Nursing School in Pictures, Part 2

My Faves for Nursing School

Care Plan Book - Ackley, Nursing Diagnosis Handbook
You can also access this book online for free. And it helps you to create your care plans!

Stethoscope - Omron Stethoscope
For a stethoscope, I chose something simple and cheap. I admit it's not the greatest in the world, but I know upon graduation, someone will get me a Littman.

Scrubs - Landau V-Neck Scrup Top, Landau Cargo Flare Pant
Pockets are so important. You need them for mints, pen light, pens, small notepad, scissors, stethoscope, cell phone, etc. The scrub top alone comes with 4 pockets!

Shoes - I can't say I have a favorite shoe...yet. But having a good shoe for all the standing, walking, and moving about is very important. Make sure you find a shoe that is comfortable and offers support. And a shoe that is either leather, vinyl, or whatever material that bodily fluids cannot soak through!

Drug guide - Pearson Nurse's Drug Guide
I personally like this guide the best. I have tried the Mosby version, but it just doesn't do it for me. Oh, and try to get an e-version too. When you're doing your drug concept maps, you'll thank me later!

Makeup and Hair for Clinical Days - Examples here
I know that as nursing students we're tired! Long nights of studying, creating care plans, etc. But that doesn't mean we don't have to look professional when we're at clinical.
On clinical mornings when I wake up super early, I like to wash my face with cold water and a cleanser for waking up. I use E.L.F's eye refresher underneath my eyes and let it set while I brush my teeth. Then I apply tinted moisturizer, a little bronzer, and a natural pinky blush, followed by using an eyelash curler, applying a little liner, then mascara and filling in my brows. I will usually apply concealer if I need it. The makeup takes less than 5 minutes. Then I follow up by putting my hair up in a cute top knot, ponytail, etc. I try not to spend more than 10 minutes on my hair! On those mornings, I'm always out the door in less than an hour.

I hate to say this...

BUT, I miss school. Like really miss it. Don't get me wrong - I love being home with my kiddos, but there is just something about school.

Since 2010, I have taken classes every semester including summer semesters. Those summers weren't always fun, but it gave me the opportunity to keep my head in the school game. Now I feel like I am lost. I have been reading ahead a bit. And learning the awesome Tic Tac Toe method.

But it's not the same. Not at all. I miss learning about poop and catheters and therapeutic communication. I miss wearing my scrubs. I miss learning new skills in the skills lab. I miss my clinical instructor dropping F bombs and cracking jokes. I miss pulling my hair out over patient prep. (Okay, I might be going a little overboard with that one.) And it's not like nursing school is fun. It's hard, like really hard. What is wrong with me?!

Guess What Y'all?!

I joined Twitter. https://twitter.com/RamblingSN

Not sure what I am going to do there as of yet. But we'll see how it goes.

It's Like Wearing Pajamas!

Scrubs...it's like getting to wear pajamas to work. So comfy! I love my scrubs. In my school, we wear scrubs for clinical and class days. I love never having to wonder what I should wear to class! I swear picking out my clothes always takes the longest. But just because scrubs are basically jammies doesn't mean you should look like you just rolled out of bed while wearing them! 

As nurses, we are expected to be professional individuals. We're held to high standards everyday. And whether we like it or not, appearances do matter. My first semester clinical instructor was a real stickler for this, too. She expected our scrubs to fit properly, including the length (or in my case, lack thereof). She wanted our hair tied back neatly, not messy. There were a few times where she sent people to go brush their hair. She also wanted us to look rested.

Let's think of it this way. You're a patient in a hospital. Your nurse comes in and introduces herself. Her hair is in a ratty pile on top of her head, no makeup, dark circles under her eyes and she is yawning like crazy. Are you going to want her to put in your IV or catheter? Ummm...I know I wouldn't. I think the same needs to go for us students!

Now in nursing school, we have patient preps, long hours of studying, creating drug and concept maps, care plans, etc. We run on caffeine and hardly any sleep. We're going to be tired! But there is something we can do. Cara of maskcara.com (seriously amazing blogger!) has an awesome tutorial for hiding those under eye circles! Check it out here.