So close, but still so far.

So this week was pretty average so I'm trying hard to think of something fun to write about. Hmm, lets see...well I guess that I can tell you that on monday and tuesday we talked about chronic renal failure which is a pretty interesting topic since when people have this there is so much else that happens to there other body systems. Wednesday was the last day that we had in the progressive care/burn unit at Spectrum. We brought in a bunch of goodies for the nurses and techs because they we all so awesome! The patient that I had needed to have a dressing change and my nurse let me do it all by myself (with her supervision of course). I'm not sure if I mentioned this in a previous post or not but next semester I have my community health rotation at Mount Mercy senior apartment center and then I have my leadership rotation in the PICU (pediatric intensive care) which I am really excited about. But not too much more is going on besides that. The semester is wrapping up. I have one group debate project in my death and dying class and then an online final and that class will be done, and for my regular nurisng course we have one week left of lecture material and then the exam. Oh, I graduate on April 30! This is exciting, however, it is sort of bitter-sweet because on one hand I get to graduate and then on the other I still have to finish the spring/summer semester of school. Being done is so close, but the same time is still a couple of months away and I hear that this last semester is one of the hardest.

Relay for Life!

So for the majority of this post I am going to write about Relay for Life because that was the main event this week, however I'll quick fill you in on the first part of the week. Monday was seminar and theory class. In seminar we had a chiropractor and a massage therapist come talk to us. In theory class on both Monday and Tuesday we talked about brain injuries and CVA's. This past Wednesday and Thursday were are last two normal days at clinical in on the progressive care and burn unit. I had a great patient, one that I had couple of weeks ago, but a sad story. This coming week on Wednesday will be our last day there. Oh, and on Tuesday we had a blood drive and a bone marrow registry donor sign up - both of which I did! This was the 19th time I have given blood with MI Blood!

So Relay for Life was Friday from 6pm to Saturday morning at 6am. Thank you so very much to all the people that helped me reach my fund raising goal for this event. I was able to meet and surpass my goal. Relay for Life is an event were a number of people gather donations in support of finding a cure for cancer and remembering those who have died from cancer, are battling cancer, or are survivors of cancer. Throughout the whole time from 6 to 6 people are walking around the track also showing support. This event was super cool because its a bunch of college aged people all gathering together in support of Relay for life, to remember, to celebrate, and to fight back. I met a number of cool nursing friends from different classes, so that was cool! I got at the event at 6pm to see the openining ceremony which was about celebrating the survivors. They had the cancer survivors walk around the track with a caregiver and everyone else stood around the track and clapped and hooted and hollered as they walked past. It was so touching to see how much this simple act of supporting the survivors was affecting them in that moment!

Later in the night they also had a luminaria ceremony where the track is lined with white backs that students and participants have decorated with the names of people, in honor of or in memory of, that have faced cancer. They put a little light in the bag and turn off all the lights so it is pitch dark, except for the lighted bags. Then everyone walks around the track in complete silence. There were so many people and the track was so full it was hard to even walk, but this was such a deep and moving part of relay.

They also had other stuff going on through the night. Big inflatable games and obstacle courses, fear factor, minute to win it, cardboard box car competition (which the GV student nurses won!), and the Mr. Relay competition! I have added some pictures from Relay for Life this year and I hope that you enjoy looking at them! As a team Grand Valley State University raised more than $80,000 for Relay for Life!!!

Please and Thank you!

An update on the past week- here we go!

Monday we had our second exam. I didn't get to study for it as much as I would have liked to because I got mandated at work so I had to stay and work the night shift (16 hours in a row is not fun at all). So I go in to take the test, I'm feeling pretty good, and the first two pages I feel like I am guessing answers from thin air. Lets just say the test was pretty challenging but I must have had God on my side helping me get through it because I did okay, not as well as I would have liked, but decent.

Tuesday we didn't have seminar so I was able to sleep in, which was much needed after such a challenging test and a long weekend of studying. We did have theory though, and I can't really remember what we talked about...oh wait it was chronic disease related to the liver and the pancreas. (seriously it took me a good five minutes to remember that!)

Wednesday and Thursday we had clinical. Just a reminder, I am on the Progressive care/ burn unit. Interesting two days. Wednesday I got to watch a burn dressing change which was very intense but very cool at the same time. The patient that I had these two days was interesting as well mostly because he was very demanding. Please, please remember that when you get older a please or a thank you will go a long way. I mean you should do it now, but if you're ever in the hospital and the nurse hears those words they will love you!

This coming week is going to be fun. I'm giving blood on Tuesday and also signing up for the bone marrow donor registry and Friday is our Relay for Life event!