Week 3 and 4 as a level 4 nursing student

In week 3, we started on days and I had one pt who was lovely, but I was also able to help out with so many pts those two days! It really felt good to be back and I was so excited to be back doing skills and working. My instructor's really laid-back but still expects us to deliver, so I really dig the style.

There was a pt vomiting blood on Fri and I was checking this pt's vital signs with my classmate. When I was checking the resp rate, I had counted for about 10 seconds and realized that there WAS no breathing. I motioned to my classmate to count with me and after about another 10 seconds, the look on our faces was pretty much the same. I knew, without words, that we were both thinking 'CODE BLUE'. It was like I was looking in a mirror, cuz I'm pretty sure that's how I looked, too. In my mind, I know I was thinking...'ok, what do I have to do? Is his airway open? Press the code button. Pull out the pillow, give two breaths....compressions....' One of the things I fear is calling a code unnecessarily...but I guess it's better to call a code than to not call one and have something even worse than embarrassment happen, right? Anyway, we made sure to do everything possible to wake him up by shaking him, grabbing his shoulder, and doing the sternal rub. After the sternal rub, he GASPED for air. Again, the look on our faces was like..."THANK GOD!!!!" Turns out it was sleep apnea, but MAN! That was intense. My heart was beating so hard and so fast...I don't think I can remember when the last time was that I felt so.....intense....but that's not even the right word for it. I'll have to think about that.

So this week, week 4, was a disaster and a half. We started at 1300 and finished at 2200. I was frantically trying to figure out what information I needed to know for my pts and their diagnoses. I was just not with it and couldn't figure out why. It was really frustrating for me, actually. Then I went home and was like....'ok. Tomorrow will be better. Tomorrow will be better.' and it KIND OF was, but still. I don't know why, but I just felt so blah. Next week will be better. This was just a weird week, I think. I'm still me, don't worry. :)