Nurse Sean (dot) com

It’s a cold, winter day here. Snow fell overnight and stuck nicely to the ground. The dog won’t stop barking every time the snowblower drives past our apartment window. As a nice tribute to this weather, I have changed to a nice winter theme on my blog.I’m having a great week that has involved many exciting new things. Thanks to my new twelve-hour shift rotation, I frequently have several days off in a row. Right now, I’m smack dab in the middle of seven days off.

I have taken this time to work on many projects. First of all, of course, I’ve been continuing on with my critical care nursing certificate. I’m still on the physiology course, and have two more tests to go. I got over the two biggest challenges: the massive and complex cardiac unit, and the (in my own opinion) dull and difficult to learn neurology unit. Now I’m onto renal physiology; I’m enjoying reading a unit that interests me and is much more straight forward. Then I just have a unit on the body’s defense systems and I’m done!

The next course is critical care assessment–I’m looking forward to the change. It’s apparently a much easier course and takes up less time.

I have also spent a lot of time updating my technology. Yes, I’m a big tech geek and love to spend hours upon hours playing with new technologies and gadgets. Firstly, I got myself an iPod touch. This thing is incredible! The iPhone isn’t yet available in Canada, and due to carrier restrictions, I may never actually get one. The iPod touch is the next best thing. I can’t gush enough about how great this thing is! Anyone who doesn’t have an iPod touch/iPhone MUST get one right away.

I also updated my operating system to Leopard, and upgraded to iLife 08. I just can’t express how much macs are better than anything else out there. I used a mac back in the 90s, then a PC in the early 2000s before moving back to Macs. I really don’t think I will ever go back to Microsoft PCs: there just isn’t a good reason to.

I have decided to learn a little Cantonese. We have a large population of patients that speak Cantonese and I would love to be able to communicate basic ideas. As expected, it isn’t going so well. I’m still on the first three or four phrases and just can’t seem to get the hang of it. I’m determined to keep working at it though.

So, that’s how I’m spending my time off. I am so much happier with work now that I have switched to twelve-hour shifts. I feel much more relaxed and calm; I’m starting to love work again. Of course, my first shift back will probably be horrible and ruin that!

We’ll see…..

Do you know what sounds like fun, but really isn’t?

Taking all the hundreds of cds you own, and uploading them into
iTunes…all this in preparation for downloading to my new (crosses
fingers and chants *please let it happen*) iPod. My regular cd
player doesn’t seem to be working anymore, so I’m stuck using my older
one….and it’s taking FOREVER for each cd.

Oh well…it’s giving me an excuse not to study. And it’s easy to do while watching The View and Days of Our Lives.

The funny thing is: I’m sipping my last cup of coffee in the
house, wondering if I can afford to buy more. I had my last
granola bar a few minutes ago, and wonder how I’m going to eat
today…no food, no money. I’m worried about getting an interview
for a unit clerk or nursing assistant position because I’m lacking nice
clothes to wear.

But I’m buying an iPod. I know…sounds strange. But tax
returns are a magical thing. I’m getting more than I’m used to,
and decided that although most will go to food and new clothes, I
wanted something special for myself. I even started a debate at
work over which MP3 player is best.

In other news…I’ve begun craving an iMac. I had one for about
six years. When it just became too old to handle modern life I
had to look for a new computer. I dreamed of having an iMac
again, but I didn’t have $3000 to spend on one of those fancy ones with
the adjustable screens. So, I bought a cheap PC. I love my
PC, but there’s just something magical about having a Mac. As
though you’re part of a special club.

Still missing R. I miss his arms, and the way his clothes smell
of snuggy. I miss the way he takes care of me.

Am I a nursing geek? I bought “Gray’s Anatomy” for
fun. I am enjoying exploring the drawings and the
descriptions of human anatomy. That reminds me, I need to order
those books on blood gasses and fluid balance from amazon.

The clock is ticking until my RN examinations…eight hours of
joy….and I need to start the process of knowing all there is to know.

Pyrsos