I wrote a Microbiology midterm yesterday, which went over pretty much like I expected it to. I don't know what was wrong with me. Burnout, perhaps. I just could not Pick Up The Book! I kept looking at it on the table all weekend but I lacked the willpower to do any studying whatsoever. So of course on Monday after clinical I did a power study in the evening and then on Tuesday during my breaks. I had a pretty good grasp of the content because of the way she actually teaches her classes instead of skimming the powerpoint slides and letting us figure it out. So thanks, Micro Lady!

So I think I did decently. Potential was definitely not achieved. Meh!

I write a Physiology midterm on Friday, and I have the same prof as last semester so I know what I need to be studying, and I know that I need to study asap because her exams are notoriously complex. Now apparently the nursing program has requested that she put in some short answer questions to "make it more like the CRNE". Uh, ok...

Other than that, clinical was really pretty uneventful. We were assigned a different patient and were to go and get health histories on them. My patient was an 87 y/o gentleman, bed bound and on NG tube feedings but otherwise mentally spry. I took a deep breath and didn't let myself be nervous this time. I peeked in the door, introduced myself, asked him how he was doing, and started asking him a few health history questions. He didn't really want to talk - he just gave me one-word answers - and I didn't really want to interrogate him! There were some awkward pauses and he said "Why don't you just watch this movie with me?"... so I pulled up a chair and we watched a western comedy together.

Good times, my good man, good times indeed.

However I was quite jealous when I found out that some other students got to transfer patients and help with bed making. I probably shouldn't have hung out with my pt for quite so long. But he seemed to enjoy it, and I'm not going to lie, I kind of enjoyed it too.

Here's what we learned in lab last week:

Yes, I am now certified to make the Best Bed EVER! And with someone in it! I wouldn't have known that was possible. And wow, it's a LOT of work. I was all sweaty by the end of our practice session, and it probably took me like 25 minutes to do. I feel sorry for my first patient to be subjected to that! :)

We also had a 1-hour presentation from OT/PT about their roles in patient care. "Refreshments" were served of delightful juices thickened to nectar and honey consistencies. It was downright nasty, FYI. The honey one just stuck in my throat and made me gag. I feel really bad for people on swallowing precautions...

Anyway, time to get back to Physiology. Good luck to you peeps heading into midterms! I feel your pain!