Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Fall on Campus: One Month Down of the 2012-2013 School Year!

The first month of school has officially come and gone, and with one month gone I have so much to tell you all about the new school year! First, as everyone knows we have a new President, President Champagne. As the new President, he has initiated many new changes on campus. First, we no longer only have purple and gold in the book store! I know, it seems crazy, but it seems to be going over well with the student body. We also no longer have a traditional Mountain Day, but instead a Founder's Day which is essentially a scheduled day off from school where activities will be taking place all day! With so many new changes, the Elmira College staff and student body is working to keep Elmira traditional but still bring it into the modern era. Thus far, the changes seem to be going over well and Elmira still continues to have it's own unique spark!

Extra-curricular activities have all started now, and like before I am again dancing in Orchesis and this year, am dancing and teaching as VP of Tap Ensemble. Both of these clubs performed at Octagon Fair and just this past weekend at Parent's Weekend! Octagon Fair took place a few weeks ago and the theme was "Under the Big Top" or circus theme. It had a great turnout despite the rain and all of the clubs had great booths with the circus theme throughout! 

As a junior nursing student now, I have had a wonderful first term back. I am currently on the Med-Surg unit at one of the hospitals in the area, and I am really enjoying it. This term I have given various medications, including many injections and IV's. I also was able to do my first foley catheter on a patient which was such an accomplishment and wonderful learning opportunity. I have had a variety of patient's and learned about a variety of illnesses, diseases and health complications. This term, I had the unique opportunity to go to the OR. While there, I watch two full knee replacements and was able to see the entire surgery up close and truly understand the physiology of caring for a patient after a ortho surgery. I absolutely loved this experience, as it opened my eyes to a new area of nursing. I also was able to spend a day in Endoscopy where I watch two endoscopy procedures and one colonoscopy. It was so interesting to see the inside of the human body on camera and really understand the intestinal system. Both of these opportunities are so great to have because it allows for us as students to get to learn about various departments of nursing and gain a better understanding for our patients and what they go through with all of the testing, procedures, and surgery while in the hospital. Also during this term, my clinical got the unique opportunity to participate in a disaster drill simulation with a local hospital. We acted as the simulated patients, and as you can see in the picture, we made the story come alive. This was a really fun experience and truly helped the staff of the hospital prepare for the potential of a real disaster! With six weeks left of clinical, I am sure that I will continue to get these learning opportunities and have many more stories!

 Clinical Disaster Simulation!

To have some fun this term, my friends and I have taken a break from the textbooks and careplans and gone on a few adventures. Last weekend we spent the entire day apple picking and visiting a local store, the puppy patch, to play with all of the sweet puppies! They love having students come to visit, and for nursing students it is a great place to just have fun and relieve stress. SAB has also sponsored many events this year, including a welcome back dance which was widely attended as well as 2am Club, a band that played in Mackenzie's and also had a great turnout. There have also been weekly movies in Gibson, Pub Trivia, and various other sponsored trips and activities. There is always something to do on campus and if someone is uninterested in the campus sponsored events, one can always adventure off campus and find something else to do. 

Puppy Patch Visit! (Yes, that is a real puppy!)
 
 Climbing Apple Trees!

 Nursing Major Apple Picking Adventure!

 My Apples!

The campus is beautiful right now with wonderful fall colors and fall weather. Midterms are this week, and everyone is hurrying to get all of their work done before the start of break. I will be spending much of this week in the library with the other nursing majors as we study for our midterm on Friday. In clinical this week we will all be heading to the local health department in Elmira and be doing flu shots for residents of the area, as well as for each other! This is a great opportunity to really become injection professionals and I am looking forward to having so much practice, because practice makes perfect. After midterm break I will have much more to update as October starts to fly by! Until then, off to the library!