Blog #12
The big thing of the 21st Century is technology. It's known for making our life easier. We have an infinite amount of information at our fingertips online, drive-thru food, banking, pharmacy, and of course, the best of them all, drive-thru coffee. It seems like technology has taken over our lives. Its newest addition is computer charting in healthcare. Created to reduce mistakes and promote better patient care, it seems as if the early part of this transition is more frustrating than originally thought to be. It has been a little over a month since computer charting entered my life and to this day I still find it a bit challenging. The idea is to chart everything and in the correct place but you cannot overchart. This is very difficult not to do since there are so many options and when you do chart something, it appears in 10 different places even though you only charted that information once. So then you begin to wonder, is this overcharting or is this normal? And then begins the struggle of knowing exactly what to chart. Experienced nurses seem to be having no problem with it. I'm definitely looking forward to that day when computer charting will not be challenging, so that I can focus more on my patient and worry less about where to chart my assessment. Despite its struggles, I love technology because it makes learning, communicating, and transferring information easier and at a much faster rate. We no longer need a horse and a buggy to take a letter to our loved ones that will take months to arrive. Now we just need a phone and a number and communication across the world can occur within seconds. I love this era and its advances in technology!!! Thank you Jesus for technology!
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Struggles of Nursing
Blog #8
Over the past weeks of clinicals I realized that I have a hard time dealing with suicidal individuals. I'm not a very emotional person and never have been, but for some reason, this topic touches me so deeply that I can't stop thinking about these individuals even when I go home. The fact that they don't see anything worth living for is so heartbreaking when inside of me I have the greatest joy because of Someone who is completely, totally, in love with me and my faults. I want everybody to have this joy inside and when I meet people that don't and are willing to take their lives before even knowing about this love, completely turns me upside down and brings out emotions in me that I never knew existed before. I've been really praying about this. I believe that God will guide me and comfort me and teach me how to overcome this struggle and how to become a light to those that have these struggles.
Over the past weeks of clinicals I realized that I have a hard time dealing with suicidal individuals. I'm not a very emotional person and never have been, but for some reason, this topic touches me so deeply that I can't stop thinking about these individuals even when I go home. The fact that they don't see anything worth living for is so heartbreaking when inside of me I have the greatest joy because of Someone who is completely, totally, in love with me and my faults. I want everybody to have this joy inside and when I meet people that don't and are willing to take their lives before even knowing about this love, completely turns me upside down and brings out emotions in me that I never knew existed before. I've been really praying about this. I believe that God will guide me and comfort me and teach me how to overcome this struggle and how to become a light to those that have these struggles.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
kids, kids, kids...
Blog #7
The other day we were learning in Health Promotion class about toddlers. One of the things Professor North mentioned was that at this age many kids have night terrors. I found that information very interesting, but what was even more interesting was experiencing it for myself the very next night. I live with my sister and she has a 3-year-old son. That night, I was awoken from beautiful, relaxing sleep to horrid screaming coming from my sister's room. The whole house was on their feet in an instant. As we all gathered around her son, it didn't even seem like he knew that we were even there. No matter what we did or said, he just kept screaming more and more. And then I remembered the comment Whitney mentioned in class about a little boy that she nannies and how rubbing his back stops the screaming. So I decided to experiment and began rubbing his back, and little do you know, he stopped screaming! That just amazed me. It feels so great to be able to implement things we're taught into real life situations. This makes me more excited to learn new skills and being able to help other people.
The other day we were learning in Health Promotion class about toddlers. One of the things Professor North mentioned was that at this age many kids have night terrors. I found that information very interesting, but what was even more interesting was experiencing it for myself the very next night. I live with my sister and she has a 3-year-old son. That night, I was awoken from beautiful, relaxing sleep to horrid screaming coming from my sister's room. The whole house was on their feet in an instant. As we all gathered around her son, it didn't even seem like he knew that we were even there. No matter what we did or said, he just kept screaming more and more. And then I remembered the comment Whitney mentioned in class about a little boy that she nannies and how rubbing his back stops the screaming. So I decided to experiment and began rubbing his back, and little do you know, he stopped screaming! That just amazed me. It feels so great to be able to implement things we're taught into real life situations. This makes me more excited to learn new skills and being able to help other people.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Clinicals: Round 1
Blog #6
We have just finished our first round of clinicals. It was such a wonderful and rewarding experience. I learned so much more than I ever expected to. With each new day, I gained more and more experience and began to be more proficient at the most fundamental nursing skills. However, the biggest lesson came from the residents themselves. As I heard their life stories and watched them in their current state, my eyes were opened to the true reality that one day it will be all over and we will in fact depart this spectacular planet called earth. I realized that one day I will be in the exact same position with my own stories to tell. What a weird feeling it is to be thinking such thoughts at 19 years of age. But it's true, our days won't last forever, that's why it's so important to make memories that will last forever for generations to come; to enjoy every moment of life, even the frustrating moments of nursing school, because one day those will be memories that I will tell my kids about...
We have just finished our first round of clinicals. It was such a wonderful and rewarding experience. I learned so much more than I ever expected to. With each new day, I gained more and more experience and began to be more proficient at the most fundamental nursing skills. However, the biggest lesson came from the residents themselves. As I heard their life stories and watched them in their current state, my eyes were opened to the true reality that one day it will be all over and we will in fact depart this spectacular planet called earth. I realized that one day I will be in the exact same position with my own stories to tell. What a weird feeling it is to be thinking such thoughts at 19 years of age. But it's true, our days won't last forever, that's why it's so important to make memories that will last forever for generations to come; to enjoy every moment of life, even the frustrating moments of nursing school, because one day those will be memories that I will tell my kids about...
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
"Called to be a Nurse"
Blog #5
I've been thinking about life and my calling.
The other day I was reading Jeremiah 1:5 where it says, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you..." These words really spoke to me and revealed the numerous ways that God has been working in my life to carry out His perfect plan which He prepared for me way before I even arrived onto this earth. God brought me from the dirty streets of Ukraine to an amazing country of freedom to be equipped with the knowledge so that I could serve Him as a nurse in third world countries. If I were still in Ukraine today, I wouldn't have an education but be working in the fields struggling to provide food for my family. But I am here in the blessed USA getting ready for the most exciting moment of my life, living out His perfect plan.
I feel so blessed. I have a car, a beautiful family, wonderful air-conditioned home, spectacular education, more than enough food, volumes of clothing, a great job... I realized that I don't have anything to complain about. I have WAY MORE THAN ENOUGH. I feel truly blessed and undeserving to have so many things and I have realized that the least I could is give my life to whatever God wants me to do in thanks for all the amazing things that He has blessed me with. I have seen God at work in my life and in my heart and I'm so grateful for all the He has done for me. I am excited to see what else God has in store for me and what the rest of His plan looks like. Even if His plan for my life is to live in a third world country, I am ready to do it with joy, because with God everything is always better. There is nothing better than living in the will of God no matter what the circumstance.
I've been thinking about life and my calling.
The other day I was reading Jeremiah 1:5 where it says, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you..." These words really spoke to me and revealed the numerous ways that God has been working in my life to carry out His perfect plan which He prepared for me way before I even arrived onto this earth. God brought me from the dirty streets of Ukraine to an amazing country of freedom to be equipped with the knowledge so that I could serve Him as a nurse in third world countries. If I were still in Ukraine today, I wouldn't have an education but be working in the fields struggling to provide food for my family. But I am here in the blessed USA getting ready for the most exciting moment of my life, living out His perfect plan.
I feel so blessed. I have a car, a beautiful family, wonderful air-conditioned home, spectacular education, more than enough food, volumes of clothing, a great job... I realized that I don't have anything to complain about. I have WAY MORE THAN ENOUGH. I feel truly blessed and undeserving to have so many things and I have realized that the least I could is give my life to whatever God wants me to do in thanks for all the amazing things that He has blessed me with. I have seen God at work in my life and in my heart and I'm so grateful for all the He has done for me. I am excited to see what else God has in store for me and what the rest of His plan looks like. Even if His plan for my life is to live in a third world country, I am ready to do it with joy, because with God everything is always better. There is nothing better than living in the will of God no matter what the circumstance.
Monday, October 5, 2009
A Different Perspective
Blog #4
Last week concluded the first 2 days of clinicals. Although I was severely sick the whole entire week, the two days at clinical made it the most memorable week of my life. I wasn't too excited going into this rotation. I have never worked with the older generation. I didn't know where to begin, how to speak to them without making them feel like a child (those with dementia), and how to provide care in general. But then, as I began to speak with my patient and she began to open up to me, my eyes were opened to a whole new perspective of life. These folks may be elderly, but so wise and full of so much great advice. The more and more time I spent with them, the more and more comfortable I felt. And as I was leaving on Friday, a part of me wanted to stay to bond more, listen in on more spectacular stories, to help out the CNAs a little, and to be simply be a presence in the lives of these amazing people. My eyes were opened to a different perspective, the perspective of the amazing elderly folks in our lives!
Last week concluded the first 2 days of clinicals. Although I was severely sick the whole entire week, the two days at clinical made it the most memorable week of my life. I wasn't too excited going into this rotation. I have never worked with the older generation. I didn't know where to begin, how to speak to them without making them feel like a child (those with dementia), and how to provide care in general. But then, as I began to speak with my patient and she began to open up to me, my eyes were opened to a whole new perspective of life. These folks may be elderly, but so wise and full of so much great advice. The more and more time I spent with them, the more and more comfortable I felt. And as I was leaving on Friday, a part of me wanted to stay to bond more, listen in on more spectacular stories, to help out the CNAs a little, and to be simply be a presence in the lives of these amazing people. My eyes were opened to a different perspective, the perspective of the amazing elderly folks in our lives!
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Yom Kippur
Blog #3
On Friday, I had the amazing opportunity to celebrate Yom Kippur. Afterwards, as I was contemplating on the events of the day, I realized just how amazingly blessed we are to have the real living God in our hearts, lives. When we look at the world, what do we see? Hurt, pain, broken families, lack of joy, high rates of suicide. And then I look at the amazing life we have with Jesus in our hearts and I realized that we are incredibly, incredibly, INCREDIBLY BLESSED!!! We have His joy (Psalm 4:7), His strength (Psalm 18:32), His peace (Psalm 29:11), His love (Psalm 13:5). We have His amazing mercy and grace. Sure we have our moments of struggles and pain. We are humans who live on a corruptible earth, but how great is it to know that through all of our struggles we have amazing God who walks us through the struggles and through it all forms us into better, stronger, men and women of faith!
On Friday, I had the amazing opportunity to celebrate Yom Kippur. Afterwards, as I was contemplating on the events of the day, I realized just how amazingly blessed we are to have the real living God in our hearts, lives. When we look at the world, what do we see? Hurt, pain, broken families, lack of joy, high rates of suicide. And then I look at the amazing life we have with Jesus in our hearts and I realized that we are incredibly, incredibly, INCREDIBLY BLESSED!!! We have His joy (Psalm 4:7), His strength (Psalm 18:32), His peace (Psalm 29:11), His love (Psalm 13:5). We have His amazing mercy and grace. Sure we have our moments of struggles and pain. We are humans who live on a corruptible earth, but how great is it to know that through all of our struggles we have amazing God who walks us through the struggles and through it all forms us into better, stronger, men and women of faith!
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Real Identity
Over the last couple of months God has given me the amazing opportunity to travel and spread His love all around the world. Throughout my traveling, my eyes were opened to different cultures and the fact that although we are all so different, we're all the same in God's eyes. When I came back to the States, I began to notice my Ukrainian language slipping a little bit. Growing up in the US has made me feel more like an American than a Ukrainian, but there is still that Ukrainian part in me that will never depart. So this got me to thinking about who I really am and between my love for the cultures that I experienced during my travels, my own Ukrainian heritage, and the American culture that I grew up in and have become so accustomed to, I realized that more than anything I want to be identified as being part of God culture than any other culture on earth.
The world is promoting identity right. Independence has become key and many people fall into this idea and begin to question who they are in this world and what exactly is their identity. Sadly, I must admit that I myself have also fallen into this trap. But the truth of the matter is that no matter what culture we were born into, our identity is not in that culture but in who we are in Christ. The more we find ourselves in God culture, the more we will grow in our relationship with God, the more open we will become for Him to use us for His glory, and ultimately this will lead us to living out His perfect will for our lives.
My prayer is that everyone will become consumed in God culture and truly find their identity in Christ Himself.
The world is promoting identity right. Independence has become key and many people fall into this idea and begin to question who they are in this world and what exactly is their identity. Sadly, I must admit that I myself have also fallen into this trap. But the truth of the matter is that no matter what culture we were born into, our identity is not in that culture but in who we are in Christ. The more we find ourselves in God culture, the more we will grow in our relationship with God, the more open we will become for Him to use us for His glory, and ultimately this will lead us to living out His perfect will for our lives.
My prayer is that everyone will become consumed in God culture and truly find their identity in Christ Himself.
Monday, August 31, 2009
So it begins...
Today is the first day of the beginning of the rest of my life. I'm excited, happy, joyous, uncertain of the future, but at the same time fully rested, peaceful in the promises of God and His plans for my life. I'm looking forward to the next two years and all the new things that God will teach me, but most importantly I'm looking forward to life after these two years and the opportunity to help those in need with the knowledge that I have obtained in the Nursing Program.
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