A little nerdy and a little stupid

That is how I feel when one week I made an A on a test for class P and the next week I made a C on a test for class A, though both are testament to how much studying was done for each test. Both were first tests, and I hatehate the first exam because you don't know what to expect. Obviously I was well prepared for the P test, then a lazy spell hit just in time for the A test. Darn.

This is week is the last clinical lab with the talking mannequins--yes, them high tech dummies do talk and it's creepy. Next week I'll start clinical at the assigned hospital, donning my scrubs and meeting real patients with the hope that they don't reject me, a clueless first year nursing student, for testing my newly acquired skills on them.

Cee: "Mr. P, I'm going to give your med through IM injection."

Mr. P: "But you're a student nurse...."

Cee (trying her best to muffle the deflating sound of her self esteem) : "Yes, I am."

Mr. P: "Do you know what you're doing? You don't know what you're doing!"

Cee (thinking this is quite true) : "I have practiced many times, Mr. P. No need to worry."

Mr. P: "You have?"

Cee (omitting the part that says all practices were done only to the creepy talking mannequins at the school's lab) : "Of course."

Update on the study partner thing:

I am glad to say that I have found study partners that I feel comfortable with, though there is a catch to this: there were only the four of us when we studied for the P test mentioned above and all of us made A's. However, for the A test the week after, three more people joined us when they saw us in the study room and invited themselves in. As you can see, this contributed to the C as well because I can't quite focus with six other people in the room compared to when there were only three other people. I haven't found out how the rest of the group did as we got the grades for the A test only recently, I do know one of them got less than what she got on the P test, though still higher than the C I got.

Perhaps finding the right people isn't enough to form this ultimate study group, thou must find the right people and the right number of people. Le sigh, my quest resumes.....

School, out!

In the last 7 days, the school has been closed twice. 'Tis fabulous.

The first time was due to weather. The forecast from the night before was not promising, so we got a notice that there will be no classes until noon. I had an evening lab for that day anyway, I just went to work at 12 instead of 9. Huzzah for sleeping in!

The second time was due to water outtage, not a single toilet in all eight floors of the building is restroom. Now you know you gotta cancel classes when it is after lunch and you've got students frantically scouring every floor for a working toilet, only to find all toilets were backed up and disgusting. Quote of the day was courtesy of a pregnant classmate, "If you ain't got any toilet, you've got any bottle or bucket or whatever for me?! 'Cuz I got to pee every 15 minutes, dammit!" You just can't go against a pregnant woman and nature's call.

And you know your social life is borderline non existent when you're happy that school is out not because you can enjoy the rest of the day out with your friends, but because you'd have more time to study for the Pharmacology test the next day....

Have you met these study partners?

The last couple of years of pre-requisite classes were relatively easy and I breezed past the courses with mostly A's, some B's, and only two C's. But this nursing school thing is new, it's unfamiliar territory, it's just what I need to kick my lazy ass up and going. Nowadays, I could no longer get an A on a test by "studying" the night before let alone without. I actually have to study, ya know, the one where the TV is actually OFF and the iTunes is low on volume--I cannot study in absolute silent--and there is a warning on your forehead that says "Beware, studying in progress. Bother me, and I kill you" and there is a thermos full of caffeinated beverage of choice.

And then there is this thing called study group which could either boost your self esteem or burst it. It's like a beauty pageant, "Oh my GOD! She twirls fire baton, pppfft, like that could win over my pantomime! Oh no she didn't, her teeth are whiter than mine!" Yeah, not pretty. Then, there is such trouble as finding the right study partner to avoid said beauty pageant-esque situation. And you don't want to have too many of study partners either, because then you'd be discussing which country the Brangelina will adopt their next kidlet from. Oh the dilemma....

It's a trial and error process and I have yet to find the right group of people to study with. Nevertheless, I have encountered these extreme types on my quest to find the chosen ones.

The Nazi
The one who quizzes you like you have done, oh I don't know, the crime of the century. The one who asks the question 100mph without missing a beat. The one who gets pissed if you even dare to ask for a repeat of the question and the one who will deem you unfit as his/her study partner.

Nazi: "DoctororderedTagamet60mg/dayPOover3doseschild'sweight50kgonhand200mg/2ml. Howmanyml/dosewillyougive?

Me: "HUH?! What..?!"

Nazi: "What do you mean you don't know?! This is someone else's life! Someone, take her away, she's dangerous!"

And down the drain goes my self esteem.

The Detective
The one who asks every.single.details. The one who interrupts if you miss one minuscule fact that even the instructor has told us not to worry about.

Detective: "Z-track."

Me: "Pull skin, inj--"

Detective: "How many inches?"

Me: "Hu-oh, 1-1 1/2". Inject 90 degree, aspirate, inje--"

Detective: "Where are your fingers at this point?"

Me: "Two holding the needle stable. Left hand aspirate and inject slowly, withdr--"

Detective: "You wait how long?"

Me: "5 seconds?"

Detective taps fingers on the table with stone face.

Me: "8? 9? 10?"

And further down the sewer goes my self esteem.

The Snob
The one who is so unreasonably nit picky about this study group thing.

Me: "Hey, K and I are going to study tomorrow before lecture, you wanna join?"

Snob: "K? Isn't that the one who sits next to you? Ugh, annoying."

Me: "Um, oookaay then...."

Snob: "But hey, do you wanna study with me and S tomorrow before lecture? S looks really smart."

Me : "Yeah, my dog looks really smart too and he's scared of a lion plush toy...."

The Easy One
The one who agrees with basically whatever you say, even when what you said isn't entirely true and you know it.

Easy One: "Asthma?"

Me: "Can't breathe."

Easy One: "Fabulous. Emphysema?"

Me: "Can't breathe."

Easy One: "Wonderful. Bronchitis?"

Me: "Can't breathe."

Easy One: "Great, you're gonna make 100 on the test."

Me: "And the moon is blue tomorrow...."

Have you met yours? Or have you met any of these extreme ones? Or have met other extremes I did not mention here?

I am determined to find the right study partner(s) before my projected graduation date....

Nursing School

Today is my first day and it went pretty well if I may say so myself.

One of the new things I'm getting used to is that each of my Monday classes is taught by several instructors, so it's sort of this tandem teaching thing going on. The course manager of the first class reminded me of Stanley Tucci, the other instructor reminded me of Colonel Sanders, and another one reminded me of Kimmie Gibbler of Full House, then the course manager of the second class suddenly started teaching in a Russian accent. It was madness. But funny. And made those lectures bearable. And you gotta love instructors who throw candies to their students before they start their morning lecture--well, they might do that just because it was the first day and they didn't wanna bring out their claws just yet....

I am not fond of when my Assessment lab is scheduled. The day it is on is fine but the time, ugh, forces me to drive in to school instead of taking the bus, wasting my gas and money for parking. Hatehate.

So one of the instructors mentioned above admitted to the effort of arranging lecture materials into a rap, in her words: "I have yet to compose the rap and the beat, but in the foreseeable future I see myself do the (makes a kinda DJ playing the record movement) wiki wiki...."

I think the whole class was just about to die of laughter at a Kimmie Gibbler lookalike attempting what she termed "the wiki wiki", whatever that is....

And so it begins....

My life as a student nurse.

Excuse the crappyness of the picture, I'm a student who had just paid her tuition, too broke to buy a camera or a new cell with better camera.

A friend asked if I have lost weight upon seeing the picture above, giving me all the more reason to wear this ensemble everywhere I go....

DUNZO!

I am D to the O, the N the E with summer school with a B to boot!

Now I have been doing little to nothing ever since school is done (have about a week of break before a string of orientations and eventually the semester) and was actually quite confused of what to do with this oh so much free time. But fear no more for I have made a to do list, which consist of:

1. Get my car an alignment service and get it inspected.

2. Clean my room, it looks like my closet flew in and exploded there. Not pretty. This brings me to number 3.

3. Fold the clean clothes, it's been in the basket for...hrrmm a week? I think....

4. Pick up a new book to read, probably My Sister's Keeper.

5. Get my friend her long overdue birthday present, which brings me to number 6.

6. Wish my other friend a belated 'Happy Birthday' (what? I was busy studying...), which brings me to number 7.

7. Get Dad's birthday present. Don't worry, I actually remembered calling him on the day. This brings me to number 8.

8. Figured out where to have a my birthday dinner--a proper one--before we go clubbing and get trashed for the night....

9. Get up early tomorrow morning to take the newly-arrived-to-the-U.S. of A cousin to see the counselor at his school. Thing reminds me of number 10.

10. Call the student life office and demand them of my I-20. Damn, I would've been rich if I had a dolla' for everytime they said "It'll be ready soon, I'll call you." Apparently their standard of 'soon' is different than mine, I thought 'soon' meant within a week or two and they thought 'soon' is 3 months and going. Bah.

11. Figured out the time and dates for my three orientations and the CPR class. Yes, they're making me go to three, go figure. One for International Students, One for new Undergraduate Nursing Students, one is for something else I couldn't remember which is why this is on the to do list. Bah Bah.

12. Pay Fall Semester tuition. BAH BAH BAH!

That is all.

It's the cat's fault

If I fail this Patho final tomorrow, blame it on my cousin's cat. The cat decided that my notebook would make for a comfortable sleeping mat for him, so in he waltzed into my room and sprawled on top of my notes like nobody's business.

And what did he do when I moved him? He bit me.

That's right, people, that feline he is evil. I have five tiny bite marks on my arm and there are photographic evidences to prove this, now if only my phone would send these pictures into My Album online or my email....

No, I don't know why Michael Jackson sounds so girly....

There is this phenomenon that has been on full force ever since it was made known that I'm finally in a nursing school and is well on my way to my first semester. The phenomenon where people ask me all sort of medical related questions--and not just general question but specific questions about one's own poop or nipple or...well, you get the idea, all topic is fair game--like I'm god of all medical knowledge. Ask and thou shalt receive thy answers!

NOT!

No, I don't know why so and so said your poop shouldn't smell otherwise you're not healthy, the last I remember malodorous is the nature of poops. No, I don't know why your right foot is longer than your left. No, I don't know why your boob...bah I just don't know! No se, Jose! Je ne sais pas!

I am humbled that the friends and family think that I am the more knowledgeable person in that area, that they decide to direct their inquiries to me but by golly I am only a first year student nurse which more or less means I'm neither a walking medical encyclopedia ready to give you the answers to life your body nor am I Dr. Oz, oozing wisdom and confidence. I'm more like...clumsy and klutzy and clueless.

Then they have look of disappointment when I tell them I don't know, not like "Gah , you so stupid!" (at least I hope it's not like that) disappointment, but more like "Oh man, who else could I ask this to? My PCP?! No way, it's embarrassing!" kinda disappointment. To this I say, well there is always Ask Dr. Wiki or eMedicine or WebMD, but favorites of mine for answering those weird questions are Why Do Men Have Nipples? and Why Do Men Fall Asleep After Sex? They are absolutely hilarious, I love it.

But anyway, then they'd turn to me and ask "So what do you know?" and I'd stammer uh's and um's and blabber about the weather instead, feigning my lack of medical knowledge.

I kid, I kid, I'm not that stupid, though I'm quite convinced I'm more knowledgeable in the trashy gossipy entertainment field. ;)

"Oh, there is another one....."

On the morning of 27th, I received a phone call from my mom. It was night time where she lives (we originated from an South East Asian country) and she sounded tired yet happy, the reason being that she and Dad had just become proud grandparents to twin baby girls. My SIL gave birth--4 weeks early--after long hours of labor.

But that is not the whole story.

The whole is that all along we were expecting a single baby girl, ultrasound technician and OB/GYN himself confirmed a single baby girl, that is until a baby girl did come out but OB/GYN noticed that SIL's tummy was still round and swell. So he prodded around and lo and behold, there is another one, say hello to baby #2, y'all!

Bah! What the hell?! How could they missed twins during 8 months of prenatal care??!! I realized that they opted with the old school ultrasound, none of that fancy schmancy level 4 one, but still! There are two heartbeats, is it really possible not to hear two?! Or was it just pure carelessness?

I think it was the latter.

SIL's OB/GYN was the doctor who birthed my two brothers and I, so my mom was quite loyal and defended him when I criticized bitched on his (and the ultrasound technician's) skill, or lack of thereof. The OB/GYN blamed said ultrasound technician for the mishap and excused it with the twins' on top of each other position instead of side by side, hence the appearance of one baby on the screen. As for the heartbeat, he made an excuse of they were beating at the same time so he could not differentiate, plus he was going on the confirmed ultrasound of one baby. Mom seemed to accept it and let it go, but I beg to differ. I (and a few friends and a nurse I've talked about this to) still can't wrapped it around our mind that they missed it.

Fortunately, the babies are healthy. Baby #1 weighed in at 2. 3 kg (4 lbs. 7 oz.) and baby #2 was 2. 248 kg (4 lbs. 648 oz.). Baby #2 had some breathing difficulty shortly after birth, but she's pulled out of it and is going to be fine. My grandparents who live here are elated at the news, seeing their faces when I told them the news were something I would never forget, though it broke my heart a little that they won't be able to see their great granddaughters in the near future. They haven't been officially named, though Mom just said they are thisclose to putting the names down on the birth certificates--the last I heard they are Arabella and Aurelia. I, as the proud aunt, approve of the names.

Now I have to shop double for the baby stuffs. Le sigh. I'm turning into one of those aunts who spoil the kidlets rotten....

In other news, aka nursing school wise, final is a mere two weeks away. Comprehensive final, 'nuff said. I can foresee a lot of long hours and late nights studying and very little to none going out of the house in the next two weeks, very bleak and gloomy future I say. Oy....

Study Habits: Which One are You?

This was brought up to me while reviewing cramming for test #2 with a bunch of study buddies. We discussed our own study habits and those that we have heard of others doing, it is quite interesting and amusing.

Strategy wise:

The note cards makers--The ones who make a stack of super near note cards and study them like it's a treasure map. You can also count on these cards being carried around like crack on Pete Doherty, they are available for study purposes anytime anywhere. Lining up for hours to get Deathly Hallows at the bookstore? No problemo! The note cards makers will whip out them note cards from their jeans pocket and study!

The lectures listeners--The ones who listen to recorded lectures agibizillion times. Remember that episode of Friends when Joey listens to that tape religiously even in his sleep? Yeah, it's like that. Expect their iPod to be filled with "Neoplasm-Dr. M 6/26/07", "Asthma-Dr. M 7/3/07", and "Stroke-Dr. M 6/12/07".

The lectures transcriptors--The lectures listeners can turn in these, which are the ones who write down every single word the professor said on the lecture. Every. Single. Word. I didn't think this type exists, but I have seen the notebook with the lecture transcript with my own eyes. I was rather baffled by it....

The notesers--The ones who study almost everything from their notes and their notes only. Textbook is deemed to make one even more confused. It is not the Bible, it shall be used only as a reference.

The textbookers--The opposite of the above. They study textbook as religiously as--if not more than--their notes. Back problem can surface from carrying those big-assed textbooks in their backpack everywhere with them.

Place wise:

The library goers--The ones who make a pilgrimage to the library and set up his/her own little camp in the quietest and dustiest corner of said library, by camp I mean sleeping bag and alarm clock--coffee thermos and air freshener are sometimes included. They have the ability to sit at one place with their books for long hours. Some of them are known to give you death glares if God forbid you drop a pen and its clinking bursts their hardcore studying. They strictly abide by the silence is golden motto.

The people watchers--The ones who study at the park or by the window of a coffee shop so every ten minutes they can look up and be distracted. The people minding their own business and definitely not studying motivate these people watchers. "Just wait until next week when I'm done with this test, I will be free to join you non-studying people! One more week, dammit!"

The bookstorers--The ones who go to Barnes & Nobles or Borders with the intention to study but make a detour to the magazines or newly arrived section. Reading anything but the study materials is like a warm up before the real thing, but sometimes the bookstore-rers would lose their self control and say "Oh screw studying, Lindsay Lohan is crashing another car and Britney Spears is flashing her hoo-ha and Paris Hilton is going to jail and jebus did i read that right? Nicole Richie is pregant, yo!"

The homies--Those who don't go to the library or bookstore or coffee shop to study. They are only an arm reach of one's own computer and iTunes and food and TV, all are distractive in nature but oh so hard to let go. The idea of studying somewhere bereft of the comfort of their own home is terrifying. "What if someone sends me a mighty important email and I need to reply ASAP otherwise someone will...die or something? What if Oprah's camera crew shows up with a car for me??!! And there I was studying at Barnes freaken Nobles, do you understand how suck that would be?! Huh, huh huh?!!!"

----

Strategy wise, I am a noteser. I do use the textbook don't get my wrong but just for a review before or after a the lecture and as a reference to add things to my notes when I feel like I miss something my professor says in class. When it comes to study for the test, it is my notes that I study the most, I rarely study both notes and textbook in the week leading up to a test.

I think the transcripting thing is just crazy and not a good way to study. The one who did this was actually the one who brought up the discussion because he has been frustrated with this method--duh!--and needed an advice on how to study better.

I tried the bookstore thing, didn't work to well for me. I got sucked in with the magazines and new novels and my study plan went to a deep dark abyss real fast. I have a short attention span when it comes to studying, and this is why I am not a note cards maker and the library goer. I don't have the patience to make note cards and I cannot stand sitting long hours straight in one place just staring at my notes. I need distractions, therefore, I am a homie. Ahoy!

I am quite reluctant to study outside my home because it is a task that requires more than just a couple of hours, hence the need to be surrounded by things I know and am comfortable with. I want to go use the bathroom without having to bring all my stuff along with me or worry about someone's stealing my stuff if I leave them at a library/bookstore/coffee shop. I need to have music playing when I study, music that I actually like, not the overly played songs from the radio. I need to be able to lean back and feel the plushy couch, not a hard wooden chair.

I could not would not stand studying in the library. Bookstores are too much of a temptation. A cafe or a park I could do, though not my first choice. Home does it for me, I guess there really is no place like home. Hee!