My 3rd week of Clinical.......Hummmm

I have just finished my 3rd week of Clinical in my 2nd Practicum (as an RCA) and all I have to say so far about this new experience of mine is that every day so far has not been dull. The residents that I am working with are total care (I do every thing for them) and they all are in the middle to late middle stages of Dementia of various types. So far I have been kicked, pinched, hit, had my scrubs yanked at, been told that I am hated while performing A.M Care (and I don't blame them when they say they hate me, I would hate it to if I was being turned this way and that!) I am counting my lucky stars that I haven't had shoe thrown at me, yet, and I haven't been spit at...so far. As a rule of thumb as I am learning is to always have two sets of work cloths on my person at all times while working.

But aside from the physical and some verbal abuse that I am enduring dealing with this people in Dementia, there is a lighter, even funny side to it all and these are things that I like to bring home with me at the end of the day and in a weird way it is what makes it all worth while.

Remembering back to my first Practicum I was working with an elderly lady. She was in the late first stage of her Dementia and was quite aware that something was not quite right in her world. She was charming and loved to tell stories about her childhood and as it turned out her and I had things in common. On my second week at this facility, I was running late and I did not have a chance to my first coffee in the morning. I was tired and couldn't wait for my coffee break. As I was counting down the minutes, I decided to sit with my elderly lady while she counted down the minutes for her lunch. We got talking and as we were talking, she stopped and looked at me and declared that I looked tired. I said I was and I looked over at her neighbour who was sleeping soundly in her wheel chair, I decided to tell her that I wish that I was able to take a nap. My elderly lady grabbed my hand, looked at me very seriously and told me that was not a good idea because that is when things go missing! (From the memory banks.) That really did put a smile on my face.

She was my first resident and I don't think that I will ever forget that moment.

The School Gods Were Smiling!

I would never would of believed it if some one would walk up to me two years ago and tell me that I would have a favorite wall. I am not talking about the wall that I use as a shrine for my childrens art work, but the kind of wall that would make me feel nervous, scared, laugh and releived all at the same time. This wall has the name of the "The grade Wall." And this wall is the most popular wall in the Continuing Care Building. It is amazing how this wall will turn the most rounded person into a bowl of jelly. All who view this Great Wall will either hang thier heads down in shame or their backs against the wall with the look of asperation and thinking to them selves, thank God that is over and done with, NEXT!"

In order to get to my class room, I have to walk past this Wall. There is no avoiding this Wall. I don't want to walk past it and I do wish that the classroom is on the other side of the building or even on the first flour. This would make me so happy. But no, my class room is located infront of 'the wall.' I walk out of the classroom the wall greats me every single time.

Last night I walked past the Wall. I kept my head down avoiding eye contact with the wall. I did not want to see my student number on the wall. Because there will be the most dreaded number in the world marked beside my student number. I walked into the class room and I look at my class mates. Do theylook Happy? Do they look disappoined?

Has the marks been posted? I am sure I will find out. The teacher walks in the greating us with her famous Nurse smile. She has a peace of paper in her hands. Oh God, the marks!

"I have done marking your exams, would you like to know the range of the marks before I put them up on the wall? Of course we all want to know the Range!!! 19 to 30. I thnk to my self that 19 is mine. I know I needed to get 21 to pass. Dread fills up in in side. We all follow her with our eyes as she goes to the wall and hangs the paper with a thumbtack. We all watch her walk back into the class room. She gives us a look and smiles at us all and says quite happley "Do you want to know how you all did?" We all jump out of our chairs and make our way to the wall. We are all shoving and pushing each other like small school children to found our most secreat number. I find mine, I close my eyes and then open them. My back is aganst the wall. and I think to my self "Thank God, I am glad that is over and done with. NEXT!" I past my test with flying colours.

D Day Tomorrow

Tomorrow is test day – After cramming Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of basic human needs and studying each need in-depth through human development physically, socially, emotionally, cognitively and spiritually and taking a close look of the Continuity Theory for understanding aging in all aspects of one self and, Good God, can’t forget the importance of Asepsis in the work/home environment, my head feels like it is going to explode. After saying this sentence out load, I am out of breath.

But to let you know I feel good about this test. I will most likely not get a 100% in this test but I know I will get at least a high 80% or low 90% and I really need to remind my self that this test is only 20% out of my module 151 course. So it is not that bad. It is the other two tests that I need to worry about the most. There both at 30% for the over all mark. There are some assignments but the mark criteria are small.

I know my family can’t wait until after Friday, I am sure they want the house back to its normal state and I discovered that T.V is the best babysitter for my daughter. I know some of you will think differently about but when you have to hit the books and it’s is just the two of you. You do what you got to do.

Well back to the books I go for my last day of studying.

Pre Test Jitters

I have my first big test out of a hundred big tests coming up this Friday, and am I nervous about it, you bet I am. It is not the actual test that bothers me, it's the anxiety leading up to the test that is stressful. In order to pass this test I need a B or higher. As with the whole course, I need a B or higher to graduate and obtain my certificate or it's money poorly spent.

Living out in Sooke has it draw backs with this whole college thing. Tonight there is a study group downtown Victoria and I can’t go because of my family obligations. And I also hate driving in the torrential rain that seems to be the worse in between Sooke and Langford, so I am just going to have to make due with me, my self and I. I am sure we will do fine; it is just the pre-test jitters.

Well back to the books I go.

College Student Now........

Wow!!!!

I almost forgot what my Blog looked liked. After being away from it for two and half weeks and just coming back to it now, I love my pumpkins more then ever. It is too bad that I am going to have to find a new skin somewhere to replace them in the next couple of days. (I guess I am going to have to fight with the kids for computer time)

I would like to say sorry for not posting an entry but my weeks have been very busy with School, family and other obligations that I have and it is just now that I my self and my family have found a good routine regarding the new changes around the house. The big change is that I am now a part time student at Camuson College. 3 nights a week I am at school. My classes start 3:30 in the afternoon and do not end until 9:30 at night. It takes me about 45 minutes to commute both ways from home to school.

My son is starting to get used to being by him self after school for an hour after gets off the school bus and my daughter getting used to the baby sitter, and my husband is getting a ride to work and back from one of his bosses. Small “D” my son, is still finding weird that when he comes home from school on the days that I don’t go, I am doing homework. So as you can see some big changes in my house.

Just to remind people what I am taking at college; I am doing the H/RCA course and will not be done with that until June of next year. Other words, I am going to be a Nurses Aid. After I am done my course, I am strongly considering doing the bridge course from H/RCA to LPN, but before I can do the jump from one course to another, I need to log 850 hours as a RCA or HCA.

OH!!!!! An interesting tid-bit that I have learnt from school, the age classification of what a young adult is in the health field has changed to 19 – 35 years of age. (Middle age is 35 – 65 years of age, the golden years is 65 and up) So you see I am still a young adult and therefore forgiven for being a late bloomer when it comes to postsecondary education. (A big smiley face here!!!!!!)

12 Days To Go....

Today is exactly 12 days before my academic life starts. October 15 is my first day of college. And I am happy to announce that I almost have all my ducks in a row with payments schedules, class schedules and what not. Of course their a few loose ends that need to be tied up, but that would happen with time, I am sure. The only thing left that I really need to do is make my way to the college book store and buy the 3 modules that I need for this term. After making inquiries I found out that each module: HSRC 151 Heath and Healing, HSRC 155 Work Role, and HSRC 180 Lifestyle and Choices, are going to cost $150.00 each. Ouch!! But that is the price one must make for a higher education and a fatter pay cheque.

So for the next 12 days, I am just going kick back and relax at home and enjoy life before school starts. And take it day by day.