I have officially finished the classroom portion of my ICU training! It was three long weeks of sitting in a classroom listening to lengthy, yet fascinating, lectures. I learned absolutely TONNES, but I’m glad it’s over. I can’t wait to actually get some hands on practice.

Not that I’m complaining! Getting paid to sit on my butt–not to mention having weekends off–was a nice change.

I have even finished the requisite theory exams that we are required to write. They were as follows: ECG interpretation, Hemodynamics, pharmacology, Pacemakers, defribrillation, and two or three others that I’m having trouble bringing to mind. Now, I just need to work my butt off to get all my return demonstrations done (three times for each skill) so I can start working more independently.

Over the next year, I will take certifications in PA catheters, ACLS, CRRT, as well as code blue team training. I’m extremely eager to gulp down these further skills, but I have to relax and let myself become comfortable. But darnit! I just want to know everything, and now!

I have seven “buddy” shifts left. Now that I have my tests (mentioned above) done, and have completed computer training, I can take a much more hands on role during these shifts than my two previous buddy shifts. I’m a bit tired of just sitting back and observing, desperately trying to figure out what’s going on.

I picked up my uniforms the other day. I love the light greyish-blue colour. I can’t wait to not look like an outsider thanks to my “wrong” coloured scurbs!

Anyway, as you may have noticed, there’s really not a heck of a lot going on. What can I say about sitting in a classroom eight hours a day?

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