Let's get oriented!

So, I'm two full weeks into my orientation to the Neurology/Neurosurgery ICU, and so far, things have gone well. My first day I probably made every stupid little mistake I could, but every day I feel a little more comfortable. Of course, I haven't had any patients do something too crazy on me yet... but all in due time.

We had our "neuro boot camp" this week, which was actually really awesome, because it was a great highlighted review of all the big main neuro diagnoses. Also, at the end of the two days, I felt excited about being a neuro nurse, and getting to see more of all our variety of patients. Not to mention that I got my very own level/laser for leveling EVDs (drains that go into people's brains). This, I think, makes me very cool, and very geeky at the same time. Also, I got excited at the thought of getting to teach a powerpoint lecture to a new set of residents next year. This probably really cements the geeky diagnosis.

This post feels a little awkwardly written, maybe because I've just worked 24 of the past 48 hours... and 36 of the past 96. Hmm. Right now my schedule feels busier, because I have two class days a week, paired with 2 work days... so even though time wise is about the same, there's 4 days a week I'm booked- so I'm missing and off day. I'm looking forward to things settling into a more "normal" routine, though every 6 weeks or so I'll have another class day... until June. Maybe one of the "down sides" of the residency program... but I'm not complaining, because I am so grateful for all of this experience and learning, and really excited about working in Neuro (seriously, every day I think I get more excited about it.)

Well, I think I'm going to go do something that requires less thinking now because I feel like I'm not really following a steady train of thought as much as I'd like to while I'm trying to write this. Evidence to you as to why I've been so bad at writing... Even though I don't feel insanely busy... I really am pretty busy. Time is just escaping me.

Oh, I have a desk in my room now, with lots of fun and pretty things on it. Hopefully in the next two days I'll maybe get the rest of the stuff hung on my walls, and then I can take pictures!