Saying it is cold out is quite the underestatement. Today is -5, but the Weather Channel says with the wind chill factor it feels like -20. It is so much fun walking to PT in the early morning and classes throughout the day.... (sarcasm haha). Seriously though, it is not too bad if you're dress properly! I have to say, if it is going to be this cold, I wish it would snow. Yesterday we got about an inch, but I would love to have a big storm this week!
This week has been a much better transition. Last week I was somewhat overwhelmed with so much information being thrown at me of all the expectations for this semester. Also, now that I am working again for my workstudy job, I have time to get a lot of work done.
This week in Sim (Simulations Lab) we got right into working with the Sim patients! Before class we are given out assignments with partners. Past medical history, reason for hospital visit, and other information is given for us to research before we even meet our Sim patient. Once we get in class we have a lesson on what the reading was on in our text. Then we get started with introducing ourselves to our patient, taking their vitals, and tending care to the objective of their stay in the "clinic". At first it is a little awkward to be talking to a plastic person, but once you imagine yourself in the clinical setting things become real. I am excited for the experience I will obtain from this class. All 3 of our instructors help us a long the way to teach us what we are doing right and wrong. We are also learning how to do Care Concept Maps with identifying the patients problem and list nursing interventions which we perform. In clinical we will actually have to do these for out real patients, so this is a great learning opportunity.
For AF, the nurses in our wing gave a brief to the wing on health and wellness. PT has been going very well. The new design to the way PT is run helps me get a much better workout and I know will improve my run for the next PT test! I am still working on my pushups and situps so I can max those out as well.
The work load is a lot. I am working on planning my time out properly and it seems to be helping.
Last weekend I got to say goodbye to my best friend who is going to Basic Training. I am very excited for her but will miss her for this entire semester. For now my 2 letters a week will have to do. Once she gets back we will have an amazing time catching up.
Back to work!
I'll blog again soon!
:) KT
(Stay Warm!)
I have been waiting forever to check out this college! I do not want to be in the military department of it, but I like the nursing program... do you think that is weird haha? Is it always freezing up there?
Posted by: Makayla | 01/26/2013 at 07:25 PM
That is not weird at all! I am a civilian student (so I'm not in the Corps, which is the military part of our school). Norwich offers you to just be a civilian student which is very common for a lot of the nursing students here. Another option that is offered here is to be in the Nursing Program as a civilian (no corps) but do ROTC like at any other college offering ROTC. That is what I do. I do not have to be in the corps but I am a part of the Air Force ROTC, so I only have those commitments rather than those plus all corps responsibilities.
And it is not always freezing. This week was just especially cold. We are in VT so it's bound to be cold but in the fall it's normally pretty decent and once spring gets here too hopefully the weather will get warmer as well.
If you have any more questions feel free keep asking them!
:) KT
Posted by: KT Tickell | 01/27/2013 at 11:03 AM
Wait so if I just want to check out the nursing program, and not cadet, its considered to normal? I just feel like it would be weird, but I think Norwich is interesting! Im a junior in hs so i have been going around New England a lot haha :D
I heard that its like mainly a guy school... from a girl perspective how is that?
Posted by: Makayla | 01/28/2013 at 03:20 PM
A lot of people are civilians and not cadets. However the majority of the school is in the Corps. Norwich is very different from any other college experience out there, in a good way.
Majority of students are guys... I am not exactly sure of the ratio and don't want to tell you the wrong information. To be honest though, I get a long better with guys. On the other side though my group of girl friends are really close and we always stick together, so it's not unbearable.
Posted by: KT Tickell | 01/28/2013 at 06:29 PM
That sounds so cute! haha
How did you know that you wanted Norwich instead of a different college that offered Nursing? This is so hard choosing a college! Like so many colleges offer nursing and its hard to know which I would rather go to..
(im kind of venting haha sorry!)
Posted by: Makayla | 01/28/2013 at 08:05 PM
I was ended up deciding Norwich between a few other schools because of some aspects of the Nursing Program. The Simulation Lab which I talked about in this post is a great opportunity that is not as advanced in other school's programs. I also like that as a Sophomore you begin Clinicals where as many other schools don't start until Junior year. Plus for me, Norwich offered what I wanted for ROTC.
It is a very hard decision. I recommend visiting Norwich and seeing how you feel during your stay!
Posted by: KT Tickell | 01/30/2013 at 05:41 PM