Ode to Nursing

Many people have asked me, “What’s it like being a student of nursing?”

As a response, there’s usually a little laughing, crying, and cursing,

But as I really thought about this often asked question,

I realized there was much more to these last 2 years than just nursing as a profession.

Of course we’ll remember the needles, catheters, and all the hands on skills,

And the many, many steps we must take when administering pills.

We have to remember everything we learned in med/surg, women’s health, and psychology,

But most of us still struggle a little with pharmacology,

These subjects are all very important to remember,

Every day that we are working from January to December,

But there are many other things that I will also recall,

Like the fact that we’re done with the Hesi and ATI once and for all!

During our clinicals while we walked the halls, I think it was quite a sight,

Since we all looked so good in our purple and white,

But don’t get me wrong, looking good was quite hard,

Since 5 AM came rather quickly, and our internal clocks are now scarred.

Sometimes in the winter it was a bit of a fight,

To hear what was being said in class, I don’t think we heard everything quite right!

Because when we’d turn on the heater, the pipes would bang and squeal,

The pipes seemed to be our classroom’s one and only Achilles heel.

Do you remember practicing starting IV’s on each other?

All I can remember about that day is summed up in two words…SWEET MOTHER!

Most of us only walked away with two or three battle scars,

But some weren’t so lucky and by the end were seeing stars.

Another few things about this program that I will never forget,

Is our preceptorship, the SIM man, and of course our debt!

The faculty members will stay fresh in our mind,

They probably won’t miss us though, because we may have had a tendency to whine.

But classes, lectures, clinicals, and IV’s, aren’t the only things I will recall,

When I think of the nursing program, I will mostly think of you all.

I will remember each person because we were all distinct,

But since going through this experience together, we are forever interlinked.

So here’s to Jamie, Erin, Brooke, Jen, and Mary,

Kira, JoAnn, Chandra, and Kari,

Megan, Marci, Jenny, and Misty,

Melissa, Linda, Elise, and Kristy,

We can’t forget Kayla, Mandy, Sarah, or Kristina,

Nor Heather, Shellie, Courtney, or Teana,

Chris was the only man to make it to the end,

Who had to put up with a classroom full of estrogen.

Here’s to the Lyndsey’s and Amy’s, we had 3 of each,

That’s okay though, each one was a peach!

We also had Rachel’s and Holly’s times two,

Everyone became great friends, who knew?

So thanks for the memories, and thanks for the fun,

We had a lot of laughs, I’m a little sad it’s done.

But I’ll get over it, because it’s about time we graduate,

So look out world, here comes the nursing class of 2008!

Ahh, nursing school! I think the first paragraph of the poem truly sums it up...laughing, crying, and cursing! It was definitely one of those experiences where it isn't so much fun during it, but looking back it was a wonderful experience and I even miss it a little. (But not too much!)

I'll never forget the first day of class. First of all, we had an assignment due! (What happened to just going over the syllabus and getting out 30 minutes early!?) We jumped right into a lecture and at the end of class the professor announced we had an exam next week. It covered the first 25 (yes, I said 25) chapters of the book. And just a cursory glance through the chapters wasn't going to cut it either, we had to know that stuff. Whew! Talk about a reality check!! They knocked us on our back the first day and it took me the entire year to get back on my feet again. I was just glad to survive. The most nerve-wracking of all was the pharmacology test we had to pass with 100%. If you didn't....well, sorry, but you're out of the program. You can apply again in the Fall. Eek! Math gives me anxiety, but fortunately somebody upstairs was watching over me and I managed to pass with flying colors. I do believe that was the first time I had ever received a 100 on a math test.

A's and 4.0's had always come quite easily for me in high school...and even my freshman year of college. I am blessed to be able to memorize well and so I had always excelled in school. Unfortunately, since it all came so easily, I didn't have the best of study habits, and I was also pretty versed in the 'learn-and-dump' method of getting through classes. That all came to a screeching halt once nursing classes started. First of all, I was committed to actually learning this stuff. Lives were on the line! I had a bit of a rough start gaining good study habits. Also, I got my first 'B.' At first, I was devastated, no matter what I did I couldn't seem to do as well as I previously had.

Nursing exams are different from anything I had ever done. Instead of one straight-forward answer, there were usually three right answers. You had to pick the 'most' right one. Also, to correctly answer a question you had to have a lot of prior knowledge. Nearly all of us struggled with this new testing format. To add insult to injury, not only were we not getting the grades we were accustomed to, anything below an 80 is failing in nursing school. If you don't maintain an 80% average, you get the boot. So, not only were we not getting A's, but according to nursing standards, we were almost failing! We had to learn to incorporate a little Type B into us pretty quickly. After my first couple of B's, I got to the point where it didn't really matter. I still tried for the A, but a B was good enough for me. As long as I was actually gaining the knowledge I needed, a letter on a piece of paper wasn't as important anymore. The Patch Adams quote "Always live in awe of the glorious mechanism of the human body. Let that be the focus of your studies and not a quest for grades," became my motto.

With a system designed to weed out as many as possible, all the girls (and Chris) bonded very quickly. There were only 30 of us and we all were in the exact same classes, so we got to know everyone really well. I was amazed that with all of the Type A personalities in the classroom and the stress of studying we didn't kill somebody. But we all got along really great for the most part. And oh the fun we had! Since we all basically lived in the library, we learned to have fun while we were there. I swear I have never laughed so hard in all of my life as I did in some of those study groups. Nurses are famous for their quirky sense of humor and we were no exception. We all made at least one or two semi-inappropriate jokes at one point or another. Given our subject matter and the crazy things people do, it was almost impossible not to. Plus, in an odd way, it is what keeps us sane. I guess it's one of those things you never fully understand unless you are in a medical profession.

One quick story to illustrate is the time I was working at the Bear River hospital. Since there was no cafeteria and nurses don't get real breaks anyway, the nurses would make and bring food from home for everybody to share. One night, someone brought a crock pot full of chili. Well, we had spoons, but no bowls. Since nurses are great at critical thinking and quick problems solvers, we found a solution pretty easily. A pink emesis basin (aka barf bucket) is the perfect size for a hearty helping of chili. (Sidenote: Because people have asked before, I will clarify that these had never been used and were perfectly clean.) As nurses, we scooped it on in and ate while we had two seconds between call lights. However, it doesn't take much imagination to know what it looked like we were eating. Haha, we were just eating away not thinking anything of it when a clerk came in to ask us a question. The look on her face was priceless! We thought for a second she was going to need an emesis basin too (and not for eating out of, either).

As you can see from the picture below, sometimes you've just got to take a break from studying. And hijacking Mandy's husband's gear and playing "Army" is the perfect way to do it!

Or, if there was work that absolutely needed to get done, we just incorporated the fun right into the assignment. (Thanks to Jon, who was kind enough to let us be creative with our work) The pic is of the "Clotbusters." We did a spoof on Ghostbusters and taught everyone about the clot-dissolving drug tPA. I wish I had the movie to post. Good times!

I am SO glad to be done with nursing classes, but the memories I made will last a lifetime. I made a slideshow for our graduation dinner and Teana did a write-up that I think is the perfect conclusion for this post. It goes as follows:

Joy in the Journey! These four simple words greeted us in the beginning, pushed us through the tough times in the middle, and are now welcoming us at the end. Our journey was filled with sleepless nights, frustration, and most likely an impending fear of doom. We lost tears, sweat, sleep, and at times probably our sanity. But in the process of losing ourselves…. we actually found ourselves; or at least the person that each and every one of us has been striving to become. And while this may seem to be the end, in reality it is only our beginning. Life is nothing but one long journey waiting for us to lose ourselves in. This journey that we are about to embark on will be long and I’m sure difficult at times, many things may be hard for us to understand or cope with. We were never promised that this journey would be easy, only that it would be worth it. And what is more worth it than being able to touch a life, to heal a life, and possibly even save a life.
Thank you to all the friends, family, and faculty members who helped make our dreams a reality!

Another Hill

Another story to be told,
another verse to rhyme,

another truth to ponder,

another hill to climb.

Sometimes when I feel restless,

I grab my hiking pack.

I stuff inside my tent and gear

and strap it on my back.

I search my map for some new path

that leads to higher ground,

to somewhere I’ve not been before

where I can hear the sound

of water as it falls past rocks

to pools in canyon streams,

and fill my mind with images

for future poems and dreams:

a field of summer blossoms,

a sun-drenched mountain peak,

a stand of noble conifers,

fish swimming in a creek.

A feast awaits my senses

high in the alpine air,

but it requires effort;

it’s work to get them there.

Sometimes my route is level

and shaded by the trees,

but most the time the way is steep

and hurts my back and knees.

Sometimes the trail is yielding,

made soft by leaves or peat,

but often it is strewn with rocks

that pound and bruise my feet.

The toil and strain of hiking

is not the only way

to view an alpine sunrise

or canyons on display.

Roads lead to other landscapes

as wondrous, fine, and fair;

but half my source of pleasure

is the toil that gets me there.

For if my destinations

I reach without some pain,

the end without the journey

would hardly be the same.

I prize the satisfaction

from each challenge faced and met.

The feeling on each summit

is worth the price, and yet

no matter how fulfilling,

no matter how sublime,

there always looms before me

another hill to climb:

another lesson to be learned,

another one to teach;

a youngster to inspire,

another one to reach;

another error to make right,

a fault to overcome;

another chance to recommence

a labor left undone;

a weakness yet to conquer;

a talent to improve;

another sin to cast away;

a sorrow yet to sooth;

another gift to offer;

another cause for prayer;

another hour on my knees;

another cross to bear;

another glimpse of beauty;

another friend to make;

a chance to prove obedient;

a sacred vow to take.

Ascending makes me stronger.

I cherish every time

my God imparts His blessing of

another hill to climb.

Another story to be told,

another verse to rhyme,

another truth to ponder,

another hill to climb.

*As with hiking, it is true in life that there will always be another 'hill' to climb. After each trial or accomplishment something else will inevitably be there waiting. That is why I try to find 'joy in the journey' and live in the present.

Running the Trail

Why does life contain heartache and sorrows?
Why does God permit suffering and pain?
What is there from uncertain tomorrows
that mankind stands to gain?

I’ll not quote you a lesson from scripture;
a theologian, indeed, I am not.
Sometimes lessons from life help us picture
what hard doctrine cannot.

Years ago, I discovered that running
on a track, thrice each week, in the morn,
caused a change in my life. It was stunning,
much like being reborn.

Though it took me a while to get used to,
to reach optimum distance and time,
once I’d realized my goal—I can tell you—
I was feeling just fine.

The track was inside a large building,
a grand complex of concrete and steel.
Its surface was even and yielding:
the conditions ideal,

the temperature: comfort, perfection.
It was safe, not a chance I would fall.
Those who ran faced the self-same direction:
no distractions at all.

And yet, once I had reached my objective,
when my quota for fitness was full,
what before had been novel and festive
now became rather dull.

As time passed, given any good reason,
I would skip a day’s workout or two.
And if not for a change in the season,
my conditioning was through.

With the spring and a break in the weather,
on the side of the road, oft I’d see
people running, alone or together;
it just might work for me.

But the road held one obvious danger.
The solution, good luck would avail:
in the canyon I spotted a stranger
running safe on a trail.

Though its course ran the self-same direction
as the road, it was nearer the stream.
Trees concealed it from sight and attention;
it could hardly be seen.

I discovered its origin and distance
and determined to give it a try.
It refurbished my fitness persistence.
I’ll explain to you why.

From the trail, I can see God’s creations,
from the cliffs to the rocks in the creek.
Sights and smells, sounds, and other sensations
are diverse and unique.

Each new day brings a different adventure,
something new for my soul to be taught;
and there’s no one around who can censor
any feeling or thought.

And few details escape my reflection;
God has blessed us with so much to see.
Every object from nature’s collection
holds a lesson for me:

the new colors that autumn delivers,
the first butterfly hatch in the spring,
the soft snowfalls and ice on the river
that the wintertime brings.

Running trails brings joy if one chooses,
but the privilege exacts its own price.
There are blisters, sore muscles, and bruises,
and you fall once or twice.

The trail’s surface is bumpy and jagged,
often treacherous in rain or in snow,
and its course runs uneven and ragged;
often progress is slow.

But I’ve never once missed the convenience
I’ve forsaken by leaving the track,
and in spite of its promise of lenience,
I could never go back.

For by doing what’s hard, I grow stronger;
and in light of the chance I might fail,
I run slower, but farther and longer,
when I run on the trail.

And I sense a rapport, a strange kinship,
with the runners I meet on my way;
and a curious unspoken friendship
tempers each running day.

In the struggle in heaven, two brothers
waged a war to determine life’s course.
Our two-thirds chose a trail, while the others
found a track to endorse.

Why does life contain heartache and sorrows?
Why does God permit suffering and pain?
What is there from uncertain tomorrows
that we all stand to gain?

It’s from doing what’s hard that we’re stronger;
and in light of the chance we might fail,
we run slower, but much farther and much, much longer
when we run on the trail.
--Kevin Krogh

*Brother Krogh was in the stake high council in one of my student wards. He is an incredible guy and has written some amazing stuff.
More often than not, others have put into words my own thoughts and feelings. Since they say it a hundred times better than I ever could, I will be sharing a few things from various authors. Even though others may have penned it, I hope you'll still get to know 'Lyndsey' by reading them.

First Post (Thanks to Melissa) ;)

Well, I have had this blog for over a year now and have yet to post anything. Melissa told me today that I absolutely had to, so here it goes. The very first one will be some random facts about me. I have it posted on my facebook page, but it will be good to have it on here as well.

1. My favorite book is Little Women. Jo is my hero. haha

2. I am an RN and I just got a job working at the GI Lab at Logan Regional. I think I am gonna love being a nurse. Eventually, I want to work in the ER and ultimately become a Life Flight nurse. I'm a bit of an adrenaline junkie.

3. I really really want to join the Air Force. I think it would be an incredible experience. I nearly joined once, but it didn't feel like the right thing to do. I am hoping that at some point it will.

4. I have visited seven different countries. Norway, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, China, Canada, and Mexico. I think my favorite one was Norway, but China was an amazing experience as well. The food was....interesting. Eel, gelled pigs blood, whole fish, probably dog...and mystery things I don't wanna know about. :)

5. When I was little I wanted to be a marine biologist. I could name just about every sea creature imaginable. I am still fascinated by sharks and one of my dreams is to scuba dive the Great Barrier Reef.

6. I am always up for an adventure and love trying new and crazy things. Skydiving is next on my list of things to try.

7. I love sports!! In high school I played soccer, basketball, and ran track. The 200m race was my absolute favorite. Since then, I have taken up rockclimbing (which I love), running marathons (which I hate), and triathlons (which I wish I was better at). I like to push myself to new limits and see what I can accomplish.

8. I HATE it when people chew with their mouth open or make loud smacking noises. It drives me up the wall.

9. I am one of the biggest bookworms I know. I read voraciously and I take a book with me almost everywhere I go. When I was little, I would get into trouble because I would stay up way past my bedtime reading and try to hide the book under the covers.

10. I love a good hard days work. One of my very favorite jobs was working with the Utah Conservation Corps because I love manual labor. At the end of the day I liked to be able to see that I had accomplished something. Plus, it was an outdoor job in the beautiful wilderness, my office was a mountain. It doesn't get any better than that.

11. I loathe tomatoes. No food on earth is worse than a fresh tomato. Even all the crazy things from China were better. I got made fun of because we ate squid one day and the top was stuffed with tomatoes. I ate the squid and picked out all the tomatoes.

12. I love country music and Reba McEntire will always be my favorite. Some of my best memories are roadtrippin' it with my mom to go see Reba.

13. I have learned to hide it well, but I generally have a pretty low self-esteem.

14. Rain is one of my favorite types of weather. It doesn't rain nearly enough here. I inherited my mom's love of Seattle and I would love to live in Washington.

15. The only bones I have ever broken have been in my face. I broke my jaw once and my nose twice. Eating soft foods gets old fast.

16. I love camping, hiking, backpacking, rockclimbing, and basically anything that can be done in the great outdoors. I would love to live in a cabin out in the middle of nowhere.

17. My favorite TV show is Gilmore Girls. It is stinking funny and I wish I was as witty as Lorelai. My roommates have also recently gotten me addicted to Alias. If I could be anyone, it would definitely be Sydney Bristow!

18. In high school, I was in Madrigals. Mr. P let me in without even trying out. ( I have no musical ability. The story behind it is amusing.) Even though I can't sing, I loved it and actually miss singing in a choir.

19. I have always wished that I could play the guitar.

20. Whenever I get really mad or upset I tend to do one of three things: Go shoot hoops by myself, go on a deep-cleaning streak, or sprint my guts out.

21. I competed in the state drama competition. I thought for sure I would never get past Region, but Brianna pulled us through.

22. When I was little I was pretty shy and to this day I am still really introverted. The bigger the group, the more quiet I get. *This appears to contradict #21, but I actually took a drama class to help me be a little more outgoing.

23. 23 was my soccer number.

24. I wish I was as tough and amazing as my mom. People say we are a lot alike and I love it when I hear that. (Yeah, yeah, I know that sounds super cheesy, but it's true.) Her work ethic is incredible and when I "grow up" I want to be just like she is.

25. Yesterday in class my professor asked me what I would do if I had a billion dollars. In my mom's note she wrote: "I like to drive fast! If I had more money than I knew what to do with I would spend a lot of it on fast cars! I would also have a log cabin house with at least 5 acres of ground. I would have a gorgeous yard and a fun little tractor to ride around on and work on. I would live close to or by a lake so that I could swim and jet-ski." So first, I would make sure all that happened. Not only would she live by a lake, she would own it. Then, I would buy me a truck, a cabin, and all the outdoor gear I could imagine