School and other stuff.

This is the legit new semester post. The one where you write about what school will really be like, not just what you expect or hope. Because you've had a week of it already!

 The first week of school is always super emotional for me. This one was no different. I don't know if it is just the overwhelming flood of stress that re enters my life, or the stress of clinicals, or the new people I meet and the stress of being social... Whatever it is, it can get pretty annoying. This last week I had 3 twelve hour days of class.
Monday and Wednesday I have class from 7-7. So I'm on campus more that 12 hours. On these days though, my classes are separated by a few hours of work, which is nice.
Last Tuesday, however, was literally 10 hours of class. Like in-class time. There was a break from 11-12 and then 2:30-3. But other than that I had class from 8-7. And it was all nursing. So. Much. Information. Basically brain overload.
Thursday was psychiatric nursing orientation. It lasted most of the day. 8-2:30.
Friday was ICU nursing orientation up at UofU hospital. It lasted most of the day. 6-2:30.

Clinical orientations are hard for me. Clinicals stress me out a whole bunch. And everywhere we go people say things like, "We just love BYU nursing students. You guys are always more prepared and respectful and overall better students than other programs. We're really excited to work with you." While that's all fine and great for our reputation, it adds a lot of stress to make sure you don't let down that reputation. Also, you are on your feet touring the hospital for most of the day, you do quick computer training for the charting system that they expect you to remember. Riiiiight. But you have to remember. Shoot.

Psych orientation was especially draining. Psychiatric illnesses scare me. Mental illnesses. I don't know why I have always worried that I would develop a mental illness. We learned about the different units. 2 forensic units, one boys unit, and one adult unit that we will be working on. We had to have a voices simulation to simulate what it is like to be psychotic and hear voices. The best word I can think of to describe the voices (or noises) is fiendish. It was awful. Swearing, muttering, hissing, degrading. And then we had to complete tasks quietly, without any questions, during the simulation. It was awful. It made me sick to my stomach. And then we watched a movie that was super emotional. About a woman who has a mental illness but instead of helping, everyone she knows withdraws from her and her two girls. She abuses her children, doesn't take care of herself, can't keep a job, keeps getting arrested... *heavy sigh.

I'm kind of worried about ICU. I hope I don't pass out or get sick. I hope I can do things correctly. I hope I can be prepared. I hope I keep up the reputation previous BYU students have made.

I ended up dropping American Heritage. Again. I just couldn't do 17.5 credits. And work 20 hrs a week. And go to clinicals for 12 hrs a week. And do homework. And have a boyfriend. It just wasn't working out. My 14.5 now seems so much more manageable!

I absolutely love Ballroom and Contemporary dance. I love dance. (I've never said that on this blog before.) And I really love my Marriage and Family class. Hopefully I'll be motivated to do well in my nursing classes too.

In other news:
These past few weeks have reminded me so much of how incredibly awesome my family-extended and immediate-is. I love them so much! Again I've had the thought that until I find someone who I will want to be with more than my family, I'm never getting married. I think it will take me a long time to get to that point. My family is so inspiring and amazing. I love spending time with cousins. :)

I went to Seven Peaks yesterday. That was fun.

I think I'm gonna run the Halloween half marathon in like 7 weeks. Wahoo!

Okay. That's all for today folks! Hopefully next time I'll write a little more interesting post.