Getting Fit As a Nurse

This month was a little strange, because we were snowed in a few times and we had mid-terms.

A&P: We learned about the nervous system and the sensory system. The brain, spinal cord, meninges, etc. (See my blog for a more in-depth look at this.) The eye and the ear were shown as important parts of the sensory system because they are specialized and so large. The eye is made from the sclera, conjunctiva, cornea, pupil, iris, choroid, retina, macula/fornea.

HR: Empathy, being present, warmth, humor, respect.

Healing:

Health:

What a filled few weeks it's been. I can hardly recall what we've learned about...

A&P: The main concepts we learned in this class was the integumentary system, nervous system, muscular system, and the skeletal system. Main parts of the Integumentary system covered was the individual layers (dermis, epidermis, subcutaneous tissue) and what all is inside each layer (emphasis on the glads: Sudoriferous, sebaceous; stratum germinativum, hair follicles, etc). Also, the roles of the integumentary system (protection, watere regulation, temperature regulation, excretion/secretion, as well as being a the house of sensory organs (meissner's corpuscle, and pancinian corpuscle).

The Skeletal system's emphasis was on its roles (structure, protection, movement, hematopoiesis, storage), where the red blood cells are formed; the differences between yellow and red bone marrow and where each is stored (medullary cavity and the epiphases' spongey bone, respectively), the types of bone (spongey and compact; short, long, irregular, and flat), the parts of a long bone (epiphasis, diaphasis, medullary cavity, epiphasis plate or line, articular cartilege, endostium, periostium, etc). Also be able to describe how bones get their nutrition (viens and artieries entering through the periostium via the haversian cannals. The larger vessels are housed inside the Medullary cavity, supported by the yellow bone marow).

Also know the different bones, and types of joints ("SAD" in order of least movement to most movement: sinarthosis [skull], amphiarthrosis [symphasis pubis, vertebrae), and diarthrosis [synovial. Knees, shoulders, hips, etc.])

The sinarthrosis joints are only found in adult skulls and the joints are referred to as sutures, since there is little to no movement in them. They include coronal suture, sagittal suture, labdoidal suture, and so forth... Those are the three we must know.  Areas of the skull: periteal, zygomatic, frontal, occipital, mandibal, maxillary.

The Muscular system didn't go into much detail aside from the muscle fibres and basic components (actin, mysocin), myofibrils, endomysium, perimysium, epimysium, tendoms, the types of contractions (tonic, isometric, isotonic, and tetonic), spasms, sprains, strains, sarcomeres, fasicles, cramps, the importance of actin, myosin, calcium, and ATP; how negative feedback works in a muscle contraction.

The muscular system went into a lot more detail and also covered the main groups of muscles. I'll try to elaborate later if time permits.

The nervous system involved divisions of the nervous system (autonomic, central, sympathetic, parasympathetic... We have yet to touch on the eteric nervous system), the brain and its divisions, the spinal cord, neurons, glial cells, dendrites, cell body, nodes of renvier, myelin sheeths, action impulses, receptors, synapses, synaptic cleft, axon, axon branches, and so forth... As time permits, I will go into more detail as well.

Health Class: Stress and stress responses were discussed. As well as sexual expression, sexually transmitted infections, contraceptives. It is a good idea to learn the different types of contraceptives, and have a general idea of which STIs are which and pay specific attention to what HIV is and how AIDs affects the body.

Healing. This class has touched on grieving stages... It's hard to recall what all this class has gone through.

Nursing Arts focused on bed making, catheter care, bed baths, briefs, oral care, and a few other small supportive ideas to use in clinical. The main concepts to keep in mind were asepsis, body mechanics, and saftey of the client. For example, dirty linen must always be held away from the body. If the linen touches our scrubs, our scrubs are isntantly considered contaminated. Hand washing at appropriate times is required -- 2 minutes initially, then an antibacterial alcohol gel is used after touching dirty linens (hand wash is done if the linen is visibly soiled... gloves are also used during the process). The bed rails  must always be up if we are not with the client or in a position where we can stop them from rolling off of their bed.

We must also ensure our own safety through proper body mechanics and using gloves if we beleive we might be in contact with body excretions or secretions, such as those through the eye, mouth, nose, vagina or penis; and the anus, or open wounds. The bed must be raised to waist height and we must bend down appropriately.

Four Bs:

• Bed height (low if we are leaving the room, high if we are working with the client)
• Bell... Call bell within reach of the patient.
• Breaks. Make sure the bed breaks are on at all times.
• Bed rails are up to protect the client from possible injuries from falling out of bed.

Human Relationships: This class focuses on how we will approach our clients. It is also beneficial to apply the skills we learn in this class into our daily lives.

The helping relationship is established sole for the patient, though as nurses, we should receive as well -- receive feedback, satisfaction of being of aid to the client, etc. FELOR -- Face the client, Eye contact, Lean forward, Open posture, Relaxed posture.

Some people will choose their perception of another person based only on their first impression. Because of this, it is important that we choose our expression, presentation, and so forth very carefully.

During the past two weeks, we have gone over concepts regarding proper asepsis, stressing the importants of frequent handwashing; the history of nursing and powerful women and men that have influenced the field; the different types of communicators, pollution and its effect on our health and the environment; basic medical terminology as well as common abreviations, and acronyms; we have also learned all about alternative medicine and the main basis of nursing: holistic care.  Care for the patient, not the illness.

I felt a little bored the first few weeks, but I remained attentive and alert because I was excited. I learned a bunch about myself and how I act in social situations. After being a stay at home mom and then moving into a job that had very little socializing, moving right into this program with many other adults has thrown me into a social environment that I am definitely not used to.

I quickly found myself judging my reaction to people and how I must come off to some people. So far, I have labelled myself a know-it-all an a snob. Obviously, these attributes are not something I want to be seen for. Especially not as a nurse. For our "Health" assignment, we are to change two things in our life in order to improve our overall health. Health is defined as a combination of physical, emotional, social, occupational, etc. health. There are multiple dimensions of health.

For the assignement, I have chosen to clean up my diet. To further it, I have chosen to be a vegan for at least a week. Part of the reason is out of curiosity of veganism and part of it is because I have had a chronic sinus infection for nearly 3 months and I have read online on a few pages that cutting out dairy products can help aid in relieving chronic sinus infections. I will certainly have a lot to write about if that is true and it does help my sinus infection disappear.

for the second thing, I have chosen to improve my social life. To do this, I will be branching out in each class to meet and greet more classmates. We are all in the same 6 courses for the next 12 months, so it's a good idea to make friends with each person and find out about them. While doing this, I will make sure that I put the focus on the other people, not me. I will also try to lay to rest any judgments I try to pass off.