So, Group 9 of Pima's RT program have completed their very last final - more or less. We have a final presentation on Jan 7 and then an exit exam... oh and let's not forget the three national board exams we still have to pass. But let's not dwell on these depressing aspects - instead let us celebrate - OUR LAST FINAL!!!!!!!!!!
I'm sure we knew we'd get here eventually but it sure feels good that we finally made it!! We each have around 20 days of clinicals left and then 2 weeks of exam prep before we are done for good with the actual 'schooling' part of things. AMAZING. Our class started out with about 30 students in May 2009 and we'll graduate (assuming we all passed this last class) 16 of us in January.
What to do after graduation? First is take and pass the board exams, then JOBS. As sick as it sounds, I'm kind of tired of not working. However, I am thinking I may continue on to get my bachelor's in RT (after I find employment of course). Supposedly a BS is where the RT world is heading so may as well get it over with I suppose. We'll see - first things first - passing the boards.
What I think I'm most excited for tho is that the majority of my clinicals will be in Texas - well, actually Oklahoma but I'll get to be in TX for the month of December. Crazy schedule so not sure how many friends and family I'll get to see while I'm there but I am so looking forward to being home with Bryan, Hannah & Maggie!! YIPPEEE
I'm hoping to get to TX on Dec 4 and be there thru Jan 2. I'll have about 9-10 days of clinicals and then Bryan and I are taking a week off to go do something fun and sort of reconnect before I head back to New Mexico to finish out my three weeks of school.
Anyway - YEA! Finals are done!!!!!
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Sunday, November 7, 2010
School is Winding Down
So, by the class's calculations (not that we are counting or anything) we have 42 more days to go (not including holidays and weekends) before we are DONE!!!!!!!!! January 21, 2011 cannot come soon enough.
Our program director was correct in that we've come to love and hate our classmates. Much like a family. Some you are really close to, others you tolerate because you have to. We have lots of toleration going on. LOL
On November 18 we will take our last final exam (well, we do have an exit exam in Jan but I'm not counting that). Then it is nothing but clinicals (working at various locations under the tutelage of an RT) until January 6th. We have 224 hours of clinicals this semester for a grand total of 800 clinical hours in all aspects of respiratory care from general floor therapies to intensive care units (adult, medical, cardiac, pediatric and neonatal), we are taking a spin through a cath lab, doing some rounds at a sleep lab and at trying our hand at pulmonary function testing. And a few "lucky" souls are going to the hyperbaric chamber therapy center. I am squeezing in some time at NICU & PICU (neonatal & pedicatric ICUs), sleep & cath labs before I head off to Texas and Oklahoma for some clinicals there. I am SO excited that these finally came through and look like they will actually happen (dates are set for OK, still waiting on TX).
And the best part is I'll be with Bryan for almost a month (Dec 8 - Jan 2)!!!!!!!! Happy-happy, joy-joy! I cannot wait, although I'll have between 9-12 days of clinical schedules, I'll be HOME!!! We are also planning a trip to the coast from Dec 25-31 too. Here's hoping to good weather! We are really looking forward to some quality time away from home - no packing, unpacking, cleaning, working, school work, etc - just us & the pooches. YEA!!!!!!!!!!!!
On Jan 2 I'll head back to NM and finish up some clinicals here and then start our review classes for our board exams. There are three of them - a certified (entry level) RT written exam, then a registered (advanced) RT written exam and with that one comes a simulation exam where you are given various scenarios and tested on how well you handle each. The reviews last two weeks, then we take an exit exam and exit interview on Jan 21. I plan on being back on the road to TX on Saturday, Jan 22 and there by the 23rd. I decided, after much debate (which promptly ended about two weeks after Bryan left for TX) that will take my board exams in TX. They are national exams so it doesn't matter where I take them. And I think I will study better being home than not.
In actuality the two years have really flown past. I can't believe that in 42 days I'll be free (I already have a quilt or two in mind to do). No doubt there have been times when I didn't think the end would ever get here but here we are at last.
I cannot wait!
Our program director was correct in that we've come to love and hate our classmates. Much like a family. Some you are really close to, others you tolerate because you have to. We have lots of toleration going on. LOL
On November 18 we will take our last final exam (well, we do have an exit exam in Jan but I'm not counting that). Then it is nothing but clinicals (working at various locations under the tutelage of an RT) until January 6th. We have 224 hours of clinicals this semester for a grand total of 800 clinical hours in all aspects of respiratory care from general floor therapies to intensive care units (adult, medical, cardiac, pediatric and neonatal), we are taking a spin through a cath lab, doing some rounds at a sleep lab and at trying our hand at pulmonary function testing. And a few "lucky" souls are going to the hyperbaric chamber therapy center. I am squeezing in some time at NICU & PICU (neonatal & pedicatric ICUs), sleep & cath labs before I head off to Texas and Oklahoma for some clinicals there. I am SO excited that these finally came through and look like they will actually happen (dates are set for OK, still waiting on TX).
And the best part is I'll be with Bryan for almost a month (Dec 8 - Jan 2)!!!!!!!! Happy-happy, joy-joy! I cannot wait, although I'll have between 9-12 days of clinical schedules, I'll be HOME!!! We are also planning a trip to the coast from Dec 25-31 too. Here's hoping to good weather! We are really looking forward to some quality time away from home - no packing, unpacking, cleaning, working, school work, etc - just us & the pooches. YEA!!!!!!!!!!!!
On Jan 2 I'll head back to NM and finish up some clinicals here and then start our review classes for our board exams. There are three of them - a certified (entry level) RT written exam, then a registered (advanced) RT written exam and with that one comes a simulation exam where you are given various scenarios and tested on how well you handle each. The reviews last two weeks, then we take an exit exam and exit interview on Jan 21. I plan on being back on the road to TX on Saturday, Jan 22 and there by the 23rd. I decided, after much debate (which promptly ended about two weeks after Bryan left for TX) that will take my board exams in TX. They are national exams so it doesn't matter where I take them. And I think I will study better being home than not.
In actuality the two years have really flown past. I can't believe that in 42 days I'll be free (I already have a quilt or two in mind to do). No doubt there have been times when I didn't think the end would ever get here but here we are at last.
I cannot wait!
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Sunport (Albuquerque International Airport) Triennial Exercise
So, I guess airports need to go through a disaster drill every three years or so. Our school volunteered us to be victims of said disaster. I was actually looking forward to it, some people would be moulaged (have make-up applied to resemble injuries), some would be selected to be transported to area hospitals to receive care and others would be selected to be distraught family members. Somehow I thought this would be a great learning experience and fun opportunity - perhaps due to the hype laid on by our instructor.
Anyway - it was a learning experience, although I was ticked that my victim status was pretty much A-OK from the 'airplane' wreck. No blood & guts for me. Although, the poor moulage person did make me "pale" with blue tipped fingers as I was so mad at not getting a head injury or a broken bone. Several classmates ended up with shrapnel embedded in various body parts, bruised chests, cut necks, etc... but not I... oh no, not I.
The prep took longer than we all expected - something like 3 hours to sign-in the 130 some-odd volunteers and moulage almost that many. We headed to the runway around 9:30 AM (the whole time I'm thanking heaven above that we are NOT in Texas doing this... ahhh the heat). The actual drill started around 10:30 maybe (I honestly don't know as I didn't think to look at my watch). And was over by Noon - except for the transportees.
Since I was uninjured I did a lot of sitting and twiddling my thumbs. I tried to be all "What's going on, you have tell us something" but was told to sit down and be quiet they'd get us information later. Hurumph!!
Below are a few shots I took with the iPhone (so sorry about the quality) of our experience.
I will say - if you get a chance to participate in a triennial drill or a citywide disaster planning exercise that you do it.
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Anyway - it was a learning experience, although I was ticked that my victim status was pretty much A-OK from the 'airplane' wreck. No blood & guts for me. Although, the poor moulage person did make me "pale" with blue tipped fingers as I was so mad at not getting a head injury or a broken bone. Several classmates ended up with shrapnel embedded in various body parts, bruised chests, cut necks, etc... but not I... oh no, not I.
The prep took longer than we all expected - something like 3 hours to sign-in the 130 some-odd volunteers and moulage almost that many. We headed to the runway around 9:30 AM (the whole time I'm thanking heaven above that we are NOT in Texas doing this... ahhh the heat). The actual drill started around 10:30 maybe (I honestly don't know as I didn't think to look at my watch). And was over by Noon - except for the transportees.
Since I was uninjured I did a lot of sitting and twiddling my thumbs. I tried to be all "What's going on, you have tell us something" but was told to sit down and be quiet they'd get us information later. Hurumph!!
Below are a few shots I took with the iPhone (so sorry about the quality) of our experience.
I will say - if you get a chance to participate in a triennial drill or a citywide disaster planning exercise that you do it.
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Victims waiting on the tarmac
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Our smoking fuselage
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No wonder the plane went down - no tail!!
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An injured friend (she didn't make it unfortunately)
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The calvary (aka firemen) have arrived
Another seriously injured classmate (I think he made it)
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