A Field Trip, A Celebrity Visit, and ACLS Certification

It has been a long and busy few weeks at work.  We got to go on a field trip last week to the National Institute of Health and the National Library of Medicine. 

(Part of the National Institute of Health Campus, picture from the NIH website) 

(National Library of Medicine, from the NIH website)

The building is actually located right across the street from the hospital so we walked over one afternoon to check it out.  There is more security to get to the library than there is getting on base, made us all a little suspicious.  The library is pretty cool, there is actually a fairly small room with the circulation desk and some tables and copy machines.  In order to look at a book, you fill out a sheet of what you want and turn it in at the desk and they send it downstairs and the books are brought up for you.  We were told that all of the books were stored on three floors floors below ground, each the size of a football field.  They were currently in the process of changing their shelving so they would have movable shelves since they were out of room....again.  The building we walked through also held the server room where they update all NIH information online, it was HUGE!  We weren't allowed to take pictures of it though.  They have another section of the library where they store all of their medical books that were published prior to 1847.  They had some first edition books that were dated back to the 15th century. 

On Monday we were in day 2 of our unit orientation and had an unexpected visitor to our floor.  Jason Acunas "Wee-Man" from the Jackass movies (also a professional skateboarder) was visiting Wounded Warriors.  He stopped in our class and 'coined' all of us.  Coins are given out, mostly by generals and high ranking officials as a thank you/job well done type thing.

(Jason is in the middle, I am just to to left of him and the group is everyone from my cohort)

(This is the front and back of the coin we were given)

On Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, I was working on getting my ACLS certification.  ACLS stands for Advanced Cardiac Life Support.  I passed my certification and now if there is a code in the hospital, I can be in charge of it.  I can tell people what meds to push, and what to do next to try and save the patient.  In order to pass we had to take a written test and then be the team leader during a mega code situation.  It was a lot of information but I'm glad to have the certification now! 

Today I had the day off so my friend Julie and I went to Ft Meade to pick up our uniforms that we had tailored, then we went to Costco for groceries/lunch.  I have a staff meeting tonight, which I'm not looking forward to since it's my day off but oh well.  Tomorrow is our last day of unit orientation and I start my first night shift on my unit next Tuesday.  I will be working nights for the next three months and then I will rotate to days.  The shifts are 7pm-7am and I think my first few nights are going to be rough!  I'll have to start staying up later so I can get used to it!  That's all I'm up to for now!

Wounded Warriors

I found out on Thursday that I have been assigned to the Wounded Warrior floor at Walter Reed.  It was my first choice and I'm really excited to have this opportunity.  I was able to float to the floor a few weeks ago and I really liked the staff.  I think it will be very challenging but also a great place to get a lot of nursing and life experience!

Happy New Year: Welcome 2012!

Happy New Year!  It sure has been quite a year too!  Here's a brief recap:

I got to spend a week skiing in Colorado with my brother at the end of February.

I spent my spring working in the ER at St. Joseph's hospital in Milwaukee.

I graduated from nursing school in May...

...and passed my boards and became an RN in June

In August I worked my last days as an engineering tech at JW Speaker, a job I had for 7 years

On my 27th birthday, August 22, I reported to San Antonio, Texas for active duty in the US Army and became a commissioned officer.

I completed Basic Officer Leadership Course in October

In November, I packed up my stuff and said goodbye to Wisconsin and hello to Maryland and started my big girl job at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

I celebrated Christmas with my parents in my new apartment and welcomed in the New Year with new friends.

It's been a very busy year, had some great memories, and I'm looking forward to what 2012 has to offer!  HAPPY NEW YEAR!