So, since last updating I have: turned 23, moved to Winnipeg, started a real job--or at least gone to a week and a half of orientation for said job--, frozen my butt off in Winnipeg, gone skating at The Forks, made waffles and corn chowder and chocolate chip pancakes and french toast(not all at once, or in that order) with my roommates, watched a million movies, gone to church twice, watched a lot of Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice (this weeks Private Practice ended with a song by Sigur Ros!!!!!), and watched the season premiere of LOST.
And now I'm going to cut this update short and go to Tim Horton's with some of my roommates. Since they are pressuring me into coming.
Tomorrow I go to my first day on my unit at the hospital. I'm a little nervous about that, but not really thinking about it. Ha! And this morning, staffing called me at 6:30 to see if I would come do a day shift...I didn't answer my phone. I hope this is not going to be a regular occurence, but I'm pretty sure it will be.
I'll perhaps try to find something profound and wise to say in a little bit. Like later. Or next month.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Friday, December 19, 2008
Where to Begin?
Yesterday my brother and I went to the city to do some important Christmas shopping (his girlfriend). And I found the Boney M Christmas soundtrack on CD (my mom has the tape and her tape player won't play it anymore...plus you don't have to flip the CD ever!). So I spent today making candy cane popcorn, nanaimo bars and listening to 80's Christmas music. (80's Jamaican *?* Christmas music?)I also went skiing and have been reading Sense and Sensibility.
"Now, how on earth can she be spending so much time doing nothing useful?" you may be wondering.
It's cuz i'm DONE SCHOOL! And won't be starting my new job in Winnipeg until January 12th. (but I've discovered that I am rather fond of this whole no obligations life and maybe will just find some way to get married and have babies instead of working.)
I'm quite terrified be the whole idea of Winnipeg, but it's this crazy thing that I am supposed to actually do. One day I prayed and asked for some sort of reassurance that it was the right choice and the next day I went to Ft. Edmonton park for the Storytellers Festival and there were tonnes of things about Winnipeg there. So I decided that yeah, I should go. But lately I've been having serious doubts for various reasons (fear, it's not easy to move across the country in January, walks around parks filled with Christmas lights in the snow...). And oddly whenever I was seriously considering staying Winnipeg references would come up. My patients would say something about it, or wear a T-shirt that says "Winnipeg". So, i'm thinking that there is something for me to learn out there. Or my mind is just desperately grasping at straws to rationalise this plan of mine. Ha.
But really I am so excited about my job and the people I am going to get to share this next part of my life with.
Anyway, I haven't got anything really profound to share. Just whatever the future holds. I'll try and keep you updated.
"Now, how on earth can she be spending so much time doing nothing useful?" you may be wondering.
It's cuz i'm DONE SCHOOL! And won't be starting my new job in Winnipeg until January 12th. (but I've discovered that I am rather fond of this whole no obligations life and maybe will just find some way to get married and have babies instead of working.)
I'm quite terrified be the whole idea of Winnipeg, but it's this crazy thing that I am supposed to actually do. One day I prayed and asked for some sort of reassurance that it was the right choice and the next day I went to Ft. Edmonton park for the Storytellers Festival and there were tonnes of things about Winnipeg there. So I decided that yeah, I should go. But lately I've been having serious doubts for various reasons (fear, it's not easy to move across the country in January, walks around parks filled with Christmas lights in the snow...). And oddly whenever I was seriously considering staying Winnipeg references would come up. My patients would say something about it, or wear a T-shirt that says "Winnipeg". So, i'm thinking that there is something for me to learn out there. Or my mind is just desperately grasping at straws to rationalise this plan of mine. Ha.
But really I am so excited about my job and the people I am going to get to share this next part of my life with.
Anyway, I haven't got anything really profound to share. Just whatever the future holds. I'll try and keep you updated.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
What's In a Name?
This week (and of course by week I mean weekend) at the hospital I have had a patient who knows my name. I introduced myself when I was first assigned to him on Friday and he told me that his mother had my name (which makes it a lot easier to remember). So really, I guess not all that remarkable. But then, he uses my name. He calls me by my name. He introduced me to his wife and daughter by my name and now they call me by my name. Today they said "Hi Katie, how are you today?"
It's made me realize that we (or at least I) don't name people a lot. In most of my e-mails and text messages I say "Hey" or "Hello" and then blast off into whatever the message is going to say. On the unit it's "8 bed 1 wants a pain killer, 14 needs to go to the bathroom, 32 needs to be turned" Which I understand because it's the best way to keep everything straight...trying to remember where 19 patients are (when they can change daily) is hard, but I tend to try to say "Mrs. X in 8-1 wants a pain killer, Mr. V in 14 needs to go to the bathroom, etc"
Because it's great to be named. I think it's fantastic that Mr. H calls me Katie, says "good morning Katie" and introduces me to his visitors.
It's interesting.
And I'm going to try to use peoples names more often. So that maybe they'll feel special too. Or maybe it's just me...and I'm crazy.
It's made me realize that we (or at least I) don't name people a lot. In most of my e-mails and text messages I say "Hey" or "Hello" and then blast off into whatever the message is going to say. On the unit it's "8 bed 1 wants a pain killer, 14 needs to go to the bathroom, 32 needs to be turned" Which I understand because it's the best way to keep everything straight...trying to remember where 19 patients are (when they can change daily) is hard, but I tend to try to say "Mrs. X in 8-1 wants a pain killer, Mr. V in 14 needs to go to the bathroom, etc"
Because it's great to be named. I think it's fantastic that Mr. H calls me Katie, says "good morning Katie" and introduces me to his visitors.
It's interesting.
And I'm going to try to use peoples names more often. So that maybe they'll feel special too. Or maybe it's just me...and I'm crazy.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
from the hospital
It's my 2nd of 3 night shifts and tonight i'm on first break which means i'm on break from 0130 to 0300. So I decided I had better update since Katie does read this.
For starters: if you find yourself wondering when you can watch a nice old shoot-em-up movie I can tell you that CBC has them on like right now.
My schooling is apparently picking up speed. I've passed my midterm evaluation and am aiming for December 11th as my last shift as a student (and for the record Sunday night is going to be the LAST night shift I work without being paid!) And once the school is done I guess I have to start real life...and what better place to start real life than Winnipeg? (ok, so there are probably way more exciting, exotic, or warmer places...but I think Winnipeg is a good place to start for me). I just have to update my resume and actually send it. I keep procrastinating. Shame on me.
Hospitals are very quiet at night. And dark.
I've recently become very addicted to Prison Break. My roommate Kyle and I watched all of Season 1 in less than a week and then the moment we finished it he went and got the 2nd season from our neighbours. But he took the 2nd disc with him to Vermillion for the weekend. Not impressed (although I didn't even realize he had taken it until he told me in a text message today...but I feel that I ought to be unimpressed on principle). It's a good story. Dthat's pretty easy to get caught in. And it helps that Michael is really really good looking. And an engineer. And you know what they say about nurses and engineers (ok so I don't actually know what they say about nurses and engineers so if you do...please enlighten me!)
So instead of noticing that disc 2 was missing I watched Penelope. It was a cute movie and I liked the story but by far the best part (and the only person I know who would actually appreciate this little story is Aaron and i'm not sure if he reads this...) was at the end of the movie when he just realizes it's her and the background music starts to play. Like 3 notes in i'm standing up on the couch yelling "It's Hoppipola!!" Great song.
I feel so random and disconnected tonight. And while my phone is great because I get to sit in the lounge chair with a warm blanket (probably the best part about being in the hospital...I'm telling you! If you ever have to be in the hospital ask for a warm blanket every chance you can, you'll regret it otherwise)but my phone screen doesn't really give me an accurate impression of just how much I am making you read. So I think I shall just end here for now and start updating more frequently.
For starters: if you find yourself wondering when you can watch a nice old shoot-em-up movie I can tell you that CBC has them on like right now.
My schooling is apparently picking up speed. I've passed my midterm evaluation and am aiming for December 11th as my last shift as a student (and for the record Sunday night is going to be the LAST night shift I work without being paid!) And once the school is done I guess I have to start real life...and what better place to start real life than Winnipeg? (ok, so there are probably way more exciting, exotic, or warmer places...but I think Winnipeg is a good place to start for me). I just have to update my resume and actually send it. I keep procrastinating. Shame on me.
Hospitals are very quiet at night. And dark.
I've recently become very addicted to Prison Break. My roommate Kyle and I watched all of Season 1 in less than a week and then the moment we finished it he went and got the 2nd season from our neighbours. But he took the 2nd disc with him to Vermillion for the weekend. Not impressed (although I didn't even realize he had taken it until he told me in a text message today...but I feel that I ought to be unimpressed on principle). It's a good story. Dthat's pretty easy to get caught in. And it helps that Michael is really really good looking. And an engineer. And you know what they say about nurses and engineers (ok so I don't actually know what they say about nurses and engineers so if you do...please enlighten me!)
So instead of noticing that disc 2 was missing I watched Penelope. It was a cute movie and I liked the story but by far the best part (and the only person I know who would actually appreciate this little story is Aaron and i'm not sure if he reads this...) was at the end of the movie when he just realizes it's her and the background music starts to play. Like 3 notes in i'm standing up on the couch yelling "It's Hoppipola!!" Great song.
I feel so random and disconnected tonight. And while my phone is great because I get to sit in the lounge chair with a warm blanket (probably the best part about being in the hospital...I'm telling you! If you ever have to be in the hospital ask for a warm blanket every chance you can, you'll regret it otherwise)but my phone screen doesn't really give me an accurate impression of just how much I am making you read. So I think I shall just end here for now and start updating more frequently.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
0400
In a desperate bid to stay awake on her break Katie Swan tried to update her blog but quickly realized she had nothing to say and succumb to the incredible weight of her eyelids.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Thanking God for My Nursing Roomie
Without Nursing buddies I would be lost. Do you not know how wonderful it is to have a roommate who you can rant (I really want to say the other word because it's a more accurate word...but I don't feel comfortable saying it) and rave with about how nursing is the stupidest choice we ever made in our lives?
It's incredible.
It gives new life.
I have been blessed with great nursing buddies.
And the TellAround was awesome!!! I didn't tell but I got to hear some great great stories.
It's incredible.
It gives new life.
I have been blessed with great nursing buddies.
And the TellAround was awesome!!! I didn't tell but I got to hear some great great stories.
Friday, October 10, 2008
the nurse hidden in me
Somewhere inside this tired reflection of me a nurse is hidden.
I don't know how she got there and I don't know what she's going to do.
And I don't know why she's hiding.
She's obvioulsly not always hidden or I'd not know she was there (and I'd have for sure never made it to my last year of nursing school).
It's a miracle actually that she sticks around despite my lack of confidence, skills, time management, and any general clue about what's going on.
Ha ha ha.
I love it though. It's a bunch of semi-crazy really old people but they do just worm their ways into your heart.
Even if you really have no idea what you really ought to be doing.
And now I'm sitting on the floor waiting for a business meeting to end so I can go listen to stories.
3 more minutes I think.
I really really hope.
I'm about to go to my first TellAround! But I'm going only to listen.
STORIES!!
I don't know how she got there and I don't know what she's going to do.
And I don't know why she's hiding.
She's obvioulsly not always hidden or I'd not know she was there (and I'd have for sure never made it to my last year of nursing school).
It's a miracle actually that she sticks around despite my lack of confidence, skills, time management, and any general clue about what's going on.
Ha ha ha.
I love it though. It's a bunch of semi-crazy really old people but they do just worm their ways into your heart.
Even if you really have no idea what you really ought to be doing.
And now I'm sitting on the floor waiting for a business meeting to end so I can go listen to stories.
3 more minutes I think.
I really really hope.
I'm about to go to my first TellAround! But I'm going only to listen.
STORIES!!
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