I Did It My Way!

 This semester is almost OV--over! I love that. It's been quite a long, tough, and trying semester. As this semester winds to a close, we will now have two down and only seven more to go. Time flies when you're having fun. I didn't know if I would enjoy this blogging thing, but it's turned out to not be as bad as I might expect. Hopefully, you've found some interesting things to look at on here, and hopefully by now you've figured out where the phrase, "look at this!" comes from. If not, Google "Ed Bassmaster." So what's coming up for the summer semester you ask; fifteen fun filled hours of anesthesia curriculum after a two week break. Classes include, but are not limited to the following: Anesthesia Pharmacology, Human Gross Anatomy, Advanced Principles in Anesthesia, Anesthesia Techniques, and Role Development and Collaborative Strategies in Advanced Nursing. If you're looking for me, I probably won't be at "Casey's Place." I'll be at the location, pictured above--doing things my way.

And now, the end is near

And so I face the final curtain

My friend, I'll say it clear

I'll state my case, of which I'm certain

I've lived a life that's full

I traveled each and every highway

And more, much more that this, I did it my way...

Posters. Posters. Posters!

On April 29, the Union University Scholarship Symposium was held on the main campus in Jackson. As part of our research class, five of my classmates and I presented our semester's research work. The title of our work was "Blood Loss Prevention with the Use of Tranexamic Acid (TXA) in Total Knee Arthroplasty: An Integrative Research Review." The basis for this topic was that TXA was a drug that the group was interested in because it was something new to us and also because we found that there is currently no specific or optimal regimen of route, time, dose of this drug. We noted that a max of 1-2 grams given once is generally the dosage given. There is much in the way of future research on TXA and I believe that this topic would serve as a great topic for a future DNP project. My DNP topic is geared toward postoperative nausea and vomiting so while this is interesting, I will not be choosing it; it's still awesome though! If you would like to look at the Scholarship Symposium's website, it is located here: https://www.uu.edu/events/uuss/. Look at a few pictures of our great group! Members include Andrea Baker, Ian Bicol, Cory Prewitt, Nichelle Kirkland, and Edwin "The Boss" Martinez.

It's Getting Real!

 

Had to share that our class is finally starting to learn anesthesia and apply the things that we are learning. In Basics of Anesthesia class, we are learning how to prep our anesthesia machines for use. We will have two weeks to practice in the sim lab and then we will have a final check off. It was so cool getting to touch, see, and apply knowledge to the anesthesia machine. During the practice, I didn't feel like I was doing some type of work. I just felt like I was having fun--a great sign of things to come and look at!!!

Graffiti with punctuation

I once heard that a blog was nothing more than graffiti with punctuation. This week's things to look at are some favorite quotes of mine. These are all provided to me by a former high school teacher that I stay in touch with. He sends me packets full of these various quotes from time to time as he gathers them himself. Hopefully some or all of these apply to you or give you a smile.

"Don't worry about what people think; they don't do it very often."
"Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car!"
"If you look like your passport picture, you probably need the trip."
"No man has ever been shot while doing the dishes."
"Junk is something you've kept for years and throw away three weeks before you need it."
"Life is simpler when you plow around the stump."
"Never ever take a sleeping pill and a laxative in the same night."
"Family isn't always blood. It's the people in your life who want you in theirs, the ones who accept you for who you are, the ones who would do anything to see you smile, and who love you!"
"Easter is the only time it's good to put all your eggs in one basket."
Question: "What do you call ten rabbits marching backwards?"
Answer: "A receding hareline."
"God added one more day to your life not because you need it, but because someone else needs you!"

Guess Who's Back!

We're back at school from Spring Break. It was short lived, but well celebrated. I have compiled highlights of my Spring Break for you to look at. Our class was greeted by a Pathophysiology test first thing Thursday morning to get things kicked off right! Stay tuned for more posts and things to look at as this semester is quickly winding to a close.

Had dinner with a group of former coworkers from St. Francis in Memphis. Pictured above with me is Angela. She was a CVICU nurse that I trained,but had been a CV stepdown nurse for many years--talk about intimidating!

A great friend has a farm that always has beautiful buttercups and all kinds of things blooming to look at this time of year!

This row of buttercups goes on and on. He calls it "the golden mile."

I had the fortunate opportunity to travel to Nashville during the break with Edwin "The Boss" Martinez to see the NCAA Div I women's championship basketball game between UConn and Notre Dame. UConn showed up to play and came out with the championship. It was an awesome experience!

Spring Break '14!

Look at this! Look at this! It's almost Spring Break! I think the above picture sums up how most of us are feeling at this point, even if it's not the last semester. I know all my classmates and I are ready for this break to begin. Unfortunately, there's no rest for the weary as we have a Patho test the week we come back from the break and also ongoing research projects to work on. FUN! Also, several people (including myself) will be moving during the break. If you are also in the market for a new place, here's a great apartment complex's link. Look at this: http://villagesofcampbelloaks.com/. I'm sure many of you will be working on your tan during the break so be cautious while you're "baking." Vitamin D synthesis is good; melanoma is bad. Next blog post will be coming up right after Spring Break is over, which will be approximately April 7.Up until this point, all you can really do is look at it and say, "Look at this!"

Our Representation

                                   Time to look at some more serious items. Who protects the practice of nurse anesthesia and guides to stand up for the profession when others want to bring it down? Who makes sure that the things that we go to school for are the things that we will be able to actually practice upon graduation? Who provides resources to make those dreams come true? The American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) and the Tennessee Association of Nurse Anesthetists (TANA) are the federal and state bodies that give nurse anesthetists a voice in politics and also serve as resources for CRNAs and SRNAs throughout the country. The AANA's core values include quality, professionalism, compassion, wellness, collaboration, and diversity. These bodies help keep CRNAs in the operating room and not in the courtroom or some other boring areas, unable to practice anesthesia. The AANA ensures that CRNAs practice "safe and effective anesthesia care." TANA is an organization at the state level that serves all areas of the state of Tennessee in terms of education, resources, and representation. The SRNAs of Union were able to see this firsthand this past October at the annual meeting held in Murfreesboro, TN. Take a look at their websites for more info! AANA's link is http://www.aana.com/Pages/default.aspx. TANA's link is http://www.tncrna.com/.