Monday, December 14, 2009
Blog #10
Even since starting college, my knowledge and use of technology has changed.Three years ago, I would not have known what a blog was, much less write one for a class. Now, I find it easy to set up and monitor. Blogging seems to be an effective way to express thoughts and share experiences. However, I am not one to share random thoughts and feelings with everyone, so have found the blogging to be somewhat difficult to do. Not difficult regarding the technology, but in coming up with content that I know others will be reading critically.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Blog #7
James 2:17-18
"Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without works, and I will show thee my faith by my works."
This is the verse that came to my mind during our Faith Integration class this morning. It is easy for someone to say, "Yeah, I'm a Christian," but it is also really easy to mess up and cause someone else pain. People recognize Christians by their actions; not the way they look or how smart they might be, but what they do.
I think it is really great that nurses, CNAs, or other staff members at the sites NU students go to notice that NU students are different than other nursing students. It is a good opportunity for us to make a positive impact for the gospel when we associate ourselves with a Christian institution. Yet, the association unnerves me, because I am afraid I will mess up, or react badly to a situation thus letting down my fellow students and professors. More than this, I am afraid of reflecting poorly on Christians and Christianity in general. Too often I have seen and heard stories of people who profess to be Christians, but do not act like one. The effects of such actions can be devastating to other Christians who may become discouraged, or harmful to people who may have been interested in Christianity, but were disgusted or "turned off" by that one person's actions. My prayer and hope is that I will be able to reflect the love of Christ to those I work with without causing someone else to doubt or stumble in their faith.
"Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without works, and I will show thee my faith by my works."
This is the verse that came to my mind during our Faith Integration class this morning. It is easy for someone to say, "Yeah, I'm a Christian," but it is also really easy to mess up and cause someone else pain. People recognize Christians by their actions; not the way they look or how smart they might be, but what they do.
I think it is really great that nurses, CNAs, or other staff members at the sites NU students go to notice that NU students are different than other nursing students. It is a good opportunity for us to make a positive impact for the gospel when we associate ourselves with a Christian institution. Yet, the association unnerves me, because I am afraid I will mess up, or react badly to a situation thus letting down my fellow students and professors. More than this, I am afraid of reflecting poorly on Christians and Christianity in general. Too often I have seen and heard stories of people who profess to be Christians, but do not act like one. The effects of such actions can be devastating to other Christians who may become discouraged, or harmful to people who may have been interested in Christianity, but were disgusted or "turned off" by that one person's actions. My prayer and hope is that I will be able to reflect the love of Christ to those I work with without causing someone else to doubt or stumble in their faith.
Blog #6
The last Thursday of our rotation in long-term care, I went directly from the nursing home to a memorial service for a man who went to my church. The service was a really good reminder to me that the people we are taking care of all have stories of their own. For example: the man who died was one of the original founders of my church, and loved horseback-riding, hunting, and fishing. He was a contractor for a siding company, and was a great example of a rock-solid Christian. He died of complications of pneumonia, which he contracted during his hospital stay related to his Parkinson's disease. He had been battling Parkinson's for quite some time, and had spent some time in a long-term care facility.
The next day at clinical, I started seeing the residents as I saw this man from my church. Each one has his or her own story, family, and interests. I think that, though it was a hard service to go to, I learned about better patient care. We have talked many times already on holistic care with the Gordon's Functional Health patterns, but it doesn't seem to leave room for getting to know our patients just a little bit better. Sometimes people can find comfort in sharing their stories or listening to stories related to things they are interested in. I realize that we need to maintain a professional relationship with our patients and will not always have much time to spend with them, but I feel that getting to know them just a little bit better will make a huge impact on the effectiveness and quality of the care I am able to give.
The next day at clinical, I started seeing the residents as I saw this man from my church. Each one has his or her own story, family, and interests. I think that, though it was a hard service to go to, I learned about better patient care. We have talked many times already on holistic care with the Gordon's Functional Health patterns, but it doesn't seem to leave room for getting to know our patients just a little bit better. Sometimes people can find comfort in sharing their stories or listening to stories related to things they are interested in. I realize that we need to maintain a professional relationship with our patients and will not always have much time to spend with them, but I feel that getting to know them just a little bit better will make a huge impact on the effectiveness and quality of the care I am able to give.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Blog #5
This past weekend, I went to my parents' to visit my family. All my siblings were there, and I happened to have my stethoscope with me, so I told my sister I wanted to practice oscultating her lungs. Pretty soon, I was holding the stethoscope up to my own lungs, heart, and abdomen for my sister and brothers to listen to. (My parents even got in on the action, though my dad started wheezing on purpose...) Their faces were pretty much priceless when they heard the noise from peristalsis.
When my family started hearing the sounds, they wanted to know what was making them and why, so I had to explain the valves opening and closing in the heart, the lungs moving, and the motions that your intestines make to them. They all seemed pretty impressed (or suprised), and it made me realize how much we have all already learned this year in class. I also thought about how much more we are going to need to know before we graduate. It seems like a pretty impossible thing to learn so much in only two years, but since we have managed to make it this far, I feel confident that we can all graduate knowing what we need to know.
When my family started hearing the sounds, they wanted to know what was making them and why, so I had to explain the valves opening and closing in the heart, the lungs moving, and the motions that your intestines make to them. They all seemed pretty impressed (or suprised), and it made me realize how much we have all already learned this year in class. I also thought about how much more we are going to need to know before we graduate. It seems like a pretty impossible thing to learn so much in only two years, but since we have managed to make it this far, I feel confident that we can all graduate knowing what we need to know.
Blog #4
I got a chance to do my nursing interview, and the nurse shared a story with me that I thought others might enjoy. I know we've all already made the decision to become nurses and the reasons for it, but we may run into others who have not. This is what she told me:
"I one time met a young lady who told me she was going into nursing. I asked her why she wanted to go into nursing, and she said she wanted a job that paid good money. I said to her, 'You have no business going into nursing then.' You need to have a good heart to be a good nurse. You need other reasons (besides money) to become a nurse. Often, you are faced with life-threatening situations, and are still paid less than a plumber - you need motivation."
She told me after this, the young lady did end up dropping out of nursing school and finding another line of work. However, I feel that this is something worth remembering: you need to have some sort of motivation to have this kind of career, whether it is a calling, or a belief, or simply a desire to help others, you must want something out of your job than money. I have noticed that every single nurse I talk to tells me that "nursing is such a rewarding job." No nurse mentions how good or bad their pay is, but that their job is worth going to every day.
"I one time met a young lady who told me she was going into nursing. I asked her why she wanted to go into nursing, and she said she wanted a job that paid good money. I said to her, 'You have no business going into nursing then.' You need to have a good heart to be a good nurse. You need other reasons (besides money) to become a nurse. Often, you are faced with life-threatening situations, and are still paid less than a plumber - you need motivation."
She told me after this, the young lady did end up dropping out of nursing school and finding another line of work. However, I feel that this is something worth remembering: you need to have some sort of motivation to have this kind of career, whether it is a calling, or a belief, or simply a desire to help others, you must want something out of your job than money. I have noticed that every single nurse I talk to tells me that "nursing is such a rewarding job." No nurse mentions how good or bad their pay is, but that their job is worth going to every day.
Blog #3
This week, I was able to take some vital signs for one of the CNAs on Friday, and doing so, I got to talk to some of the residents a bit more. One of the ladies started her morning routine by saying Psalm 23, but she forgot it after the first line, so I said it with her. When we finished she had tears in her eyes, and said, "You know it, too!" She was so happy about having someone taking time to talk to her and pray with her. It was amazing to see the difference in her, from sad and lonely (looking) to joyful.
It seemed like through this simple act, I was able to touch this lonely woman's heart. That is a huge part of nursing, taking care of the patient's spiritual/emotional needs; not just their physical needs. It reminded me of going through the Gordon's Functional Health Patterns in class. When the professors mentioned taking care of a person holisticly, I was not exactly sure how I would do that. Talking about values and beliefs with others has never come easily to me, but when actually in a clinical situation, it just seemed to happen all on its own.
It seemed like through this simple act, I was able to touch this lonely woman's heart. That is a huge part of nursing, taking care of the patient's spiritual/emotional needs; not just their physical needs. It reminded me of going through the Gordon's Functional Health Patterns in class. When the professors mentioned taking care of a person holisticly, I was not exactly sure how I would do that. Talking about values and beliefs with others has never come easily to me, but when actually in a clinical situation, it just seemed to happen all on its own.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Isaiah 41
Hi everyone! I was reading my Bible today, and this passage just seemed appropriate to me... it's a little bit long, but worth the reading. I hope you are encouraged by it!
Isaiah 41:8-16
But you, O Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, you descendants of Abraham my friend, I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, "You are my servant;" I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be sidmayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. "All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish. Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them. Those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all. For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. Do not be afraid, O worm Jacob, O little Israel, for I myself will help you," declares the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. "See, I will make you into a threshing sledge, new and sharp, with many teeth. You will thresh the mountains and crush them, and reduce the hills to chaff. You will winnow them, the wind will pick them up, and a gale will blow them away. But you will rejoice in the Lord and glory in the Holy One of Israel."
Isaiah 41:8-16
But you, O Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, you descendants of Abraham my friend, I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, "You are my servant;" I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be sidmayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. "All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish. Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them. Those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all. For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. Do not be afraid, O worm Jacob, O little Israel, for I myself will help you," declares the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. "See, I will make you into a threshing sledge, new and sharp, with many teeth. You will thresh the mountains and crush them, and reduce the hills to chaff. You will winnow them, the wind will pick them up, and a gale will blow them away. But you will rejoice in the Lord and glory in the Holy One of Israel."
Blog #2
Wow, the first week of clinicals have already gone by, and the second is nearly here! It really is kind of scary to think that we are already five and a half weeks into the semester...
I haven't actually done very much care for my patient, yet, but I am looking forward to getting to work with her. She is going to take a lot of understanding and love, because she has Alzheimer's disease. As a matter of fact, she told the NAC I was shadowing that she didn't want me to take care of her, and she told me to get out of her room before I had even started talking to her. (I found out later that she was afraid she was in a mental institution because of my white coat.)
I have to admit, after the first day, I wished I had a different patient; one that I could talk to and get to know a little bit better. However, after spending a little bit of time with her, I found that she was very grateful to be listened to, even though she didn't really know what she was saying or where she was. She eventually told me that I was "a good kid," which, coming from her, seemed like high praise. I think God will use the time I have with her to teach me patience and to truly care for one of His children.
I haven't actually done very much care for my patient, yet, but I am looking forward to getting to work with her. She is going to take a lot of understanding and love, because she has Alzheimer's disease. As a matter of fact, she told the NAC I was shadowing that she didn't want me to take care of her, and she told me to get out of her room before I had even started talking to her. (I found out later that she was afraid she was in a mental institution because of my white coat.)
I have to admit, after the first day, I wished I had a different patient; one that I could talk to and get to know a little bit better. However, after spending a little bit of time with her, I found that she was very grateful to be listened to, even though she didn't really know what she was saying or where she was. She eventually told me that I was "a good kid," which, coming from her, seemed like high praise. I think God will use the time I have with her to teach me patience and to truly care for one of His children.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Day 1
Hi! I am excited to finally start "real" nursing classes after looking forward to and preparing for them for the last three years. I feel especially blessed to have been accepted into Northwest University because of their Christian perspective included in the program. I'm looking forward to meeting and getting to know everyone in our class!
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