behind on my blogs much?

Uh, oh...i have totally been forgetting about my blogs until right now.  I don't know how so much time could go by so quickly, but it seems like i only missed one week...too bad it is more like 3.  I guess all I can do is try to blog my brains out this week.  First I will write about last weeks clinical.

Last week I was terrified to walk into a patients room and do an entire assessment.  I felt confused as to where to start and just generally awkward.  I decided to begin with the verbal questions and they sort of led me in the directions i wanted to end up going.  Then i did vitals because that is what i know i have to do.  then some peripheral pulse and general assessments of the body.  I knew i would forget somethings, but the things i forgot were basic:  cap refill, skin turgur, bowel movements.  so, i had to go back after dinner and finish up.  My patient was great though, and my signing off nurse was great too.  She tried to engage me in figuring out why the patient had some of the problems i listed, like low BP...could it be a med she is taking?  i didn't know the answer to that, but it is awesome that she was willing to help me think about it like that.

Overall, i think this week will be easier because i won't be so clueless, and it turns out i wasn't really clueless at all I was just talking myself down instead of believing in my capabilities.  I am going to type up a little assessment cheat sheet for myself for this week, so maybe it will go a bit more smoothly and I won't have to go back because i will get everything i need the first time around.  that would be better.  i'll get the hang of this sometime.  by the way...am i the only one who has problems finding the femoral pulse?  i can't even find my own for peats sake....any suggestions would be appreciated.