So...Its been a couple months since the last post. (Technical difficulties. Computer wouldn't let me get onto my own blog. Cant imagine why) Anyways, fall semester of college is in full swing. I actually start my third class Monday. I can see everyone's just on the edge of their seats to know what I'm taking so I'll just give you a quick summery.
Algebra-I go to the ICC Pekin campus twice a week Tues and Thurs, 10-12.
English-Online
Medical Terminology-online and is roaring to start Monday.
People have been asking me if I like college and I sorta give them a look. Mainly because I'm not too impressed at this moment. Which would be because I just graduated from high school. I've done all this math and english for how many years and they want me to do it... Again?
So I usually say, "I just have to get through the general education and then I'll like it."
(But college is going good so I'm very thankful)
As to the job situation, I am still looking. I've applied here and there and the people just didn't have room for an awesome person like me. (haha actually someone else was more qualified for the job.) Nevertheless, I'm still looking.
So thats one corner of my life. And when I say corner, I mean like a hunk of it.
Starting chores for our neighbor so that will be in my schedule again.
Do you ever meet someone you haven't seen awhile and they ask you what you have been up to and you just kinda go blank? And then you just give them a general answer, but then later you think of all the work or activities you do or did?
Having one of those moments right now. :)
Friday, October 10, 2014
Saturday, July 26, 2014
CNA Endevour
Once I came back from the trip with the others I started CNA(Certified Nurses Assistant) classes at Spoon River College in Canton. After all, I've graduated high school, its time to start life! Some people know what they want to do by age 6 while others don't know up to the day till they graduate. Possibly they never know.
I've chosen nursing and my parents advised that I take this CNA course to get a taste of the medical field.
It was a month long very intense course. By intense I mean 3,4 to 5 chapters a day. And they were,..well just like regular school pretty much. Long in some parts, more exciting in others.. Good information though on basic care of people; mainly on the elderly. There were 8 in the class. 2 guys,(let me tell you it is good to have men in the medical field. Because lets face it girls, they have more muscle than us)and 6 girls ages ranging from 17-37. A great thing about the class was that we got to eat during it. We didn't have to wait till 11 or 11:30 for lunch. I, of course took advantage of this:)
The CNA course is divided up into half of lectures and half of clinicals, where we actually work somewhere to be signed off on the skills we learned. Then afterwards we would have our final exam. AND THEN.. the state exam in August to be certified. (I can only work as an Nurses Assistant right now, but I wont be working till after I start classes at ICC to schedule work around that.)
Now onto the clinicals. We went to work at a nursing home in Canton. We had to be there by 6. Since Canton is an hr away, I had to get up at 4. I'm by no means a morning person. But seeing how it was going to be a temporary it was alright. So I woke up, slipped on my white top(WHITE! I couldn't believe it. Anything white is like taboo in our house. Its like asking for something to get spilled on it. So it couldn't be any better to be working in white.) ,my navy blue pants, my white shoes and strapped on my gait belt and my wrist watch. Then I slipped my name badge, a pen, a notepad, a piece of paper with the residents names and their room numbers into my pockets ,picked up my bag that had my lunch, stethoscope and blood pressure cup that I would need for the day.
Canton Ho!
Clinicals like I said is where we actually work somewhere to do our skills. We have to be checked off on them in the time that we are there, and yes we are graded. We are partnered up with a partner and we work together on residents seeing how most need 2 people to help them.
The nursing home had 3 halls. 1st hall, is a rehab hall. Those that just need to be there for a little bit. Its almost like a hotel setting. However, some end up in the 2nd hall which is what you see in regular nursing homes. The rooms can have up to 3 or 4 residents in there. The 3rd hall is for those with disabilities. We mainly worked on the 2nd hall but there were times that'd we help out in another hall.
Once there, we had a quick meeting about things we needed to know for the day then we jumped into action. The 1st order of business was to look at the shower sheets to see who needed baths for the day. Which means we get to walk around the rest of the day with wet shoes. You know, people worry about it being awkward seeing someone naked. But in all truthfulness, we have to get those people in and out as quickly as we can. Theres no time to be thinking about those things, and well, as people get older, things don't look the same.
Some can manage very well on their own to where only 1 person helps them, most need at least 2 people to pretty much do most of the washing, while some are complete care where they are placed on a stretcher and 2-3 people are needed.
The showers needed to be started at least 10 minutes before you brought the resident in because it took so long to get hot water. You had to constantly monitor the temperature because it would go cold on you.(There was one day that we couldn't do any shower because it was storming) Before you brought the person in you had to make sure to grab towels, wash cloths, their clothes and a depend(if they wore one) and.their soap and lotion if they had it. Once in the shower room, you'd transport them from their wheelchair to the shower chair. By the 5th day of clinicals we had to have a shower done at least in 15 minutes or we would be docked for the day. Its best to roll up your pant legs otherwise they'll be soaked by the end of the shower. Especially when someone points the hose right on you. (This unfortunately happened to me) Running around in wet shoes and socks can give you blisters on your feet especially on the bottom of them. (Trust me, I know firsthand or should I say first foot.)
On with order of business. Its our job to get the residents up and ready for breakfast by 7 so they can start eating by 7:30. Its very frustrating to not be able to find things to give proper care. You're searching through drawers and closets, under the bed, the bathroom...Everywhere trying to get this resident only to find they're out of something or its just plain missing. But you can't dawdle so you got to make do or run up to the nurse's station or the supply closet to get it.
The morning routine consists of partial baths if they don't get a full, taking them to the bathroom, changing depends,(adult diapers) getting dressed, brushing hair, oral care which may just be popping some dentures in, and then helping them out to the dining hall. Those with complete care take longer because you must use a hoyer to get them from their bed to their wheel chair. To do so, you have to roll them many directions, back and forth to try and slide a sling underneath them. You attach the rings on the edges of the sling to the hoyer; the person is then lifted out of bed and swung over to their chair while someone is watching the head and holding their feet.
Dressing people can be quite a challenge. Its our job to help them pick something out. Most don't really care so we try to pick a couple out for them to choose from. There was one lady however, that she was simply appalled at what I picked out apparently. She was just like, "You expect me to wear that?!" She was a hard one to get ready. Another lady that was there was a compulsive changer. She'd change her clothes probably 10 times a day if she could. So her clothes were kept in the linen closet. Course, that didn't stop her from wearing her roommates clothes. :D
BREAKFAST!
Our job is to take trays out to people from the kitchen, and make sure they have everything they need. If they don't want to eat what they have and want something else then you take it away and you get something else. It's their right to refuse. There was one lady there and if she had it her way she'd have macaroni for every meal. I'm not sure if she did get that for breakfast or not...
Once the trays are served, you'd go to the feeder table. The feeder table is where those that need complete care are fed as well as those that have trouble eating. Mainly if they are easily distracted or need constant prompting to eat. Those that are complete care usually had their food in liquid form.
If you weren't helping at the feeder table, you'd help deliver room trays.
After breakfast, most of them migrate out either back to their rooms or to the tv room. Some stayed if there was going to be some kind of activity later on.
After breakfast is when vitals are taken. There is a list for who's vitals need to be taken. Vitals consist of temperature, blood pressure, respitory and pulse. For weekly or monthly vitals, everybody's vitals are taken. It can be pretty intimidating. Its very easy to get it wrong, and sometimes you can't hear what you need to hear. Most of the residents are pretty cooperative and will let you take it without a problem. Course, there are some who will let you take it, but will complain the whole time about it. Oh well. They have a right to complain I guess.
If we aren't taking vitals, we are patrolling the hall checking call lights, or making beds if house keeping hasn't gotten to it, or repositioning complete care residents. Nail care can also be done during this time. Residents that smoke usually are out around this time for their 9:00 smoke. Someone has to get their smokes from the nurse's station and take them outside. There are alarms on the doors by the way for any escapees.
10:00- break for lunch.
Once back on the floor, we are getting residents back out to the dining hall. Same routine as breakfast.
By 12:00 we are off the floor. We are given our daily assessments from our instructor with either praise or it saying that we need to work on something.
The skills that we had to be marked off at clinicals were:
Many of the Residents have some form of Dementia. They can constantly ask you the same question over and over and over and over. They'll tell you things that aren't true. They can possibly revert back to an earlier time in their life.
Also, you have to be a bit weary on trusting them. There was one lady that would be all loving to you one minute then the next minute slap you. Always have to be on your toes.
So that was my CNA experience. It could be frustrating, nerve racking, smelly, and a bit strange at times, but its good work with some funny stories with it.
I've chosen nursing and my parents advised that I take this CNA course to get a taste of the medical field.
It was a month long very intense course. By intense I mean 3,4 to 5 chapters a day. And they were,..well just like regular school pretty much. Long in some parts, more exciting in others.. Good information though on basic care of people; mainly on the elderly. There were 8 in the class. 2 guys,(let me tell you it is good to have men in the medical field. Because lets face it girls, they have more muscle than us)and 6 girls ages ranging from 17-37. A great thing about the class was that we got to eat during it. We didn't have to wait till 11 or 11:30 for lunch. I, of course took advantage of this:)
The CNA course is divided up into half of lectures and half of clinicals, where we actually work somewhere to be signed off on the skills we learned. Then afterwards we would have our final exam. AND THEN.. the state exam in August to be certified. (I can only work as an Nurses Assistant right now, but I wont be working till after I start classes at ICC to schedule work around that.)
Now onto the clinicals. We went to work at a nursing home in Canton. We had to be there by 6. Since Canton is an hr away, I had to get up at 4. I'm by no means a morning person. But seeing how it was going to be a temporary it was alright. So I woke up, slipped on my white top(WHITE! I couldn't believe it. Anything white is like taboo in our house. Its like asking for something to get spilled on it. So it couldn't be any better to be working in white.) ,my navy blue pants, my white shoes and strapped on my gait belt and my wrist watch. Then I slipped my name badge, a pen, a notepad, a piece of paper with the residents names and their room numbers into my pockets ,picked up my bag that had my lunch, stethoscope and blood pressure cup that I would need for the day.
Canton Ho!
Clinicals like I said is where we actually work somewhere to do our skills. We have to be checked off on them in the time that we are there, and yes we are graded. We are partnered up with a partner and we work together on residents seeing how most need 2 people to help them.
The nursing home had 3 halls. 1st hall, is a rehab hall. Those that just need to be there for a little bit. Its almost like a hotel setting. However, some end up in the 2nd hall which is what you see in regular nursing homes. The rooms can have up to 3 or 4 residents in there. The 3rd hall is for those with disabilities. We mainly worked on the 2nd hall but there were times that'd we help out in another hall.
Once there, we had a quick meeting about things we needed to know for the day then we jumped into action. The 1st order of business was to look at the shower sheets to see who needed baths for the day. Which means we get to walk around the rest of the day with wet shoes. You know, people worry about it being awkward seeing someone naked. But in all truthfulness, we have to get those people in and out as quickly as we can. Theres no time to be thinking about those things, and well, as people get older, things don't look the same.
Some can manage very well on their own to where only 1 person helps them, most need at least 2 people to pretty much do most of the washing, while some are complete care where they are placed on a stretcher and 2-3 people are needed.
The showers needed to be started at least 10 minutes before you brought the resident in because it took so long to get hot water. You had to constantly monitor the temperature because it would go cold on you.(There was one day that we couldn't do any shower because it was storming) Before you brought the person in you had to make sure to grab towels, wash cloths, their clothes and a depend(if they wore one) and.their soap and lotion if they had it. Once in the shower room, you'd transport them from their wheelchair to the shower chair. By the 5th day of clinicals we had to have a shower done at least in 15 minutes or we would be docked for the day. Its best to roll up your pant legs otherwise they'll be soaked by the end of the shower. Especially when someone points the hose right on you. (This unfortunately happened to me) Running around in wet shoes and socks can give you blisters on your feet especially on the bottom of them. (Trust me, I know firsthand or should I say first foot.)
On with order of business. Its our job to get the residents up and ready for breakfast by 7 so they can start eating by 7:30. Its very frustrating to not be able to find things to give proper care. You're searching through drawers and closets, under the bed, the bathroom...Everywhere trying to get this resident only to find they're out of something or its just plain missing. But you can't dawdle so you got to make do or run up to the nurse's station or the supply closet to get it.
The morning routine consists of partial baths if they don't get a full, taking them to the bathroom, changing depends,(adult diapers) getting dressed, brushing hair, oral care which may just be popping some dentures in, and then helping them out to the dining hall. Those with complete care take longer because you must use a hoyer to get them from their bed to their wheel chair. To do so, you have to roll them many directions, back and forth to try and slide a sling underneath them. You attach the rings on the edges of the sling to the hoyer; the person is then lifted out of bed and swung over to their chair while someone is watching the head and holding their feet.
Dressing people can be quite a challenge. Its our job to help them pick something out. Most don't really care so we try to pick a couple out for them to choose from. There was one lady however, that she was simply appalled at what I picked out apparently. She was just like, "You expect me to wear that?!" She was a hard one to get ready. Another lady that was there was a compulsive changer. She'd change her clothes probably 10 times a day if she could. So her clothes were kept in the linen closet. Course, that didn't stop her from wearing her roommates clothes. :D
BREAKFAST!
Our job is to take trays out to people from the kitchen, and make sure they have everything they need. If they don't want to eat what they have and want something else then you take it away and you get something else. It's their right to refuse. There was one lady there and if she had it her way she'd have macaroni for every meal. I'm not sure if she did get that for breakfast or not...
Once the trays are served, you'd go to the feeder table. The feeder table is where those that need complete care are fed as well as those that have trouble eating. Mainly if they are easily distracted or need constant prompting to eat. Those that are complete care usually had their food in liquid form.
If you weren't helping at the feeder table, you'd help deliver room trays.
After breakfast, most of them migrate out either back to their rooms or to the tv room. Some stayed if there was going to be some kind of activity later on.
After breakfast is when vitals are taken. There is a list for who's vitals need to be taken. Vitals consist of temperature, blood pressure, respitory and pulse. For weekly or monthly vitals, everybody's vitals are taken. It can be pretty intimidating. Its very easy to get it wrong, and sometimes you can't hear what you need to hear. Most of the residents are pretty cooperative and will let you take it without a problem. Course, there are some who will let you take it, but will complain the whole time about it. Oh well. They have a right to complain I guess.
If we aren't taking vitals, we are patrolling the hall checking call lights, or making beds if house keeping hasn't gotten to it, or repositioning complete care residents. Nail care can also be done during this time. Residents that smoke usually are out around this time for their 9:00 smoke. Someone has to get their smokes from the nurse's station and take them outside. There are alarms on the doors by the way for any escapees.
10:00- break for lunch.
Once back on the floor, we are getting residents back out to the dining hall. Same routine as breakfast.
By 12:00 we are off the floor. We are given our daily assessments from our instructor with either praise or it saying that we need to work on something.
The skills that we had to be marked off at clinicals were:
- Perform Oral Hygiene
- Shave a Resident(male or female)
- Perform Nail Care
- Perform Perineal Care
- Give Partial Bath
- Give a shower or a tub bath
- Make Occupied Bed
- Dress a Resident
- Transfer a Resident to Wheelchair using a Gait Belt
- Transfer using a Mechanical Lift
- Ambulate with a Gait Belt
- Feed a Resident
- Calculate Intake and Outake
- Place Resident in a Side Lying Position
- Passive Range of Motion
- Take Vitals
- Move Resident in bed with and without help
Many of the Residents have some form of Dementia. They can constantly ask you the same question over and over and over and over. They'll tell you things that aren't true. They can possibly revert back to an earlier time in their life.
Also, you have to be a bit weary on trusting them. There was one lady that would be all loving to you one minute then the next minute slap you. Always have to be on your toes.
So that was my CNA experience. It could be frustrating, nerve racking, smelly, and a bit strange at times, but its good work with some funny stories with it.
Summer Happenings
Its been awhile that's for sure! I came home from Alabama(yes I made it home ;) and my computer went wonky. Here at the house by no means am I exaggerating to say that I am the Computer Tech here. If there is a problem with any electronic device of any shape or form I'm usually called on. I'm not saying I'm a pro because just about anybody can jiggle wires or press buttons; I guess its because I have *ahem* patience.
Unfortunately, I couldn't fix my computer so I had to take it in. Now that I got it back its time to do some updating!
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I successfully graduated! After years and years of English, Science, Math and other subjects that had rules that made you wonder what crazy person came up with it, I 'm finished with high school.
No sooner that I got home from Alabama I headed out east with Mom, Sarah and Emily to North Carolina for a week.
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Lots of different beverages on this trip.
So far its been a pretty good summer!
Unfortunately, I couldn't fix my computer so I had to take it in. Now that I got it back its time to do some updating!
No sooner that I got home from Alabama I headed out east with Mom, Sarah and Emily to North Carolina for a week.
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| The Biltmore |
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| A conservatory kind of thing near the Biltmore |
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| Horses on the farm near Biltmore |
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| Of course we saw lots of dogs on the trip much to my delight:) |
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| A stuffed warthog inside the hotel we stayed at. |
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| Inside another hotel we stayed at |
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| Beachin! |
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| Apparently an horrific bridge to Emily and mom. |
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| Entrance to a plantation. |
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| The house but isn't the original. Apparently the first two were like shacks. Nice upgrade:) |
Lots of different beverages on this trip.
So far its been a pretty good summer!
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Coming home today...uh, PSYCH
So I was supposed to come home today. We pull up to the airport entrance to see this:
One side of the road was blocked off because it was broken up. Police and a towtruck watched to make sure that cars didn't get stuck.
So after forging across the river, we get a call from dad saying that my flight has been cancelled. But we still needed to go in to reschedule and that kind of sort.
We get in looking like half blown half drenched rats.
And so we waited in line.
For an hour...and didn't move.
There was only one lady handling our line and there were two men holding it up because I guess they wanted to leave today.
To top things off, I took dramamine before we left on our hour drive. I was about sleeping on my feet. Once the two men moved, the line started moving. Course, we didn't stand there without being entertained. A huge cricket had made its way into the airport. First, a lady slightly tapped it with her foot squashing its juice out of its limp crunchy body. And then a pretty pretty tall man finished it off by walking across not noticing that he just murdered a innocent bug.
So we got to listen to the commentary on the bug.
Once we got up to the desk, we had to figure out whether or not my flights would get me home. We decided it would be best to wait till tomorrow.
So then we headed back home. After nodding on and off on the ride home, I crawled into bed and slept. I had woken up at 2 or 3 because of the tornado sirens. Thankfully, it was north of us.
So we're gonna try again tomorrow:)
So after forging across the river, we get a call from dad saying that my flight has been cancelled. But we still needed to go in to reschedule and that kind of sort.
We get in looking like half blown half drenched rats.
And so we waited in line.
For an hour...and didn't move.
There was only one lady handling our line and there were two men holding it up because I guess they wanted to leave today.
To top things off, I took dramamine before we left on our hour drive. I was about sleeping on my feet. Once the two men moved, the line started moving. Course, we didn't stand there without being entertained. A huge cricket had made its way into the airport. First, a lady slightly tapped it with her foot squashing its juice out of its limp crunchy body. And then a pretty pretty tall man finished it off by walking across not noticing that he just murdered a innocent bug.
So we got to listen to the commentary on the bug.
Once we got up to the desk, we had to figure out whether or not my flights would get me home. We decided it would be best to wait till tomorrow.
So then we headed back home. After nodding on and off on the ride home, I crawled into bed and slept. I had woken up at 2 or 3 because of the tornado sirens. Thankfully, it was north of us.
So we're gonna try again tomorrow:)
Monday, April 28, 2014
Each to the Beach
Saturday- all of us girls and Amy(their mom) packed the beach bags and cooler into the trunk of the car and headed off to the beach. I had forgotten how hard it is to take pictures in the bright sun because you can't see the screen. So I hoped that my fingers weren't in the way and that I was getting a picture of something good.
When we first went into the water, I was a bit paranoid. I wasn't wearing my glasses so I couldn't see all that clearly. I'm paranoid of sharks anyways, but then I couldn't see the ocean floor so I was worried about crabs and such. As far as I'm concerned, those pinchers could whack a whole toe off. So once we waded back up to the shore, I put my glasses on. Even if water splashed up on them, it was better to have some sight then none.
There were quite alot of dolphins being sighted. We even got pretty close to them. A fish popped up out of the water and the next thing you knew a dolphin gobbled that thing up mid air. We weren't close enough to touch them or anything though.
I was looking at the boats and such not really paying attention to around me when I felt like I was getting poked by something sharp on my back. Well, like I said earlier, I'm already paranoid. So when I look over my shoulder to see a baby crab starting to crawl up my back, I flip out. I stood straight up and started trying to get away. Of course, the others thought it was funny but hey. Theres no telling what that crab might have done if I just let it crawl up my back.
A couple of us are a little redder face than before we went to the beach. Plus our arms, legs, neck and some of our back. Haha, eh, maybe I should've put more than one coating of sunscreen on. Needless to say, people at church knew that we went to the beach.
Despite being sunburned, we had alot of fun. Just gonna be using a lot of aloe vera for the next couple days.
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| People who decided to plop down in front of us. Oh well. |
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There were quite alot of dolphins being sighted. We even got pretty close to them. A fish popped up out of the water and the next thing you knew a dolphin gobbled that thing up mid air. We weren't close enough to touch them or anything though.
I was looking at the boats and such not really paying attention to around me when I felt like I was getting poked by something sharp on my back. Well, like I said earlier, I'm already paranoid. So when I look over my shoulder to see a baby crab starting to crawl up my back, I flip out. I stood straight up and started trying to get away. Of course, the others thought it was funny but hey. Theres no telling what that crab might have done if I just let it crawl up my back.
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| Tower of Sand Balls. The unknown wonder of the world. ;) |
A couple of us are a little redder face than before we went to the beach. Plus our arms, legs, neck and some of our back. Haha, eh, maybe I should've put more than one coating of sunscreen on. Needless to say, people at church knew that we went to the beach.
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| Katie, Me, and Kimberly |
Sunday, April 27, 2014
Romping in Botanical Gardens
Friday-The guys finished their day of school and we being the adventurous people who didn't want to sit home all day, went to the Botanical Gardens. Its a place to walk around with different kinds of gardens in it.
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| Community Garden |
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| This was growing in the compost pile. However it was pretty. :) |
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| Caleb, Kimberly, Christian. Aren't they sweet? |
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| Fountain in the rocks |
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| More of the Community Garden |
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| I've seen this one around Alabama alot. |
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| They call this art? |
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| He's a biggin! |
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| Koi Fish pond:) |
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| Desert Garden |
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| Christian posing for me |
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| The Rose Garden |
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| The Larger Koi pond |
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| Caleb bombing my picture |
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| Hoping to catch a turtle |
Caleb managed to scoop a turtle out being lured in by bread, but no sooner that he got it on land that it bit him and escaped back into the water before the rest of us could get to his spot. Then we ran out of bread so we couldn't lure them in. A couple foreign people tried to catch the big koi fish as they passed through. One of the guy's plan was to try and scoop it out of there. The only thing he scooped out though was water which landed on Christian who was next to him. It was pretty funny:)
We did see a snapping turtle head, but he wouldn't show the rest of himself so I couldn't get a picture of him. His neck was really long so when you first see him, he looked like a snake.
It was a fun day:) Katie who had stayed home, made pizza dough so that when we got home we could make our own individual pizzas:) It was good.
Thus concluded our Friday.
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