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Thursday, May. 2, 2024

1:56pm EDT

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Nurse Days

by Shannon

Rated: 13+ · Book · Biographical · #1399296

True stories of hope and hopelessness, love, life, laughter and loss. A work in progress.

Thank you Tigger thinks of Prancer

for the pretty blue ribbon!

This is not meant to be an edge-of-your-seat thriller. Rather, this is the journal I kept while attending nursing school, copied word-for-word. Please keep this in mind as you read, review and rate. Thank you.

I graduated from nursing school in May of 2001. On the first day of class one of our instructors said we'd be required to keep a journal of our experiences. At first I was upset, thinking the exercise a monumental waste of time. Like we didn't have enough to do! But now, almost seven years later, I think of it as one of the most important, enlightening, spiritual things I've ever done.

I have to smile as I read and retype these old experiences. The things that stressed me out so much back then are now routine tasks I do hundreds of times each and every month (like emptying foley bags), but I still feel the sense of wonder when I think about what I do, as well as a great sense of satisfaction and fulfillment. That part hasn't changed.

Throughout these entries you'll see "Post-It Notes,"--notes that were actually left inside my nursing journal by various instructors. I have copied each note word-for-word, even duplicating the color of the paper itself, and they are as close as I can get with modern technology (Photoshop) to the originals.

As a student, I worked in clinics, schools, surgery centers and hospitals. I met so many beautiful people, and each one taught me something new about hope and hopelessness, love, life, laughter and, ultimately, unbearable loss.

These are their stories.

The names of classmates, instructors and patients have been changed to protect their privacy.

A special thank you to Lornda

for encouraging me to do this.

Show Recent Comments

4 Most Recent Blog Comments:

Humming Bird

Aug 16, 2009 at 11:20am
In response to "Monday, August 30, 1999"

hey shannon,
glad to know some interesting facts about you.

hbar

May 14, 2009 at 3:31pm
In response to "Monday, October 18, 1999"

Damn. You sound like Lori. I never had nurses like you guys, well except when I went to the doctor Lori wirked for. Lori had a good one when she was so sick and in the hospital last time, she took good care of Lori and me.

One night when I finally realized how serious it was and asked her a question nobody could possibly answer she provided some comfort and then she left and I think she started crying. I don't even know her name.

If you want to read about a not so good nurse sometime I can steer you to a funny piece though.

ogre the dim

hbar

May 14, 2009 at 3:19pm
In response to "Monday, October 11, 1999"

Kinda sad though. But they get to meet new people everyday!

hbar

May 14, 2009 at 3:14pm
In response to "Thursday, September 9, 1999"

That last bit is am interesting comment.

Although the reading is overwhelming at this point, I do feel that I'm learning a lot, but whether or not I'll be able to retain all of this information remains to be seen.

Stretching as you previously quoted. I am always amazed at what I read from intelligent people, especially ones that are confident in thier intellect, as you and my wife are. That people like you guys would ever have doubts about your academic abilities floors me.

I am not a real bright guy and constantly struggle with self confidence. When I was in school it was a real battle at times, There was one class, Mechanichal Statistics and Thermodynamics that about did me in, I had a real tough time with that class. I had a real tough time with the instuctor in Modern Physics, the guy about ate me alive and I still am not sure why. Tha was the closest I came to giving up.

ogre

Table of Contents

Chapter	1	Monday, August 30, 1999	4.59k
Chapter	2	Thursday, September 9, 1999	0.88k
Chapter	3	Monday, October 4, 1999	1.41k
Chapter	4	Monday, October 11, 1999	1.53k
Chapter	5	Monday, October 18, 1999	1.85k
Chapter	6	Monday, October 25, 1999	1.74k
Chapter	7	Monday, November 8, 1999	0.98k
Chapter	8	Wednesday, November 17, 1999	1.26k
Chapter	9	Monday, November 22, 1999	1.49k
Chapter	10	Wednesday, November 24, 1999	1.13k
Chapter	11	Monday, November 29, 1999	1.04k
Chapter	12	Wednesday, December 1, 1999	0.61k
Chapter	13	Monday, December 6, 1999	2.06k
Chapter	14	Wednesday, January 26, 2000	2.87k
Chapter	15	Wednesday, February 9, 2000	2.94k
Chapter	16	Monday, February 14, 2000	1.18k
Chapter	17	Wednesday, February 23, 2000	2.72k
Chapter	18	Monday, March 6, 2000	3.68k
Chapter	19	Wednesday, March 8, 2000	1.86k

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