End of One Thing, Beginning of Another

The spring semester has finally been completed.  I should not be shocked at how much I learn from the students, but I do and I hope they learn much from me not just about pediatrics but about the art of nursing.  I think I have said before I am not just interested in developing these young adults as nurses but also as people.  The time I have getting to know them, learning their stresses and their joys brings a great deal of satisfaction to my teaching experience.  Every group seems to have its own "personality".  This group was more nervous than previous ones but very personable and teachable, they made me smile and though some of them lacked confidence (unduly) in their clinical skills their people skills were excellent.  I was very pleased the way they reached out to the children and family on the floor.

One of the most difficult cases we had this semester and one many of them spoke of in their reflection paper was the admission of a child who had been severely abused and showed evidence of several old fractures.  The students were quick to judge the parents/caretakers of this child, and I too struggled with the pain this small child was enduring.  But it was a lesson in tolerance and practicing non-judgemental care to the whole family.  While child abuse for me will always be without question inexcusable we have to remind ourselves as practitioners that we do not know the whole story and we must suspend our strong emotions so they do not get in the way of the care we are called to give.  I am thankful for Social Workers and DHS who do the hard work in these situations.  Needless to say this child received a huge amount of attention by all students and staff while he was in our care, we managed to get a few smiles out of him.

The rest of the semester was uneventful, we had our fair share of asthma, bronchiolitis, pylonephritis, basic stuff but excellent to teach the fundamentals.  I am excited to have just found some wonderful 3D applications for my ipad of the kidney and lungs that will make great teaching tools next semester (thanks hubby)  Its always easier to visualize the anatomy and explain the disease process rather than just verbalize it.

Exams and evaluations are complete, even had my students over for a celebratory afternoon tea which I loved so I intend to do that again.  Whats next for me.

A summer of work but in a different way, I intend to teach two classes simultaneously online which will be busy but hopefully done from the sun trap called my deck.  Of course I will continue with my community nursing but the goal is to gradually scale back and do more teaching on line and in the traditional setting, we shall see what future opportunities bring.

At the moment we are having a sad time in my house, mourning the loss of my dear 13 year old Golden Retriever who we had since he was 8 weeks old and was as much an integral part of the family as the kids.  Medicating my grief with some travel, about to tag along on my husbands business trips to Barcelona, England and South Carolina to name but a few.  When the kids leave for college and the animals start dying we find ourselves in transition again, I want to embrace the change sometimes it just comes a bit quick!!!!!