sure there will be more entries as the semester goes on.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbUNRYa7oNwhxaU7EyMZ4wduRVd_1SD58QiMRtJyCF_-h63XuX88SLwJOseG5_UghTXObm7ATqMKGuLzXutk7WqpWY2yrgXCXJuztVyVCWe_L53Ae6eoOiFE9nk433X9JJQ8s-2Vsql1M/s1600-h/IMG_1581.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293924239784295826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbUNRYa7oNwhxaU7EyMZ4wduRVd_1SD58QiMRtJyCF_-h63XuX88SLwJOseG5_UghTXObm7ATqMKGuLzXutk7WqpWY2yrgXCXJuztVyVCWe_L53Ae6eoOiFE9nk433X9JJQ8s-2Vsql1M/s400/IMG_1581.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Here, you see that, only next Thursday, we have a test in all 3 classes on one day. Simply magic!! Quizzes and tests in different classes fall on the same days quite frequently.<br /><br /><br />Not only all this, but we begin Clinicals again on Monday. We will actually start giving treatments, WITH medication (highly supervised, of course). We do an ER and ICU rotation. We have to get professional credits. We have to try to keep stuff from last semester from leaking out of our brain because we'll have a Clinical final covering that <em>and</em> what we learned this semester. All this, AND.... AND..!!.. I lost my friggin' mind about 4 months ago and signed up for the Sputum Bowl this Summer and I'll need to study for that TOO!!<br /><br /><br />*sigh* Like Spouse says, "..but this is what you wanted!" It's true, it is. I want this. I'll work for it, I'm not whining, this is just newsworthy.<br /><br /><br />I'm anxious, scared, nervous, and crazy excited all at the same time.<br /><br /><br />On a side note: If you are considering RT School, I have 2 pieces of advice for you (while I'm thinking about it):<br /><br />1. Get a recorder, <strong>if they're allowed</strong>, and record lectures. It worked for me, like, a lot.<br />2. Get a planner like the one above. If you can write things down on a $1.00 piece of plastic and paper to save room in your over-crowded brain, please take advantage of that.<br /><br />P.S. Photo Blog has a new post! Check it out :)CMichellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02053870249358547122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526470436206316430.post-11751211115760971412009-01-09T16:36:00.000-08:002009-01-09T16:45:50.218-08:00My New Best FriendsAren't they pretty? <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289459278099066402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC03x7n0UBqDK6T-OCQ-cJKsTUDbJN5nxTo0hI8XW4wFUn5DZbetsTyTSGiu8hT055HXJTQMj4g72A_Kma2Hmu8axmvszRBtQ1ub97gArM-TLbFZm1CqUPSJBM-YMddNCmknIVygZbBFE/s400/IMG_1566.JPG" border="0" />This one, however, looks like he's gonna be a bully....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLgz4W9u7BcD_HRB1IxwjbjBJ4uwfuAa_Js0E69h2-EaCuYIj9jmbvn4rpOJ5Q6v3iJXGgnpU2G6kt3fOHU4Y9D5aItEgv34DWhAvNbul0NrUzixtNrQIzD6C1TrIeiB6Qhi-_qeONA4Q/s1600-h/IMG_1568.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289459687489315922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLgz4W9u7BcD_HRB1IxwjbjBJ4uwfuAa_Js0E69h2-EaCuYIj9jmbvn4rpOJ5Q6v3iJXGgnpU2G6kt3fOHU4Y9D5aItEgv34DWhAvNbul0NrUzixtNrQIzD6C1TrIeiB6Qhi-_qeONA4Q/s400/IMG_1568.JPG" border="0" /></a> YIKES! Wish me luck..<br /><div><br /><br /><div> </div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><br /><br /></div><br /><div></div></div>CMichellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02053870249358547122noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526470436206316430.post-63628595854090096102009-01-06T19:27:00.000-08:002009-01-06T19:30:39.707-08:00I Miss School :(Yeah, I said it.<br /><br />I got some books in the mail for next semester and had a look at them. It's gonna be interesting! I'm ready to go back.. and get it all over with so I can start my career.<br /><br />But I must be patient. That is, after all, one of my greatest virtues.<br /><br />Meanwhile, I saw that only 20 people have registered for class so far. That leaves 5 or 6 people that haven't registered yet. Hmmmm. Maybe they're procrastinators.<br /><br />On a side note, if you weren't covered in a blanket of ice yesterday, check out my <a href="http://an-existence-less-meaningless.blogspot.com/">other blog </a>for some nice <a href="http://an-existence-less-meaningless.blogspot.com/2009/01/ice-ice-baby.html">documentation</a> of the amazing fluctuating Texas weather. Enjoy!CMichellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02053870249358547122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526470436206316430.post-68010775212130639022008-12-31T16:50:00.000-08:002008-12-31T16:53:48.300-08:00I Want My Stress Back<div align="center">What A Non-Existent Stress-Level Will Do For You:</div><br /><br />Ask me how my Christmas Break is going....<br /><br />It's been great.. for the most part.<br /><br />Christmas was nice and we went to 6 Flags the day after and it was ridiculously fun. I've been getting some reading done; almost done with Watchmen.<br /><br />I worked out one day last week. Started playing The Sims again.<br /><br />Letting Spouse do all the driving so I can enjoy not having to drive 90 miles a day.<br /><br />Oh! And here's what else has happened in the first 2 weeks of Christmas Break, in chronological order:<br /><br />1. Small abcess on leg which pretty much appeared overnight requiring a little drainage and packing. Required 2 trips to the Fast Track ("urgent care") of the hospital ER. This happened just a few days before Christmas and I was actually having packing changed on Christmas Eve.<br /><br />2. Severe back pain. Stupid back pain. It was so bad for a couple of days, I couldn't walk very well. Advil can't touch it, Aleve helps me walk better, but it's still there. I've had this happen ONCE before, but only for a day.. not 3 days.<br /><br />3. Now I'm having an onset of some sort of sneezy sickness. I don't know if it's allergies or if I'm getting some sort of sinus thing. The last 2 days it hurt to sneeze.<br /><br />WTF is WRONG WITH ME?!?!<br /><br />I do not understand where all this came from. I speculate (and my Dr boss agrees), that my stress level has gone down so much that it's causing some type of chemical thing in my body to go haywire. She said something about Cortisol levels and stuff.. so that has to be it.<br /><br />This back pain isn't going away and I don't want to go to the Doctor because I don't want pain meds thrown at me. Plus, I can handle this. If I can limp around and just tolerate the sudden bursts of sharp pain for 2 days straight, I can tough it out for a while.<br /><br />Maybe I can tolerate it long enough till school starts, and my stress level is up again, and then I will feel like a million (tired) bucks!!<br /><br />*sneeze*CMichellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02053870249358547122noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526470436206316430.post-31756148774777930502008-12-18T19:36:00.001-08:002008-12-18T19:43:35.376-08:00Have You Seen This?I had the HARDEST time finding this video and I'm the Internet Search and Google QUEEN.<br /><br />I saw this ad again tonight before The Dark Knight. I think it's a great PSA against smoking.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/JGWy7mp60A4&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/JGWy7mp60A4&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Here is another Watchmen trailer. I SIMPLY CANNOT WAIT!! I think I might be able to convince Spouse to go see this movie the night it comes out (midnight, of course) at the Dallas IMAX.<br /><br />......of course, if I don't have to STUDY!!!!<br /><br /><object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/gd3I1HUuFqQ&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/gd3I1HUuFqQ&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="295"></embed></object>CMichellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02053870249358547122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526470436206316430.post-56878537534235688832008-12-16T13:12:00.000-08:002008-12-16T14:26:30.173-08:00Time Is Slipping Away....I've burned 4.5 days in my 40-day break. I feel like my free time is getting away from me!!<br /><br />Could it be because I haven't really DONE anything? Maybe I'm just enjoying not doing anything. It's quite shocking and surreal to come home and not have anything to do and not feel anxious if I don't feel like doing it (which, in the past, was studying).<br /><br />Follows is a list of things I need to do, whether it's for your entertainment, or just to remind me:<br /><br />1. Make the collage notebook and magnetic poetry thingy for my niece-in-law. I have 7 days to do these things.<br /><br />2. Read. And when I'm done, read some more. Fiction. Awesome.<br /><br />3. After Christmas, when I get the new Sims 2 expansion.. play more Sims!<br /><br />4. Spend more time with Saffie.<br /><br />5. Start learning to play guitar (what I was supposed to do that week I had off - called "Summer break").<br /><br />6. Anything else that comes along.<br /><br />I need to fill each day with as much activities as possible so I won't feel like my break was a waste of much needed mental health days.<br /><br />It's this pesky work that takes up all my time! Now that I can work 8 hours a day, I have been. Not only because I have a lot of catch-up filing to do, I need those "extra" hours.<br /><br />I'm still taking 1 day off each week :-p<br /><br />What shall I do tonight? After some delicious tortilla-less tortilla soup (mmmm..), I need to work on a project, play the Sims, or read the Watchmen. Choices!<br /><br />Oh, and maybe some Yoga tonight. I'm anxious to try it out. That would be nice.CMichellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02053870249358547122noreply@blogger.com0