Wrapping Up 2012

Last day of school!

Well...school nursing.

Spent my 2nd day alongside a high school nurse. Of the 2 student populations I've seen, they have their pros and cons:

PROS:

The High School Kid:

• Can explain what's wrong with them.
• Have cell phones and direct access to their parents.
• Better fashion sense.
• Better listeners.
• Less crying.

The Elementary Child:

• The cuteness factor.
• Terrible at faking. (In the biz, we call it "malingering").
• Catching disability / disease earlier means more years we may be able to positively impact their lives.

CONS:

The High School Kid:

• Can Google symptoms and recite them back. (See the next bullet).
• Accomplished fakers -- (although I was in a school of the arts...so mine may have been better actors).
• As big or bigger than you. (Depending on where you are, this could be potentially scary).

The Elementary Child:

• Wiggle. Wiggle. Wiggle. Wiggle. Wiggle. Yeah.
• They don't know what's wrong and often answer yes to any question. (Does your tummy hurt? Yes. Does your head ache? Yes. Do you have a third eye? Yes.)
• Poorer impulse control. One kid grabbed the mouse and started messing with the school health records while my nurse turned to grab something.

They all need you. Of course that's something I like about nursing in general, so its hard for me not to like some aspects of school nursing. However I find myself wondering if I'd be locked into a kind of Groundhog Day after a while: same flu, same bumps and bruises, same problem parents. It will likely be this way wherever I end up. (Perhaps less likely in the ER...I'll have to ask them). 

You can't argue that school nursing seems like a pretty cushy job: 180 work days per year on a full time salary. Set hours. No on-call. No weekends. Very nice pay. 

Hmmm. Maybe I could get used to kids.

It is also the end of the year!

Looking back to where I was last year I'm pretty amazed at everything. I was still adjusting to a new life in a new city. Still learning my nursing school survival skills. Getting to know everybody. Missing home.

Now I pretty much know what to do to survive this place...although I've learned to take nothing for granted. Beginning to see the weeks and months blurring past and knowing I'll be standing up in a ridiculous white nurse's dress, hat and hose ensemble soon (God willing). I have places I like to go, and people I like to see here, which takes the edge off being far from home. There are so many people I'll miss here once I leave. Overall I am thankful beyond words to be through everything I've endured and to still be holding my own. 

2013 will be another year of big changes: graduation, writing my boards, becoming licensed and finding that first job. Settling in wherever I'm planted and plotting my next moves.

Merry Christmas everyone!