The ABC's of Trip Planning, Pt 1- K is for Keeping Things Kooky- Drinks V-Z; pg. 197 + New Link

[dglilbit]

My worst exam EVER. But still a B. Just sooooo glad to be done!!!!!

Woohoo! You are done!

 

[Steppesister]

Woohoo! You are done!

View attachment 156563

This makes me smile. Definitely had me some happy cat dancing moments today!

 

[Chrystmasangel]

Finally... All caught up! Since I missed so much (crazy lion King costumes) I will just say Grats on the last exam! I don't know why you would be worried about being a nurse all by yourself, I have a feeling you will be nothing short of amazing!

 

[Steppesister]

Finally... All caught up! Since I missed so much (crazy lion King costumes) I will just say Grats on the last exam! I don't know why you would be worried about being a nurse all by yourself, I have a feeling you will be nothing short of amazing!

Awwww, thanks! Just sooooo much to learn still.

I'm behind on all my threads, and can't wait to see photos of those costumes. What an enormous undertaking!!!!

We actually have class tomorrow and I'm going to catch up on some appts. After that some DISTime!

 

[DonnaBeeGood]

.

 

[franandaj]

First off congratulations! So glad you are through the hardest part. Well other than that part about YOU being the real nurse now. But I'm sure you will be awesome.

I need someone to explain the Melting Pot to me sometime. I love melted cheese and chocolate too, but isn't the rest of the meal just boiled meat? And why do they have a head chef if I'm cooking my own dinner?

I can explain this (as the Melting Pot is one of my most favorite restaurants). You (or me) might be in charge of bringing your dinner to the temperature (or doneness, ie rare, medium rare, medium, dead) that you desire, there is so much more that goes into the dinner than just sticking meat on a stick and swirling it around in a pot.

For the Cheese course, they have suggested blends of cheeses, some with beer, some with wine, some with kirsch, some non-alcoholic varieties and for those with aspirations to become a head chef one day, you can also come up with your own. Someone has to come up with the suggested blendings of cheeses. Then there is what you dip in it. They don't just bring you bread, but apples, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower and whole assortment of stuff I don't remember.

For the main course, there are different pairings of meats, poultry and seafood. Many of the meats come with a marinade or rub, someone needs to come up with that. Also you have four types of cooking alternatives, oil, court boullion, vegetarian boullion and I forget the last one. These are all created and seasoned. Then once you remove your meat from the pot, there are at least eight different sauces to dip it in, again someone needs to come up with these because (as you would expect from me), they are not Ranch, Ketchup, Mustard, Thousand Island and Italian. Again it's been a while so I forget, but the dipping sauces really complement the meats. Oh and it's not just meat, there are potatoes, mushroom, more broccoli and I think more veggies.

And the chocolate, just as involved as the cheese, they give you suggested choices, but in the end you decide is you want it with or without alcohol, dark or light, or white chocolate. I know you were being funny Mark, but you know me, can't resist a discussion about food!

Liesa I hope you do give it a shot it's a fabulous way to spend a girl's evening out! However, take this with a grain of salt, another one of my favorite restaurants is Shabu Shabu. Essentially the Japanese version of "fondue" except after you have cooked all your meats and veggies in the broth, you add the noodles and have soup! Yes I am a crazy person who likes to pay lots of money to cook my own food!

 

[Steppesister]

First off congratulations! So glad you are through the hardest part. Well other than that part about YOU being the real nurse now. But I'm sure you will be awesome.



I can explain this (as the Melting Pot is one of my most favorite restaurants). You (or me) might be in charge of bringing your dinner to the temperature (or doneness, ie rare, medium rare, medium, dead) that you desire, there is so much more that goes into the dinner than just sticking meat on a stick and swirling it around in a pot.

For the Cheese course, they have suggested blends of cheeses, some with beer, some with wine, some with kirsch, some non-alcoholic varieties and for those with aspirations to become a head chef one day, you can also come up with your own. Someone has to come up with the suggested blendings of cheeses. Then there is what you dip in it. They don't just bring you bread, but apples, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower and whole assortment of stuff I don't remember.

For the main course, there are different pairings of meats, poultry and seafood. Many of the meats come with a marinade or rub, someone needs to come up with that. Also you have four types of cooking alternatives, oil, court boullion, vegetarian boullion and I forget the last one. These are all created and seasoned. Then once you remove your meat from the pot, there are at least eight different sauces to dip it in, again someone needs to come up with these because (as you would expect from me), they are not Ranch, Ketchup, Mustard, Thousand Island and Italian. Again it's been a while so I forget, but the dipping sauces really complement the meats. Oh and it's not just meat, there are potatoes, mushroom, more broccoli and I think more veggies.

And the chocolate, just as involved as the cheese, they give you suggested choices, but in the end you decide is you want it with or without alcohol, dark or light, or white chocolate. I know you were being funny Mark, but you know me, can't resist a discussion about food!

Liesa I hope you do give it a shot it's a fabulous way to spend a girl's evening out! However, take this with a grain of salt, another one of my favorite restaurants is Shabu Shabu. Essentially the Japanese version of "fondue" except after you have cooked all your meats and veggies in the broth, you add the noodles and have soup! Yes I am a crazy person who likes to pay lots of money to cook my own food!

If I wasn't at a PT appt and on my phone I'd reply more in depth, which I will do tonight. Meantime, thank you. I'm slobbering on their floor.

 

[franandaj]

If I wasn't at a PT appt and on my phone I'd reply more in depth, which I will do tonight. Meantime, thank you. I'm slobbering on their floor.

Here, something more to look at. I went back to these pictures to figure out what they gave for dippers, but thought you weren't reading my TR when I posted these from last September, but now I see that you were there in time. Just in case you need a refresher for your drool.

http://www.disboards.com/threads/sh...last-train-ride.3383483/page-63#post-54783490

 

[Steppesister]

I'm exhausted (anyone surprised?) and need to get a bit more sleep. It was incredibly difficult sitting for 3 hours of lecture and getting the crap scared out of us about next term, getting a pedicure, going out to lunch, grocery shopping, having a 40 minute PT session for my stupid ribcage that she thinks has some torn cartilage from shifting a patient wrong about 2 months ago, and cleaning a fair bit of my house. Some parts were less difficult than others.

Anyway, I'll get to more detailed responses sometime tomorrow. Need to do some clothes shopping and pack from my 5:00 train departure. Maybe on the train I'll get some time.

Anyway, the biggest news of the day is that I got my Preceptor Placement:

I'll be at the Willamette Valley Medical Center, a small-ish hospital about 25 minutes from my house in the same town my daughter lives in. I got kind of a cool placement as either:

A) A Float Nurse or,

B) A Super Charge Nurse. Yes, I'd never heard of that as well, but it's actually a position that is mostly management doing scheduling, patient room/RN assignments, equipment checks, etc... and then does Resource Nursing when not busy. (Basically, a 2nd set of hands for any RN that might need some.)

The biggest piece of my assignment is that it's NIGHTS. I begin April 10 and my time goes through May 9- the day after my birthday. So, 6:30 PM - 7:30 AM.

Meantime, they loaded us up with about 200 pages of articles to read over our break (there really never is such a thing as a genuine break!) and our first exam is the Friday after we return. The difference is that these exams are done in groups, so we practice collaboration. There are some people I'd rather punch in the face than collaborate with, but I will smile... and collaborate.

Anyway, I thought some of you might be interested.

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Well, it's good that you have your assignment! Not so sure about the shift, but at least you can see your family after your nap. Swing shift not so much. Also good that it is close to home!

 

[Flossbolna]

Interesting news about your placement. At least it is not far from home, that is a bonus! I am surprised that they give you the night shift for these kind of placements, but then I am still amazed at the length of your shifts. But you will be only working three days a week or more? Do you get paid anything? I think you will really love getting to do the real stuff and I am sure you are ready for it. And as to those collaboration exams, I am sure your time in Crappistan has prepared you for collaborating under the most adverse circumstances. What do they grade you on? The result or the collaboration effort?

 

[DonnaBeeGood]

.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

I'll be at the Willamette Valley Medical Center, a small-ish hospital about 25 minutes from my house in the same town my daughter lives in.

Cool. That seems to have worked out well.

A Super Charge Nurse.

WHOA!!! That sounds awesome! Phenomenal cosmic powers!

The biggest piece of my assignment is that it's NIGHTS. I begin April 10 and my time goes through May 9- the day after my birthday. So, 6:30 PM - 7:30 AM.

There had to be a catch somewhere.

The difference is that these exams are done in groups, so we practice collaboration. There are some people I'd rather punch in the face than collaborate with, but I will smile... and collaborate.

Sounds like employment to me!

 

[franandaj]

Sounds like your nursing assignment will be rather interesting. I could never understand how nurses pulled off those 12 hour shifts in hospitals. I would never make it.

I hope you can find some downtime on your "break" and get a little relaxing in.

 

[pkondz]

I'm exhausted (anyone surprised?)

Yes! Totally shocked!

No. Wait. That's for something else.
No. I'm not surprised.

and need to get a bit more sleep.

I feel your pain.

It was incredibly difficult sitting for 3 hours of lecture and getting the crap scared out of us about next term,

It's their way of saying "Don't slack off now."

getting a pedicure, going out to lunch,

And it sounds like you handled it well.

having a 40 minute PT session for my stupid ribcage that she thinks has some torn cartilage from shifting a patient wrong about 2 months ago,

Ouch. How's it now after the PT?

and cleaning a fair bit of my house. Some parts were less difficult than others.

The parts that your kids cleaned???

I'll be at the Willamette Valley Medical Center, a small-ish hospital about 25 minutes from my house in the same town my daughter lives in.

Sounds ideal. Or was there a better option?

A Super Charge Nurse.

Oooh!!! Do you get a spandex uniform? And a cape?
So cool.

The biggest piece of my assignment is that it's NIGHTS. I begin April 10 and my time goes through May 9- the day after my birthday. So, 6:30 PM - 7:30 AM.

Straight nights???

Meantime, they loaded us up with about 200 pages of articles to read over our break (there really never is such a thing as a genuine break!)

Funny. Had a similar conversation with DW not long ago.
Kay was saying how her teachers had assigned a fair bit of homework during winter break. I totally don't agree with that. A break (unless you're in nursing, of course) should be just that. A break.
I mentioned that it seemed only fair that if a teacher assigns homework during a break that the teacher should then be available for consultation during that time.

and our first exam is the Friday after we return.

Whoa.

The difference is that these exams are done in groups, so we practice collaboration.

Huh. Interesting. Is it an open forum?

There are some people I'd rather punch in the face than collaborate with, but I will smile... and collaborate.

Anyway, I thought some of you might be interested.

 

[Steppesister]

Ridin' the rails!

 

[Steppesister]

First off congratulations! So glad you are through the hardest part. Well other than that part about YOU being the real nurse now. But I'm sure you will be awesome.



I can explain this (as the Melting Pot is one of my most favorite restaurants). You (or me) might be in charge of bringing your dinner to the temperature (or doneness, ie rare, medium rare, medium, dead) that you desire, there is so much more that goes into the dinner than just sticking meat on a stick and swirling it around in a pot.

For the Cheese course, they have suggested blends of cheeses, some with beer, some with wine, some with kirsch, some non-alcoholic varieties and for those with aspirations to become a head chef one day, you can also come up with your own. Someone has to come up with the suggested blendings of cheeses. Then there is what you dip in it. They don't just bring you bread, but apples, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower and whole assortment of stuff I don't remember.

For the main course, there are different pairings of meats, poultry and seafood. Many of the meats come with a marinade or rub, someone needs to come up with that. Also you have four types of cooking alternatives, oil, court boullion, vegetarian boullion and I forget the last one. These are all created and seasoned. Then once you remove your meat from the pot, there are at least eight different sauces to dip it in, again someone needs to come up with these because (as you would expect from me), they are not Ranch, Ketchup, Mustard, Thousand Island and Italian. Again it's been a while so I forget, but the dipping sauces really complement the meats. Oh and it's not just meat, there are potatoes, mushroom, more broccoli and I think more veggies.

And the chocolate, just as involved as the cheese, they give you suggested choices, but in the end you decide is you want it with or without alcohol, dark or light, or white chocolate. I know you were being funny Mark, but you know me, can't resist a discussion about food!

Liesa I hope you do give it a shot it's a fabulous way to spend a girl's evening out! However, take this with a grain of salt, another one of my favorite restaurants is Shabu Shabu. Essentially the Japanese version of "fondue" except after you have cooked all your meats and veggies in the broth, you add the noodles and have soup! Yes I am a crazy person who likes to pay lots of money to cook my own food!

The way you describe it sounds simply divine! I have wanted to go for a while and actually did look at the menu many months ago, and came to the conclusion that it is pretty hugely expensive. I'm thinking that for the 4 of us, we won't be getting out of there for anywhere under $150. Probably more like $200 with tip and a drink. Doable but only for a really special experience, like maybe, you know a graduation dinner....?

 

[Steppesister]

Well, it's good that you have your assignment! Not so sure about the shift, but at least you can see your family after your nap. Swing shift not so much. Also good that it is close to home!

Very true! I will be home and up when the kids get home from school and may even have an early dinner with them before I leave. I did night shifts during my last term last year and it was fine.

Interesting news about your placement. At least it is not far from home, that is a bonus! I am surprised that they give you the night shift for these kind of placements, but then I am still amazed at the length of your shifts. But you will be only working three days a week or more? Do you get paid anything? I think you will really love getting to do the real stuff and I am sure you are ready for it. And as to those collaboration exams, I am sure your time in Crappistan has prepared you for collaborating under the most adverse circumstances. What do they grade you on? The result or the collaboration effort?

So, I ended up with float position. I am happy with that as it will give me some variety; every shift different- maybe even to OB, ED, or the psych unit. We work the exact schedule of our Preceptor which could be anywhere from 2-5 days in a row, but for a total of 12 shifts in the 4 week period. The work week goes from Sun-Sat, and 5 shifts in a row would be very rare, but could happen.

HAHA! Uhhhhh, no. We don't get paid anything. WE pay them regular tuition- the good news is that it's only 8 credits this term that I have to pay for instead of the usual 12 that I've been used to paying. Ka-ching- Hmmm..... I wonder where that balance will go? Super Secret Disney Account, maybe?

I've been doing quite a lot of the nursing role already, but now we're adding a few more things like acknowledging physician's orders, dialoguing directly with physicians, physical therapists, etc... doing discharge planning, and a few other pieces we couldn't do before.

I think you are right, overseas work gave us skills we would never have developed otherwise. By the way, I'm pretty close to putting forth an application for Medical Team International

http://www.medicalteams.org/micro-s...YT1DRZSByDabSwc8DNLqAjlcm3250qRLAAaAi0r8P8HAQ

so I can keep doing Missions work. I love working cross-culturally and this will be a great way to give back.

Anyway, the exams are done as a group. We talk about the test questions and make group decisions on them. The content this term (we have regular lectures for the first 2 weeks of this term) is on Management, delegation, Team Work in the Healthcare setting, etc.... so, I imagine if my group actually does the readings and prepares, we ought to do well. To answer your question, it is on the content and result, not the teamwork. Apparently, we'll be taking personality surveys and they will be grouping us according to those results. OY! That ought to be interesting, and could be tortuous.

Hmmmm, night shift could be very interesting. I would prefer night shift versus collaboration! I would think it might be relatively calm with a helping of quite interesting. A pedicure sounds great, thinking of getting one myself, but I seem to be too lazy to make the phone call and carve out the time, so it might be a DYI, because only 7 more work shifts and I am dragging DH off to the airport because Cinderella is waiting!

I've done nights before during my 1st year at the same hospital. I survived ok- the 3-4 AM hour can be pretty long! But the crew is nice and it's usually pretty chill. But a huge misconception is that patients sleep during the night. That is a lie. HAHA! Most are wide awake asking for pain meds (surgery HURTs!) or just can't sleep. I have found that night shifts are often more difficult and busy than days.

Collaboration can either be a blessing or really suck. I'll let you know how it goes.....

I used to do ALL of my pedis, but now use them a "me" time. I really needed the time out to relax and be captive to a chair and be forced to sit still. I have a hard time doing that. Pretty much all of the time. It does save money to do DYIs for sure though! Cinderella would be more than happy to take that money instead.

 

[Steppesister]

WHOA!!! That sounds awesome! Phenomenal cosmic powers!

They must've not seen them in me- I got Float position. Actually, come to think of it, that actually sounds like a super power too. Or something you'd see in a David Copperfield show. I'm happy with it though. I like variety and this will certainly give me that.

There had to be a catch somewhere.

Isn't there always?

Sounds like employment to me!

That was their aim I think. To show us that although we were trying to launch into a new and exciting career, it's all the same no matter where ya go or what you do. New skills, same politicrap.

Sounds like your nursing assignment will be rather interesting. I could never understand how nurses pulled off those 12 hour shifts in hospitals. I would never make it.

I hope you can find some downtime on your "break" and get a little relaxing in.

They have comfortable shoes, a lot of patience, and chug coffee. And have potlucks. Lots and lots of potlucks.

Girlfriend, I'm on a deep couch, laptop in hand, no plan, Netflix queued and coffee being schlucked.)

 

[Steppesister]

No. I'm not surprised.

I would've been disappointed had you not been. Because that would be proof you haven't been paying any attention during the last 15 months.

I feel your pain.

I know you do. Given your last week, and the let down of returning to real life, I can imagine you feel much like I do. Except that you probably moreso, since I didn't get to go to Hawaii and have reality slap me in the face.

It's their way of saying "Don't slack off now."

Only the stupid ones will do that. I am not stupid. (I probably shouldn't have typed that. One never wants stuff like that to come back around.)

Ouch. How's it now after the PT?

Not well. She told me that cartilage can take MONTHS to heal and it probably will given my job. I have some stretches I can do during work as I sit and chart, but short of just Aleve and time it's gonna take a while.

The parts that your kids cleaned???

You're funny.

Sounds ideal. Or was there a better option?

Well, OB would've been kinda cool, and truly I enjoyed the Neuro Unit I was on last term and wouldn't have minded going back for day shift, but nah, I'm totally happy with what I got.

Oooh!!! Do you get a spandex uniform? And a cape?
So cool.

Well, I do, but I have to change into my Nursing Hero Scrubs costume for work. The other, cape and spandex, is reserved for the rest of the time.

Straight nights???

yeah. :sigh:

I mentioned that it seemed only fair that if a teacher assigns homework during a break that the teacher should then be available for consultation during that time.

Luckily, ours are pretty good about answering e-mails and phone calls. But yes, turn about's fair play!

Huh. Interesting. Is it an open forum?

Yes. Each group goes into a breakout room and goes through the exam together discussing the questions. We answer on one Scantron, and all get that grade. Last year's class tells us that it's easy to get an A this term. We shall see.....