I had a final on Tues for the theory block of my mental health semester. I dread these tests because you really can't study for them. Most of the classes are self or group-directed so studying basically means reading the entire textbook, and there are not very many notes from the teachers so you have no clue what's going to be tested. It's like a kinder surprise...you don't know what's in it until you open that thick stack of paper and try to hold back tears, fits of rage and snorts of derision as you realize there's only 23 pages to your exam. No wonder they give you 3 hours to do it. The really pitiful part of it is maybe 2-3 pages of test is viable questions from the textbook or things that you probably studied. The other 20 pages is questions that make my blood boil like "What's the nurses best response?" or "What is an appropriate intervention?". I suppose these are legit questions in most cases but they are brutal to answer for two reasons. The first being that they're usually preceded by some long-winded half page scenario about your patient and maybe only one sentence is relevant to the question. So you have to sift through all the superfluous junk and then choose your answer out of usually 2 incredibly ambiguous and vague choices (2 are usually incredibly stupid). Sometimes you even get 4 seemingly correct answers and are left with no way but eeny-meany-miney-mo to determine which ones right. I know everyone says that those questions are the same type on the CRNE (Canadian Registered Nurse Exam), but I'm pretty sure that given the magnitude of the test, the questions and answers will have been judiciously reviewed and won't be wishy-washy. The other reason these tests are so maddening is that two of the answers tend to be right. For example, in the classic case of "What's the nurse best response?" there can be two answers that are completely legitimate and you don't have enough info to make an informed choice. I usually play the scenario over in my head and end up thinking that I would say answer D. but followed by answer B. Or sometimes I would say answer B. followed by answer D. It's a catch-22 question and the problem with those is you never get any better at answering them, because it depends on the teacher(s) that wrote the exam. So if you know the teacher who wrote it, you might get a sixth sense of what the teacher would think the answer would be. If you don't...well might as well flip a coin.
Another thing that got on my nerves this semester is when our midterm was translated from the English exam to French. However, it was obvious that a dictionary wasn't consulted. I pay for the most expensive nursing education in Canada, and my tests aren't even legible because they're so riddled with vocabulary, structural and grammatical errors? I want a refund.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Date Night
Gordon planned a super fun date last week that I thought I'd share. First we walked around the legislature building. It's been pretty nippy, so my mittens and toque got their first outing of the season. We love taking walks together, maybe it's because we can actually breathe out of the 600 sq ft basement we have.
Gordon had planned to do a 50's date night, so in keeping with a diner theme we made homemade bacon cheeseburgers and homemade fries (hopefully my arteries forgive me), while listening and dancing to music of the era. After dinner we played the Newlywed game with each other, putting at stake a friendly wager where the loser had to give the winner a massage. Of course I won, but I don't enjoy massages too much so I wasn't super thrilled about getting one. If the wager would have been loser cleans the bathroom, I would've been much happier. We ended the night by watching a movie together, proving that if you put the effort in, cheap date night doesn't have to be boring date night.
Gordon had planned to do a 50's date night, so in keeping with a diner theme we made homemade bacon cheeseburgers and homemade fries (hopefully my arteries forgive me), while listening and dancing to music of the era. After dinner we played the Newlywed game with each other, putting at stake a friendly wager where the loser had to give the winner a massage. Of course I won, but I don't enjoy massages too much so I wasn't super thrilled about getting one. If the wager would have been loser cleans the bathroom, I would've been much happier. We ended the night by watching a movie together, proving that if you put the effort in, cheap date night doesn't have to be boring date night.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Thankful for non-exploding toilets
Last fhe (no that's not a typo-it means family home evening), Gordon and I made a thankful jar...well more a thankful vase. We cut out different shapes and wrote what we were thankful for and why. Example of Gordon's: I'm grateful for eyebrow makeup or I'd giggle a bit much and get yelled at a lot. Explanation: I have to pencil in my eyebrows because they're too light and sparse. The first time he saw me completely without eyebrows...which is not common...he laughed. Most people make sure they lock the door before they leave the house. I make sure I have my eyebrows. In honor of Thanksgiving here's a list (among a bzillion) of things that I'm thankful for
family, nurses, the gospel, sun, chocolate, sleep, lysol, warm clothes out of the dryer, fuzzy socks, harry potter, music, books, blankets, Lion King, date night, dancing, running shoes
Unfortunately according to the law of opposition, in order for us to be grateful we have to experience things we aren't grateful for...like exploding toilets (story right after). This is a short list of things I could happily live without
onions,when you open a bottle of ketchup and it spits up on your fingers, the smell of baby sick, freezing wind, just missing the train...or having to run for it, cigarette smoke,clutter, slow drivers, headaches
So about the exploding toilet... This was probably my most embarrassing moment to date, and it definitely could've been a lot worse...I shudder at the thought. Since I don't get embarrassed by much, this was pretty monumental. I was getting ready to go for a run at the U of A track and had to use the washroom. When I went to flush the toilet it made a weird noise and nothing happened. Now I know you're thinking I plugged the toilet...but I sure as heck didn't, since I only peed! It was kind of like when you don't push the flush down all the way and nothing happens. And you probably know the kind of toilet I'm talking about too...the ones in most public facilities with the big metal handles that flush and are connected to the wall. Sometimes these ones are stubborn and you have to hold the flush down for it to go. So I stick my foot up to flush (cause I have a no touch technique when going to public washrooms), and hold down the handle. Everything appeared normal, the water went down, when out of nowhere BOOM water started spraying out of the metal part attached to the wall. And it wasn't a fine mist, it was like turning on a hose full blast.At first I stood there in shock while the stall was being efficiently flooded, before I had the presence of mind to run out, praying no one else was in the bathroom, because just like you they would have thought I plugged the toilet. I praised my wisdom in always using this bathroom vs the changeroom because it's always pretty deserted and I don't like crowded washrooms. Thankfully, I was alone, because unlike most public washrooms where you have the luxury of never seeing the other occupants again, the same people always use this washroom because we're all working out at the same time every week. So this could've scarred me for the semester. I wouldn't have been the girl who kills herself running 1400 stairs at the track, I would have been the girl who needs more fibre or the girl who recreated Noah's ark in the public bathroom. No thanks. Of course my backpack and outdoor shoes were on the floor so they get stuck in the nasty pool. Luckily I have trusty lysol wipes to back me up (notice they're in my thankful list). I wiped down my backpack in my shoes cause that's the best I could do at that point. Now the dilemma, do I tell anyone? If I was going to tell anyone I was gonna hide the evidence (aka slightly wet backpack and shoes), that it was me. Just because I flooded it doesn't mean I have to admit to it. The important part is that it's cleaned up right? Maybe that's not completely honest, but would you seriously go up to the grumpy, underpaid janitor and tell them that they had a miniature flood to clean up after you used the washroom and flushed the toilet? If you would, I respect you. If you wouldn't, well you're normal. It did get cleaned up...in case you're wondering. Moral of the story: No flood is a fun flood.
family, nurses, the gospel, sun, chocolate, sleep, lysol, warm clothes out of the dryer, fuzzy socks, harry potter, music, books, blankets, Lion King, date night, dancing, running shoes
Unfortunately according to the law of opposition, in order for us to be grateful we have to experience things we aren't grateful for...like exploding toilets (story right after). This is a short list of things I could happily live without
onions,when you open a bottle of ketchup and it spits up on your fingers, the smell of baby sick, freezing wind, just missing the train...or having to run for it, cigarette smoke,clutter, slow drivers, headaches
So about the exploding toilet... This was probably my most embarrassing moment to date, and it definitely could've been a lot worse...I shudder at the thought. Since I don't get embarrassed by much, this was pretty monumental. I was getting ready to go for a run at the U of A track and had to use the washroom. When I went to flush the toilet it made a weird noise and nothing happened. Now I know you're thinking I plugged the toilet...but I sure as heck didn't, since I only peed! It was kind of like when you don't push the flush down all the way and nothing happens. And you probably know the kind of toilet I'm talking about too...the ones in most public facilities with the big metal handles that flush and are connected to the wall. Sometimes these ones are stubborn and you have to hold the flush down for it to go. So I stick my foot up to flush (cause I have a no touch technique when going to public washrooms), and hold down the handle. Everything appeared normal, the water went down, when out of nowhere BOOM water started spraying out of the metal part attached to the wall. And it wasn't a fine mist, it was like turning on a hose full blast.At first I stood there in shock while the stall was being efficiently flooded, before I had the presence of mind to run out, praying no one else was in the bathroom, because just like you they would have thought I plugged the toilet. I praised my wisdom in always using this bathroom vs the changeroom because it's always pretty deserted and I don't like crowded washrooms. Thankfully, I was alone, because unlike most public washrooms where you have the luxury of never seeing the other occupants again, the same people always use this washroom because we're all working out at the same time every week. So this could've scarred me for the semester. I wouldn't have been the girl who kills herself running 1400 stairs at the track, I would have been the girl who needs more fibre or the girl who recreated Noah's ark in the public bathroom. No thanks. Of course my backpack and outdoor shoes were on the floor so they get stuck in the nasty pool. Luckily I have trusty lysol wipes to back me up (notice they're in my thankful list). I wiped down my backpack in my shoes cause that's the best I could do at that point. Now the dilemma, do I tell anyone? If I was going to tell anyone I was gonna hide the evidence (aka slightly wet backpack and shoes), that it was me. Just because I flooded it doesn't mean I have to admit to it. The important part is that it's cleaned up right? Maybe that's not completely honest, but would you seriously go up to the grumpy, underpaid janitor and tell them that they had a miniature flood to clean up after you used the washroom and flushed the toilet? If you would, I respect you. If you wouldn't, well you're normal. It did get cleaned up...in case you're wondering. Moral of the story: No flood is a fun flood.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Hodgepodge
This post doesn't really have a theme. It's kind of just a mish mash of stuff that's happened the past few weeks. School's busy, but manageable. I'm starting to see mental illness everywhere though...I'm even having nightmares about people after me, or I have this feeling that I can't go to sleep because I have to do an assessment on one more patient. I really never realized how prevalent it is either in the media. I mean I knew it was, but until we started focusing on it and writing our term paper on stigma, I realized it was basically everywhere. I'm trying to prepare myself emotionally for what I'll have to deal with, including reading a ton of books. I just finished reading a book written by a psychiatrist who treated a woman with multiple personality disorder. It was a mind boggling book and incredibly interesting, but most of all it helped me to see communication techniques that the psychiatrist used to help his patient. I think some of those will come in handy next month. Starting this semester I was pretty apprehensive and almost in disbelief about some things I could be dealing with and whether I would be able to handle them. Now I'm starting to take on a different perspective...of determination to do my best to help in whatever situation, and to not blame myself if things don't go as I planned. It's definitely going to be a steep learning curve.
Amidst school starting, Gordon and I have really been trying hard to make time for each other. The weather's pretty nice here now, so we've been going for walks, and we even watched the sunset in the river valley on Friday. I've never watched a sunset before, not for the duration of it anyway, and there was something about it that was so peaceful. The sun is consistent. It rises and sets in constant motion, and in this world of chaos and distraction, I think we can all draw comfort from a little constancy.
On a funny, but slightly annoying note, Gordon's been sick for the last week or so which means nightly snoring for me. His snores actually penetrate into my dreams and become different things...last night it was a machine gun, which I didn't like so much. He has a variety of different snores and they all seem to take on their own life in my subconscious. Then I wake up, and wonder why I'm still hearing that familiar sound from my dream, and realize it's Gordon snoring. Then I debate whether to poke him or not, but I've become quite good at going to sleep with him snoring, so I usually don't. Sometimes I'll actually bounce the bed a little, because it'll wake him up just enough for him to turn over and stop snoring without fully waking him up. And plus then he doesn't get mad at me for waking him up...
This weekend was (kinda still is), General Conference. Just in case you're not familiar with the mormon terminology, it's a meeting broadcast almost everywhere in the world via satellite, where the highest leaders of our church (who are unpaid btw), speak to us about topics that they feel are important like strengthening marriages and homes, temples, love and service etc. Basically it's a big weekend learning about what we can all do to be a little better, stand a little taller and shine a little brighter. It's also about learning what the Lord wants us as members of the Church to know, and we believe He communicates this through our living prophet President Thomas S Monson, and his counselors. It's my personal testimony that they love us, love the Lord, and that they are called by the Lord, just like prohets in ancient times, to speak to us about the Lord's will for us. If you have any questions hop on over to lds.org or mormon.org. These sites will give you correct and accurate information about our beliefs. And of course, don't be afraid to talk to your mormon friends. We love questions. Also visit you tube and search Mormon messages for inspirational videos, no matter what your religious beliefs. We all need a little hope in today's world.
<3
Amidst school starting, Gordon and I have really been trying hard to make time for each other. The weather's pretty nice here now, so we've been going for walks, and we even watched the sunset in the river valley on Friday. I've never watched a sunset before, not for the duration of it anyway, and there was something about it that was so peaceful. The sun is consistent. It rises and sets in constant motion, and in this world of chaos and distraction, I think we can all draw comfort from a little constancy.
On a funny, but slightly annoying note, Gordon's been sick for the last week or so which means nightly snoring for me. His snores actually penetrate into my dreams and become different things...last night it was a machine gun, which I didn't like so much. He has a variety of different snores and they all seem to take on their own life in my subconscious. Then I wake up, and wonder why I'm still hearing that familiar sound from my dream, and realize it's Gordon snoring. Then I debate whether to poke him or not, but I've become quite good at going to sleep with him snoring, so I usually don't. Sometimes I'll actually bounce the bed a little, because it'll wake him up just enough for him to turn over and stop snoring without fully waking him up. And plus then he doesn't get mad at me for waking him up...
This weekend was (kinda still is), General Conference. Just in case you're not familiar with the mormon terminology, it's a meeting broadcast almost everywhere in the world via satellite, where the highest leaders of our church (who are unpaid btw), speak to us about topics that they feel are important like strengthening marriages and homes, temples, love and service etc. Basically it's a big weekend learning about what we can all do to be a little better, stand a little taller and shine a little brighter. It's also about learning what the Lord wants us as members of the Church to know, and we believe He communicates this through our living prophet President Thomas S Monson, and his counselors. It's my personal testimony that they love us, love the Lord, and that they are called by the Lord, just like prohets in ancient times, to speak to us about the Lord's will for us. If you have any questions hop on over to lds.org or mormon.org. These sites will give you correct and accurate information about our beliefs. And of course, don't be afraid to talk to your mormon friends. We love questions. Also visit you tube and search Mormon messages for inspirational videos, no matter what your religious beliefs. We all need a little hope in today's world.
<3
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)