Day 12 (actually Day 11)

So, considering the holiday and a Monday through Friday week, I am calling this day Day 12 to help me remember what day of the week it was.... That's probably confusing, but I would forget which day it was otherwise.  

Right, so this day began with an abbreviation quiz; I made up note cards and practiced the ones I couldn't seem to get right.... I then proceeded to totally rock this quiz.  Then health assessment lecture proceeded to go over pain assessment and abdomen assessment.  Basically the subjectivity of pain and the cultural expressions (or lack thereof) of pain make it an important thing for nurses to assess.  It is often called the fifth Vital Sign (the others, of course, are blood pressure, temperature, heart rate, and respiratory rate; I would make an argument, though, for pulse oximetry to be on the list, too....).  Following pain, we got to go over elimination (urination, defecation), and watched a DVD on how to do the abdominal assessment.  

After lunch was Pathophysiology with examination number 1.  It was a challenging examination, but I actually felt that it was easier than the first quiz!  I ended up getting a 98% on it, which I am pretty proud of.  I love, love LOVE this class (and not because I'm doing well).  I feel that I am understanding the material, and I really enjoy how the professors use actual case studies that THEY have worked on to apply the material.  

Patho lecture was then over the endocrine system, which was interesting enough, although I admit remembering all the hormones secreted by the endocrine glands has always been a challenge for me.  I sense the need for more note cards....

In other news, George (the cricket) scared the bejeezus out of me this morning when he showed up in the bathroom; I had been wondering where he was, because I hadn't seen him lurking along the floorboards in my room for a few days.  When I got home from school, though, he was waiting right by the door to my room... I think he wanted to go back to his domain.  

Oh, and I got the first care package from my boyfriend today.  He sent along some goodies and some fun socks and the art book from a video game that I really like.  And, because I told him about George and the other crickets living with me, he sent me some Crick-Ettes, which are dried, edible, seasoned crickets... Sour Cream and Onion flavor.... gee... thanks.... I'm still not sure what to do with them... 

And, to finish everything off, let me share a lovely quote:

Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.  ~Mohandas Gandhi