Independent Component 1 Check In

     For my first Independent Component I decided to take an intro class for nursing at Citrus College. I had taken a couple General Ed. classes up at CalPoly so I thought I could easily handle the class. It wasn't until I actually joined the class that I realized just what I was getting myself into.

     The Intro to Health Occupations course turned out to be a prerequisite for the Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) program. Multiple classes take the same course taught by several teachers on Pharmacology & Anatomy/Physiology. The total number of students at the beginning of the semester was about 150 students. As soon as the first day finished the students were dropping like flies to get out of the class after realizing how much work it would take. This is how I finally got into the class after waiting over the summer for spots to open up. With about 130 remaining, we are currently vying for the top 15% which is what you need to get in order to pass the class while the other 85% will have
another attempt to take retake the course next semester.

     The class has a very rigorous schedule with tests every day. I have to review up to 20 pages for each period. Although it is a challenging course, I've learned a great deal of information thus far. The class has helped me develop a better sense of medical terminology, familiarize myself with the human body, and what nurses do. I've learned how to examine patients, determine pathological conditions, possible treatments, calculate dosages, and properly document a Medication Administration Record (MAR).

     It's been difficult trying to make time for my college class, as well as my high school classes and volunteering, but I think it's helped me work on learning time management. This is only a taste of what to expect when I go to college for nursing full-time and it's a very daunting thought indeed. On the other hand, I believe that the class will only benefit me in the long run and make me better prepared for the senior project and possibly a future career.

Blog 8: Research and Working EQ

1) EQ: What factor is the most important for a registered nurse to provide the best quality care?
2) Possible EQ answers:

• Focus on person-centred care; this helps nurses deviate from treating only the problems but the patient as a whole.   
• Continuing education, such as obtaining a baccalaureate degree, which will result in a better prepared and more knowledgeable nurse.

3) Most important source: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing is the only website I have found containing free, scholarly nursing articles so far. They have numerous articles on different issues that are currently happening within the nursing field. One specific article that has helped is "Measuring Compassion in Nursing " by D. Sturgeon. It's about patient satisfaction and how nurses can work towards it.
4) I am volunteering at San Dimas Community Hospital in the Medical-surgical unit for inpatients. Since I just started I stay at the main desk of that area taking calls from patients in their rooms that need anything. It is important to my EQ because the focus of my project is on nursing and patient care. I get to observe first hand what is happening in the field. Even though I'm at the desk I have an important role to play in patient care. I relay information about what a patient needs to the specific nurse that is assigned to them. As I continue to volunteer, I hope I will be able to go to patient rooms and help assist nurses in their work with what is permissible.