Kathryn Tickell

Almost Goodbye... For Now!

6 exams down, 1 more to go! Finals have been crazy mostly due to all the studying that it has required. Surprisingly though, I have managed to stay focused with the gorgeous weather. I have even been studying outside while working on my tan and absorbing some vitamin D! Besides all the studying, it has been a great week! 

Friday is my last exam. I have Simulations which is at 8 AM... should last about 2 hours and then I am out of here! CT bound and then hopefully spending Mother's day on Cape Cod with my whole family. I am looking forward to this very much. All week I have been packing a little bit at a time so that once my exam is done I will be on my way home. I must say it is a very exciting time of year!

Field Training starts in 7 days! It is quite difficult have finals the week before while also thinking about all the studying I need to do for FT. I can handle it since I know it will all pay off. I am going to have a great summer with FT and work, but I have tons of fun things planned. A trip to Boston, tips to Cape Cod to visit my sister and her new puppy, birthday celebrations... so much to look forward to. Since Field Training is early in the summer for me, I will work extremely hard for 28 days I am there, then have the rest of the summer to rest and relax!

Countdown until summer: 2 days! 

Have an awesome summer!

Hopefully I'll be blogging again next year! 

:)KT

Week Before Finals....

The weather has been absolutely gorgeous! 

This week isn't that bad as far as school goes. Most of my classes are wrapping up and the amount of work assigned it not much. Mostly just preparing for all of the studying for finals starting this weekend. For Micro we had our final lab today, answering many of our questions for the final. I am very nervous for this one, so happy I get it over with on Monday. For Mental Health class today we had an integrated exam online. Basically it is a culmalative test that prepares us for the NCLEX, our board exam for our nursing license. Tuesday and tomorrow will complete our Simulations Lab Final OSCE. My partners and I have to complete a comprehensive "morning's care" for our assigned patient. It combines all the tasks we have learned throughout the semester. My partners and I will be doing physcial assessments, checking vitals, giving meds, inserting a Foley catheter, changing the bed and giving a bed bath. These are just the basics but we have to react to the situation as nurses on the spot. 

Last day of PT tomorrow! I am very excited mostly since I have gotten sick and know I need to rest up in order to get better for finals. Although its been so nice out, I spent most of the day in my bed studying. I just don't have the energy now that I am sick. However, I have no doubt that I will be getting well soon!

My Field Training date is still undecided, but at least I know that I am going.. and that is all that matters to me! 

Next week things will be less busy but much much more studying. Time to buckle down for finals....

Countdown Until Summer: 9 Days!!! 

I'll blog again next week!

KT:)

Final Countdown

This week was pretty busy. Lots of studying, getting work done, and more preparation for Field Training. 

With the weather getting nicer, homework seems to get harder to accomplish with every day that passes. Yesterday it reached 70 degrees! For EBP we have to write a paper with a partner on a research topic. My friend and I sat outside for the whole afternoon and completed the paper. Although, I have to say we got distracted many times by the sun, taking quick naps. We both ended up getting sunburn. I normally don't get sunburnt but since I've been in Vermont all winter my skin tone has become pretty white. haha. By the end of the semester things like playing frisbie or sitting out in the sun is distracting and I've noticed I have started to focus more and more. Let's hope with finals coming up I can at least concentrate to do well on all of them. 

That's not to say there hasn't been any work getting done. Today we had our last Micro exam before the final. I felt prepared and I am really hoping that it went well. 

Air Force things have been going well. I only have 2 more PT sessions left next week, which will give me a nice break from getting up early. On Tuesday we had the annual Tri-Service Awards Ceremony. So many people got awards it lasted a pretty long time. I received a Scholastic Excellence award which was an honor to be recognized for my hard work. As far as Field Training goes, I got word that I may not be leaving the date that I thought. I possibly might be going a little later in the summer, which is okay by me! 

One more week of classes then finals. 

Final Countdown until summer....15 Days!!!

I'll blog again soon! 

:)KT

FIELD TRAINING!

Last Thursday at PT the Colonel congratulated me and told me I had gotten a FT slot! This week has been a rush of getting everything prepared. I leave May 15th..... which means I will have 5 days home after finals. Yesterday we had a bag drag which basically is an inventory of everything we need to have packed for when we go. Some of it we were issued such as uniforms and all the other things are our responsibility to purchase. It's a relief to have everything packed since I won't have much time when I get home. Every night this week I have studied from my Field Training Manual. It is so much information that we have been going through all year, but now I am really trying to memorize all the little details! This whole process is so very exciting. I know its going to be quite the challenge. To be honest I have no clue of what I can exactly expect despite all the stories I'm told. 

Last weekend I had my AFOQT which was definitely challenging. It was about 4 hours in duration. I will find out my results in probably 3 weeks. There is a chance I may have to take it again, but I am staying positive. 

This weekend as a flight we are getting together, all of us who are going to FT, with the help of our flight commanders we are going over room procedures such as making our beds the proper way and dining hall procedures. A couple of us are going to practice D&C in the morning so that we feel more confident upon arrival in Alabama. 

Besides Air Force things, classes have been quiet for the most part. Everything, homework wise, seems to be calming down, as finals are approaching fast! This Friday we have our last mental health exam before the final. Next week is our last Micro exam before the final. I just want to get done with finals so I can then spend a couple days at home AND THEN go Field Training!!!! 

As you can tell I am very excited and yes, a little nervous but definitely more excited. I have been preparing for this all year long and it is finally here! 

Countdown to FT: 28 Days until Departure!

I'll blog again soon!

:)KT

The End is Near!

4 1/2 weeks until summer vacation! Once again this semester went by very fast. After finals I will be half way done with my college education.... oh my goodness, kind of a scary thought. 

This week I have had much more free time, which all of it has been consumed by getting work done. Still, it has been enjoyable to have 30 extra minutes to read my own personal book instead of studying or readying a text book. 

Lately, I have been focusing a lot on my AF responsibilities. This coming Sunday I have my AFOQT (Air Force Officer Qualifying Test). I have been studying like crazy and hope I am able to pass. As a nursing major in ROTC, the minimum in each section is all that is needed to pass. Let's see how well I can do! 

Micro has been another focus of mine. We still haven't gotten our tests from last week back, but I want to get a head start on the next exam we are going to have. We get a break from lab this week which I am excited to have more time to focus on my AFOQT preparation. 

Registration is tonight for fall semester classes. I have my schedule all planned out and I am hoping I will be able to get into all of the classes I need to. If not I'll still be able to take the classes it is just harder because I'll have to create a new schedule with different times.

Countdown: 4 1/2 weeks!! 

I'll blog again soon! 

:)KT

 

Signs of Spring!

I had a lovely Easter weekend at home. Nice weather, food, sweets, family, and friends. All of it was wonderful, especially since it felt like spring already....then I came up here and was disapointed to see snow flurries and cloudy skies. However, although it has been cold, the sun came out today and I hear the bird chirping so spring must be on its way to Vermont. 

Today was my last day of clinical. We sat in two groups as our activities and did our best to engage the patients in fun things to do. One of the groups was a crossword puzzle therapy. It was amazing. Basically some of the patients sat in the room while the leader filled in a enormous size crossword puzzle taped on the wall. Some patients with severe schizophrenia and anxiety were able to coherently think of answers that I had no idea on what they were. It was a great way to see the patients work cooperatively in the present without their minds in a fantasy world or thinking of their psychological impairments.

Micro exam was on Tuesday. It was very challenging and I am not sure what the results were yet. I should find out tomorrow. Simulation exam tomorrow... which is why this note might be a little short. I have more studying I would like to do before I feel comfortable enough to fall asleep tonight. This exam is on the urinary and bowel elimination systems. For our OSCE we will be inserting a Foley catheter, which I feel confident in, since I made sure to practice it in lab multiple times. I am looking forward to tomorrow night when I can relax. 

This weekend is going to be low key. I am going to catch up on some sleep and get ahead on my work since not much is due next week. It should be a great weekend of relaxation! I can't wait!

Time for studying.......

I'll blog again soon!

:) KT

 

Easter is Almost Here!

After a great weekend, this has really been a good week so far! Not that its been easy...

I've been super busy this week! In Mental Health Nursing we had another exam. Next week is our last clinical for the course. We will be running a games group session with the inpatients. It should be a lot of fun and I hope a lot of them participate! 

Micro, micro, micro... We have an exam next week. I would like to do really well on this one, so I have been studying for a week now. In lab for this course, we have been given 2 unknown organisms which through numerous tests we must identify what they are. It can be a little tricky, but it is fun at the same time. 

With all these tests and work, I am trying to get ahead in all my classes as well. Slowly I have been making progress. Evidence Based Practice is one of the classes I am trying to get ahead in. Tonight I am going to work on a paper that is due in 2 weeks. It's difficult to work in advance when there's so much work due now, but in time it is definitely worth it. 

Tomorrow after classes I am going to head home for Easter weekend.... 1 day! I will get to spend a lot of time with family and friends! It is such an amazing holiday that truly means a lot to me. I will also get a nice break from school and get some work done at home. 

Still no word on Field Training....I'm hoping I will find out soon though!

Happy Easter!

I'll blog again soon!

:)KT

 

Spring is in the Air!

I wouldn't have said that there was any signs of spring 3 days ago but today, the sun is out and the skies are blue...although now that I say this I can see snow flurries outside the window. oh jeez. On Tuesday and Wednesday we had a pretty big storm... foot or so of snow. Hopefully it is our last snow storm though! I can't wait for spring and of course summer too!

I had my mid-semester counseling for Air Force this week. We are supposed to hear very soon on whether or not we got into Field Training. I'm very excited to find out! This week as a wing we went to one of the Todd Lecture Series Speakers and it was very interesting. We were even given a day off from PT yesterday morning, so I've been able to get some sleep this week. 

On the same subject of the Air Force, my best friend who is a student here at Norwich is graduating from AF Basic Training today! I am so happy for her and am excited to hear all about it. It is hard to not be able to talk to your best friend for 8 weeks, but we got to exchange many letters and have three 2 minute phone conversations.

As far as the rest of school went for this week, I had a huge exam in Simulations yesterday. I really would like to know how I did, grades should be posted soon. I may have mentioned this before but there is a written test and a skills portion for this course called an OSCE. They are quite stressful! However this week we had to prepare a sterile field in front of our instructors and I passed! I did everything I had to and got to walk out of the lab with a great feeling of relief. 

Our Nursing Department is hiring a new director for our program. The whole process has been a great experience. As students we have been told our input matters greatly, so we are allowed to go to the presentations done by each prospective and participate in things like lunch-ins. It's a great opportunity!

Next weekend I will be going home for Easter and can not wait! I gave up all sweets for lent, which is quite difficult for me. Some chocolate will be waiting for me on Easter morning!

So as my tradition stands.....Count Down: 7 days! 

I'll blog again soon!

:)KT

Spring Break is Practically Here!

Evidence-Based Practice paper....complete. Microbiology exam #2...complete. 2 PT sessions...complete. Psych clinical... complete. Work study for the week...complete. All is have left is classes tomorrow (Thursday), 1 more PT session, and Friday morning classes, a long with Evidence-Based Practice midterm... After that, I will be out of here early Friday afternoon!

For the EBP paper we had to write a quantitative critique on a research report. It was tricky at times since there is so much in a research study to take into consideration. I am a slow writer but once I took my time and edited the paper thoroughly, I was pleased with my final piece. 

We get our micro exams back tomorrow. I always get nervous before getting my grades back... so we will see! 

Air Force ROTC is going well for me. This week I was flight commander of my flight. During Lead Lab I marched the flight for some of the time and learned how to properly do road guard procedures. It was a great experience, since that is going to be exactly what we will do doing at Field Training. Maybe when I get back I will find out about Field Training placements, however, it still may be a few more weeks. I will have my mid-semester counseling session with the Colonel when I get back, so that I can see my progress from last semester and improvements I may need to make. 

I am certainly excited for spring break! I'm not going any where too special... but I do get to go home. I have many plans with friends, and family to hang out. I plan on catching up on sleep and continuing to work out throughout the week. I also will be going to Uconn for a couple days! I definitely need to catch up on some basketball games. It's going to be a relaxing, fun break, which I very much need!

I know after we come back from spring break the end of the semester will fly by. I only have 2 more weeks of clinical days. Plus with Easter and some other fun stuff, I have a lot of plans which will keep me busy! 

Count down: 2 days!!

I'll blog again soon, have a great week!

KT:)

Snowy snowy week!

It has snowed every day this week!  But no accumulation until today...we are supposed to get 3 to 6 inches this evening. The snow adds excitement to my daily schedule! Last night my friends and I spontaneously decided to build a HUGE snowman outside my dorm room window. It may have been a little of a proscrastination on our part, but it was completely worth it. 

This past weekend was a blast! As I mentioned last week I went to visit my sister on the Cape. I got to cook, bake, relax, shop, and sleep. We went to the beach and walked for a bit. It wasn't as cold as it is here, however the wind was awful. 

For Air Force we have been getting more emails about Field Training... Not that I know if I have a spot yet, but all the important logistics are being put into place. I'd say I am excited to find out and at the same time anxious since I want to know really bad. Apparently we will find out late March. So until then... I will be praying!

The next week and a half are pretty low key. I still have a lot to get done, but I only have one exam next week along with a paper. This weekend I hope to get a lot of studying done and most of my paper written. One of the things I like about being at school here is that I can focus. When I was in high school I thought I wanted to go to college in the city, Boston most likely. Now that I look back on this I laugh because if I were to have studied in the city I would have never gotten any work done and never mind getting the good grades that I do here. I like to go visit Boston or some big universities like Uconn, but I'm glad I go here and have the ability to stay focused. Please don't get me wrong, it's definitely not all about homework, studying, and more studying, but there needs to be a balance. Fun is definitely important too!

Count down until Spring Break: 9 days!!!

I'll blog again soon!

:)KT