Morgan's Blog Week 4

Tech Tip:
Ctrl + A

I actually found out about this quick key when Mrs. Myers put the hint to highlight everything in our homework assignment (Publisher Reading Guide). This is so helpful and way better than clicking and scrolling down the entire page to highlight your text.  By using Ctrl + A you can immediately highlight the entire page. I love it.

 
http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/lifehacker/2009/07/highlighter.jpg

Class Reflection:
Pediatrics

I am now in my Pediatrics rotation in clinical.  Although I was sad to leave Women and Babies Hospital, I love working with little kids.  Its completely different on 3East (Pediatrics).  I'm on evening shift, so I start clinical at 2pm and leave at 9:30pm.  It's a weird adjustment for me because before I was waking up at 5am to get to WBH at 6am, and leaving the hospital at 2:30pm.  I'm finding that I enjoy the evening though.  Its extremely sad seeing the little kids so sick and upset.  The one thing that I found a little disturbing though, were the beds.  the infants and toddlers are in "cribs," but they look more like cages!

http://www.medwow.com/bed-pediatric-c-955-infant-crib.ith18273_180_200.jpg
http://gmpol.com/inventorypics/babycrib1.jpg

Class Topic:
Brochures

This week we learned about using brochures and how to properly get your point across.  We went over how important it is to use white space.  If everything is crammed together it is hard to focus and easy to get confused while reading.  We also discussed the use of visuals along with your information.  If you present your information with just text, the readers will be extremely intimidated.

http://www.etsu.edu/universitypress/Gallery%20images/Nursing_ANP-high.gif

First job:
Waitress

I started working at Isaac's Restaurant and Deli when I was 16.  I started as a deli worker/cook.  I worked there for about two years when I decided that my deli wage wasn't cutting it and decided to learn to waitress.  I was trained and started working part-time waitress and part-time deli worker.  I mainly waitress now but still pick up shifts in deli when they are needed.  I plan to someday soon work in the hospital but right now Isaac's is getting me through nursing school.

http://www.naa-pa.org/spaw2/uploads/images/isaacs.jpg

Major:
Nursing

I chose my major because I've always wanted to help people.  Also almost all my relatives work in the medical field so I have been around the medical field for my entire life.  My mother is a Nurse Practitioner, my father is the Head of Cardiology at Lancaster Regional Hospital, my grandmother is a Nurse Anesthetist, and my uncle is a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner. I had shadowed all of them numerous times throughout my childhood and young adulthood.  Now in school I love nursing even more because I'm getting to experience the real deal.  In clinicals we get to work with nurses and assist them in their everyday workings.

http://esalaryresearch.com/registered-nurse-salary/

Morgan's Blog Week 3

Tech Tip:

Secure Sites

This week I learned about how to know if a site you are on is really secure.  When you look at your URL at the top, if you notice that your http has an S (https) and there is a gold lock to the right of that URL, this is a secure website.

http://www.uaeu.ac.ae/uits/news/2008/images/eservices_https.jpg

Class Reflection:
Women and Babies Hospital

Wednesday was the last day for my clinical rotation at Women and Babies Hospital. Its sad because this was one of my favorite rotations. I want to work in the NICU with premature babies and it was just such a wonderful experience.  Besides seeing hysterectomies and being present for a birth I got to know a bunch of wonderful women, patients and staff.  I realized over my stay that in maternity it is mainly wellness care (healthy people), and I enjoy sickness care (ill people), only because I feel like I am actually helping people.  The babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) cannot tell you what is wrong.  You are there to help them survive. Most of the infants come to the unit weighing in at less than 1 pound!  They can't breath, eat, or even keep their heart working on their own.  Working there I feel like I am making a difference.  Don't get me wrong I loved working in Couplet Care (where healthy mothers and babies stay) but it was kind of boring.  That sounds awful, but you are basically babysitting a mother and child until they are able to go home.  I would rather spend my time fixing someone. Overall I had a wonderful experience at WBH.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/photos/uncategorized/2009/03/18/premie.jpg

Class Topic:
Gerard Donofry

The speaker that came into class was amazing.  First of all he was intelligent and actually knew what he was talking about, second of all he was interesting.  When you find a speaker to talk to a class, you want the students to be interested in what the topic is or they won't learn anything.  He was a legal hacker (didn't even know there was such a thing). He gave us a ton of information and I must say he made me want to go home and buy a Hacking for Dummies Guide.  What I found most interesting was how unsafe the internet is.  I always laugh about how there's "big brother" watching us, but apparently I should be fearful cause they are! He told us that the internet was actually created by the US Military in preparation for a nuclear war! Everything we do on our phones, the internet, etc. is saved and documented.  I have to say its scary stuff.  He did give us some tools though for keeping your computer safe from hackers (the bad kind), which made me feel a little better. He told us that Malwarbytes and Spybot are really good computer security systems. Truecrypt is a free flash drive encryption download. He also told us about patches, which are apparently updates for your computer's protection.  He was a pretty awesome speaker!

 https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN19hbNZxXll3HYAtgcIn5XnMjvQBfUAqWcNhoXzttqxPxa736ud48z81IDgZQ9J8VR3DeDMsqVP97bd90sMf7ABjYljGNV9JYSVo2ICAh5rYgJOaZmYITadqn7dYilAN8To3KbCmnBLRw/s1600/hacking-for-dummies.jpg

Classmate:
Madea

I think its awesome how you like to fish.  You don't often hear about girls enjoying fishing.  I used to fish all the time in the Poconos with my cousins when I was little.  I loved it so much but have not done it in years.  Where do you fish?

http://www.crankbaits.biz/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/kids-fishing.jpg

Morgan's Blog Week 2

Tech Tip:
Ctrl+F
Using the shortcut Ctrl+F has saved me time and time again from wasting my time.  If I'm looking at a website or long paper and I just want to find one word or topic that is talked about in the document, I use this shortcut and it takes me to whereever that word is in the paper. This shortcut brings up a search-this-page feature. Its amazing! I would recommend it to everyone who uses a computer.
http://childrenasresearchers.wikispaces.com/file/view/ctrl-f.jpg/215343444/ctrl-f.jpg

Class Reflection:
Clinicals in Labor and Delivery
In clinicals this week I got to see a birth! Like everyone says, it was amazing, literally a miracle. I was right there holding my patient's legs cheering her on the whole time. But what they don't tell you is that it is pretty disgusting.  Sorry if you're a squimish person but to give you the 411 on natural birth, its not too pretty.  There's lots of blood, mucous, and bodily fluids. Worst of all is the smell.  Now don't get me wrong I'm not trying to convince anyone against childbirth, but I'm just saying it was really intense. In truth though, when the baby literally pops out (or slides out), it is magical.  Everything stops, and the movies definitely have it right when they show a glowing mother holding her baby, forgeting all about the fact that she has been pushing out this little human for several hours.  The pain is non-existant in her eyes because her goal was met.  When you hear the baby's first cry everything is okay. 
 http://childbirth.amuchbetterway.com/wp-content/themes/tma/images/post/birthprogress390.jpg

Class Topic:
Erognomics
It is all about health and productivity.  It stresses the importance of safe furniture and machines to eliminate repetitive strain injuries in the workplace. For example you can get things like carpal tunnel sydrome, strained backs, arthritis, and chronic pain.  It is pretty simple stuff but super important to be aware of.
http://www.ergonomics-info.com/image-files/desk_ergonomics.jpg

Google Gadget:
Google Books
I am an avid book reader and this tool is amazing.  You literally type in a topic and it lists all known books about that topic.  This is extremely helpful if I'm in the mood to read something specific.  I just type in the subject and instantly have a list of books I will most likely enjoy.
http://www.lindseypollak.com/uploads/2010/05/books-pile.jpg

Favorite Restaurant:
Carrabbas!
I love this place, it is awesome. I'm Italian and I think they serve amazing Italian cuisine. I'm a huge fan of their oven baked pizzas. I would definitely recommend them as well as their seafood dishes. For special occasions this is mine and my boyfriend's go-to place.
http://whatsthaword.com/wp-content/uploads/carrabbas.jpg

Jenny's Blog: Week 1

Jenny I completely agree. I love the save shortcut it helps a lot. I also love dogs they are amazing animals.