Wonder What's Next?

Well that was quick. Two weeks ago I started my first surgical rotation. And today that rotation is over. It went by rather quickly. And let me just say this...I am good. I wish there was a more humble way to say that...but I haven't found that yet.

This was a great experience for me. I was thrown right into it all. And for me, that is the best way for me to learn.

During the past two weeks, I was in on over 35 surgeries. All but two on my own. I had some great help though. I really enjoyed the people that I worked with. They were very caring, and very nice. Not to mention their patience on explaining procedures with me. I really appreciated that.

When everyone found out that today was my last day, they all rushed over to give me a hug, and also their personal information so that I could use them for references. It was a good way to leave. It is nice to know that I am appreciated. And looked up to.

My next rotation is with an Oral Surgeon. I am excited! I think that it will be very helpful for me trying to get into Dental School. I think that I will be able to learn a lot of useful information for me!

Ballad Of Big Nothing

February 9, 2009. That was the day that started. That was the day that I began my career as a Surgical Technologist. Many classes, and many tests, and a lot (and I mean A LOT) of stress, and issues, and hoops, and problems finally lead to today. April 19, 2010.

Today was the first day that I actually did what I started back in February of 2009. I scrubbed in for my first surgery.

It was a very slow day at the surgery center. Only 3 cases. As opposed to around 15-20 a day. I had 2 of those 3. The first was a umbilical hernia repair. It was actually a very big hernia. Bigger than the surgeon had expected. And the woman was far bigger than I had expected... I basically did this entire surgery on my own. I had a preceptor there to help me when I needed it. But he didn't do much at all. I was very surprised by how well I did. I was on top of everything. I wasn't nervous or stressed at all. I was very calm, and confident. After the surgery was complete, both surgeons, the circulating nurse, and John (my preceptor) told me how impressed they were with how well I did. They said that I never made a single mistake or error, and knew what I was doing. It was a nice compliment. I made me feel very good. I have always known that I can do this. And that I am good at it. But it is nice to hear it from someone else besides Morgan and my family. Someone who does this everyday as a profession.

The second case was much different. It was a laparoscopic cholesystectomy. Basically a removal of the gall bladder with a scope. I was in charge of the scope and camera. It was with the same surgeons, and with John again. I was very surprised how amazingly clear the camera was. It was inserted through the belly button, and I moved and controlled it through a sheath. This was supposed to be a simple surgery. 20-30 minutes at the most. Complications kept coming up. And 1 1/2 hours into it, the surgeon decides to take a different approach. By this time, I am starting to get really tired. I couldn't move much while I was controlling the camera. One move on my end would throw the surgeons off on their end, and this may just lead to more complications. I did my best to limit all of my movements. This was very hard for me. My knee was throbbing. I was sweating very badly. I started to feel light-headed. And then before I knew it, I was spinning, and my vision was gone. Luckily I reacted quickly. I told John I was about to pass out. I quickly gave the surgeon control of the camera and sat down on the floor. I was so sick. My head was spinning. The anesthesiologist came over and helped me. Next thing I knew I was in the lounge with a doughnut and orange juice. I felt like such a wimp. But everyone told me that it happens all the time. Especially when a person (like me) skips breakfast, and then expects to keep up their strength through a long procedure like that. Oh well. Now I know.

Altogether I think that I had a good day. Oh, I made a good observation today. While I was attending my school. I would often get nervous when my teacher would be doing a mock surgery with me. Not because I didn't have confidence in myself. But because my teacher would inspire that nervousness. Instead of a positive learning atmosphere, it was basically one of fear. Always knowing that you would do your best, and no matter what you did, it was wrong. Today, my first day of being a scrub. Doing something that I really hadn't done before. And doing it all on my own. I wasn't nervous at all. I knew what I was supposed to do. And I did it. Does that say something with my school and teacher...?

The River Is Wild

I am tired. I am now one and a half weeks into my internship. I have basically worked 10 hours a day everyday since Monday the 5th. 10 hours a day isn't bad...but 10 hours of standing on my feet all day, doing the same repetitive thing gets long. And boring. But mainly long. Only two more days of Central Processing. Then I am off to Utah Valley Outpatient Center for actual surgeries!

I've also been busy keeping up with all my SUU homework. I need to do a better job...I just get tired. However, I know that if I set aside the time to do it, that I actually would get it down. I am just a procrastinator by heart, and too get at making excuses. It is something that I want to work on.

I am enjoying being with my family. They are very good, caring people. And it is nice to spend more than a few hours with them. I do love them.

I am really missing Morgan. It has been 10 days since I last saw her. I miss everything about her. I miss the way she feels. The way she looks. The way she smells. The way she tastes. The way we could just sit next to her on the couch, and talk. The way I feel when I am next to her. The way I feel when I crawl into bed with her. The way I feel when I kiss her. I just miss her.

I know I will be with her soon. And that makes me happy. I love her.

For What It's Worth

I have wanted to do this for a while. I am just lazy, and forget. But I am proud to present my official review blog here!

I have created this blog to be used as an educational tool. Not a place for me to complain or gripe about something. But I don't want it to be all about me. I would like to hear every ones thoughts on the subjects discussed! Whatever those subjects may be.

Until The End

...Finally. It has officially begun.

Today marked the beginning of my internship. 8 1/2 hours down, and only 531 1/2 left. Yikes! Oh well. I think that it will go by fairly quick. (I hope so anyways!)

For the next two weeks I will be in Utah Valley Regional Medical Center's Central Processing.(UVRMC CP.) For those of you who do not know what Central Processing is, allow me to instruct you. It is a lot of work! Basically in CP I pull case carts (all the stuff needed for a surgery), clean instruments, and repackage instruments into their specific cases. It is very very very repetitive. However, all the workers there seem to really enjoy their jobs. So maybe it was just a repetitive day for me...who knows. I am not complaining. I am excited to have finally started. I think that this will be a very good start for me too. It will help me learn new instruments. And help me to be quick and efficient during surgery.

On a positive note, my supervisor in CP told me that I can basically work as many hours as I would like while I am there. And I plan on taking her up on that!

Hold Fast Hope

Again, it's all done.

I say "again" because I have been in this situation before. Just 6 months ago. This time however things look more promising. But the title (Hold Fast Hope) still remains.

Starting last Wednesday (March 24), I began my re-training at Ameritech. I was very doubtful that things would work out in my favor. After a quick talk with Heather, I found my way into the Lab, and began scrubbing in for a mock procedure. We did an Exploratory Laparotomy. Afterward Heather told me that she was very surprised at how well I did. And how much I had retained from being away from school for so long. It was a complement that I was grateful for. And something that should have been said a year ago... Oh well.

Today marked the end of my re-training. I passed all the exams and tests that she gave me with a better score than when I was actually enrolled. Including a 100% on instruments and sutures! I am glad to have it done. Again.

Monday I begin my first day of my internship. I start in the Utah Valley Regional Medical Center's Central Processing. And then two weeks later I will be moving to the Utah Valley Outpatient Center for actual surgeries. From there I will either be going to Cedar City's Valley View Hospital of to a surgery center in St. George. Again, I am holding fast to that hope...
,
All I can say is, IT IS ABOUT TIME! Finally I am starting! I have to do 540 hours...yeah...that many. I am hoping that I can knock them out quickly. Wish me luck!

The Distance

I just wanted to say "thanks" to those of you who do read my blog. I have found that writing it keeps me better organized, and focused. So I am enjoying it. If you haven't noticed, I have started another blog here. It is a goal blog. I have set 101 goals that I would like to accomplish in the next 1001 days.

If you just took the link and looked then I am sure that you have noticed I do not have my entire 101 goals yet. I had hoped to be working toward finishing them, but in all fairness I haven't started because I do not have all 101. So I am taking suggestions. I would appreciate any ideas that you may have to help me finish off my 101 goals. I do understand that this should be a personal thing. But, I think that I have racked my brain as far as I can. So, any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

The Start Of Something

I am so so so happy! Today Morgan received a very important email. An email from a university.

I will be honest. I cheated.

Morgan called me. She texted me. But I was sleeping. I didn't wanna get out of bed at all this morning. When I finally did I found my phone and saw that Morgan tried to get me. I naturally assumed what it was for. I tried calling her back. I tried texting her. But I didn't get a response. So, I decided to do a quick check on her email. I logged on. Then I fought it. I didn't wanna ruin the chance for Morgan to tell me. So I waited. The longer I waited, the harder it became. So finally I decided to look...

MORGAN WAS ACCEPTED INTO A MASTERS OF FINE ARTS WITH AN EMPHASIS IN MUSICAL THEATRE FROM MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY, MANKATO!

I am super happy for her! This is what she wanted, and what she deserved. Morgan, The Master. I do like it.

Wild Pack Of Family Dogs

Morgan is gone. She is in Minnesota for her audition! Getting her there was far more eventful that either of us had imagined.

We left Cedar City for Las Vegas with plenty of time to get her on her flight on time. We pulled into Vegas around 11:30 pm, an hour before her flight was scheduled to depart. It took about 15 more minutes to get her to the airport. We said our good-byes (which I am terrible at...), and she left. I got back in Belle, and drove off. I was about all the way out of Vegas when I received a text from Morgan saying Delta wouldn't let her board her flight? I was super confused. She said that she had missed the check-in time by a few minutes and Delta wasn't going to do anything about it. Apparently Delta Airlines has a 45 minute check-in policy that no one knows about. And if you are not there in time, they won't let you board the flight. Morgan had missed it by about 2 minutes. Stupid. So I took the next exit, and turned back toward the airport not know what to do.

Luckily Morgan was able to track down a manager with Delta and found out that she could wait in stand by for the next flight to Minnesota an hour later. So in the meantime I waited in an In N Out. I was so furious with Delta! I couldn't believe that they would have such a stupid policy, and that they were not willing to accommodate people. But thankfully, Morgan was able to get on that flight. It was such a huge relief, and an answer to many prayers! Stupid stupids!

Thursday night brought my parents down from Springville. I was very happy to see them, and be able to spend more than a few hours with them. The next morning we headed up to Brian Head for a good day of skiing. But, it also wasn't what we were expecting.

We got to the resort and were very surprised by how few people were there. We soon found out the reason. You see the night before the weather was just crazy! It was so windy at Brian Head that they had to close down all the lifts but two. Of course, we learned of this after we had already purchased our passes. So, we decided to brave the weather!

If you discount the fact that the snow has wind blown, and super crusty. The powder being heavy, and the wind being fierce, it was a great day! I had a wonderful time skiing with my parents. At the end of last season my Dad purchased some new 4FRNT ski's. And I'll be honest. I am quite jealous. They seem amazing. And I was able to see the professional skier that my Dad really is. My Mom also is quite amazing. She isn't as reckless as I am. Or seamlessly perfect as my Dad is, but she is brave. And she shows it. They are very fun to ski with! It was such a great day. I am glad that we were able to have it. I really enjoy being with them. They are wonderful people, and I love them!

Tomorrow I go back to Vegas to pick Morgan up from the airport. I am super de duper excited to see her! Hopefully this flight is less eventful than the last...

Date With Destiny

It's Spring Break! Wahoo!

I will be honest. It hasn't really seemed like Spring Break though. I imagine that has a lot to do with the fact that I am only in school two days of the week, and that most of my classes are online, and I've basically been on spring break with those classes since they started...Whoops.

Morgan and I had initially planned on going to Page Arizona and hiking "The Wave" over Spring Break, but those plans changed when she learned that Minnesota State wanted her to come and audition for them in person. That is a wonderful reason to postpone those plans. I unfortunately was not able to produce the funds necessary to accompany her on this trip. Which made me sad, but it was ohk. I know that she will do amazing! Because she IS amazing!

So instead of traveling with my Love, I talked with Ernie, and he is just going to work me more. Something that I need.