Colleen

this summer in nursing..

I wanted to write about some of my experiences in nursing this summer.  I want to remember how it felt the first time I experienced certain things and performed some procedures.  Recently I suctioned a patient’s airway for the first time.  He was a non-verbal patient.  It was a difficult experience for me because I could see in his face and his eyes that he was scared and that he was choking (suctioning is very uncomfortable for patients because it does choke them) but I had to keep going.  After the suctioning was finished, I stayed in the room and held his hand while I explained why that procedure was necessary and apologized for putting him through so much pain.  I don’t know if he understood my words but he seemed to at least understand my intent.  I want to remember this experience because I want to always be respectful of how scary and painful suctioning can be, especially for someone who may not understand why it needs to be done.  

I also want to remember how it felt to hold and take care of an infant in the nursery. I have to say that holding a newborn against my chest was one of the very best things I have ever experienced.

This was probably a boring post (not that many or any people read it) but I just wanted to record my experiences because they were really special to me.

Good Movie

This weekend I watched conversations with other women.  I loved it, it is now one of my favorite movies (it is sad though).

At the end of every yoga class, the instructor reads a quote.  Below is the quote from today’s class, I really liked this one.

To meditate does not mean to fight with a problem.
To meditate means to observe.
Your smile proves it.
It proves that you are being gentle with yourself,
that the sun of awareness is shining in you,
that you have control of your situation.
You are yourself,
and you have acquired some peace

-Thich Nhat Hanh