Getting Deeper...

Here I am nearing the end of week four of nursing school. Things are beginning to feel hectic. In some ways, I feel like this program is mapped out and set up in a way to keep us on a straight path. Other times, as a transfer student, I feel a bit overlooked. I'm still trying to figure out where the computer labs are on campus, recently found out I have a physical mailbox somewhere after I was told that my health documents were there, and I'm feeling frustrated with schedule changes. The craziest class of the semester is Foundations of Nursing right now. It's not that the content is that in-depth, but that the amount of time required for it is insane. It's a five credit course to be completed in eight weeks. This means eight hours of lecture a week along with six hours of lab. The labs bother me a little. I'd like it more if our lecture teacher had something more to do with our labs. In Foundations of Nursing we started out learning basics like bed making, assisting with walking (ambulation) and bedpan use. Recently, we've started doing a few more procedure type things, like inserting a Foley catheter, nasogastric tube and nasopharyngeal suctioning. We have two weeks left until we start our clinical rotations. I will be going to Frasier Meadows in Boulder, Colorado. It is a long-term care facility. I think the biggest challenge I will personally face will be making the transition from CNA to nursing student. As nursing students we will have more responsibilities, but mentally I'll probably view myself as a CNA for some time.

I had two exams this week and one quiz. Exams are serious business; quizzes can be retaken without penalty if needed. I had a Foundations exam covering the topics of ambulation, wound care and vital signs. I did well and finally managed an "A". Pharmocology was my other exam, which went equally as well. I'm having troubles making myself study as much as I ought to. I just find myself so tired of thinking about this stuff after such long classes. I want to do well, but my brain needs a break. When I get home I'm busy cleaning, playing with Peanut, and talking to Eric. By the time dinner is over with, the night is gone and I'm ready for bed! Today I feel kind of in the dumps. I'm not sure why. My lab instructors have been stressing me out a bit I think. Today we were given a set of instructions for obtaining a Psycho-social assessment, which we had never heard of our read about until the moment we were given the handout. Then we were to go to the simulation lab for the first time where we were given a scenario to read about a patient. The manikin in the room is high-tech and our instructors have the ability to hook it up and talk through it. There's a giant glass window that instructors can look in and watch you through. So, I went in, read my scenario and attempted to talk about the questions we were suppose to cover with this "talking" manikin. There were three instructors peering through the window, watching me "interact" with my manikin.

I'm not an actor. I felt stupid. Some days are just better than others. I had a pounding headache, was uncomfortably hot, and became extremely anxious. After I left, feeling as though I had been examined under a microscope by competent nurses, I had bit of a meltdown. I'm a crier and I hate that about the way I deal with anxiety and stress. It's made me feel shitty all day. So, I've been studying for a few hours and think I'll now try to go find my mailbox somewhere on campus. Ridiculous.

Cornerstone Experience Presentation (Nursing Role Introduction)

This blog is devoted to an assignment for my Nursing Role Introduction course. For our second class, each of us are to do a five minute presentation answering the following questions:

1. Who am I?
2. What culture do I identify with?
3. What makes me unique?
4.. What strengths do I bring my fellow classmates and the Loretto Heights School of Nursing Program?
5.. What am I going to do to take care of myself and my classmates while a student?

Who am I? I am in no particular order a daughter, fiancee, sister, climber, nursing student, volunteer, Boulder Community Hospital employee, mother of a pitbull, advocate, nature lover, believer in peace, environmentalist, vegetarian, explorer, and a spiritual being.

I do not identify with any particular culture. I am American. I sometimes feel bitter about not being affiliated with any particular culture. Other times, I feel very free because I do not identify with any particular culture. I love all foods, am free to celebrate many holidays, believe in reincarnation, karma and Eastern medicine, but I also celebrate Christmas, believe in a higher power, and that all religions believe in essentially the same things.

What makes me unique? Well, I consider myself inter-religious, have spent over two years in a sleeping bag, was almost killed by a cow during my short-lived dabbling in virushunting and consider myself to be failry spontaneous and adventurous.

I believe the strengths I bring to the program include a very open attitude about people. I am human and have judgmental moments, but I have also had many life experiences which have prepared me for a career involving diverse interactions with fellow nursing students, instructors, patients and advisors. I am a mostly optimistic person, somewhat organized and dedicated.

To take care of myself while in the nursing program, I plan to maintain my sanity by setting aside time each week to train, continue rock climbing and set a goal to have "date night" once a month with my fiance Eric. I also set aside at least ten minutes every morning for meditation.
For my classmates, I'm willing to teach people to climb! I've taught a number of people, and believe that it is an amazing form of prevention to many health related problems. Anyone can learn to climb! Even those with fear of heights!


Eric, myself, Eric's brother, Troy, in the far right picture. Our two-and-a-half year old pitbull, Peanut in the center picture. She's a lot of time and work, but she's worth it!



Eric, my fiance, on a boulder problem in Bishop, California (Bubba Gump, V10).



HERA Climb 4 Life is a non-profit women's cancer foundation raising money to help educate and empower women whose lives have been affected by ovarian cancer.

This photo is the second year I have participated as a pro volunteer with Evolv climbing shoes to teach new climbers who have donated their time and energy to raise money for research, support, and community awareness. Here I am belaying a new climber at the Boulderado Wall in Boulder Canyon.

This photo was taken at Lower Chaos Canyon in Rocky Mountain National Park. Early in the season, climbers hike through many feet of snow to get to the boulders to climb in cool temps. This is Lake Haiyaha, always glorious, and especially picturesque with snow!This is a view from a campsite on one of my trips to Squamish, British Columbia. This is the Stawamus Chief, also know simply as, the Chief. It is a 2000' monolith, requiring climbers an entire day of light to climb up it.

Hueco Tanks State Park is located 32 miles northeast of El Paso, Texas. It is here that I've spent five months camping. During this time, I have resided in the campground pictured below, also known as "The Rock Ranch," popular to many climbers from around the world.

The tent pictured below was missing an entire panel from it's rain-fly. I used a garbage bag and a roll-and-a-half of duct tape for repairs. This quick-fix lasted withstood a number of dust storms as well as the occasional rain and even snow showers for three months!



The rock art on this page is from North Mountain in the park. These masks were left by the prehistoric Jornada Mogollon culture. A day of exploration into slots, crevaces, and narrow passageways reveals some of the more than 200 rock art drawings in the park.

Banjo Billy's Bus Tour, Summer 2008 Part Three

Troy (Eric's brother) to the left. Eric and I in front of the bus below.




Eric and I were fortunate enough to have lots of family visiting this summer! My mom, dad, brother and his girlfriend, grandparents and Eric's brother all came to visit us. Erin left for Squamish for two and a half weeks but came back the end of July. My mom and Erin had never met, so they finally got to meet. We all had a lot of fun and went on a bus tour of Boulder on Banjo Billy's Bus Tours. It was a 90-minute ride filled with interesting facts about Boulder including ghost stories, history and wild-west adventures!
Above left, Eric and Troy in front of the bus. Above is our group shot. Channa (Corey's girlfriend), Corey, my mom Tami, Troy, Eric, Grandma, Grandpa. Front Row, Matt Kennedy, Banjo Billy, my dad Chris, Erin Drasler, myself!


To the left is my dad, myself, my brother Corey and my mom...all several jello shots down!

Summer 2008 Part II

In July Erin and our friend Hesam set out from Minnesota across the great states of Iowa and Nebraska in Hesam's VW van. Crazy enough, they made it and the two of them stayed with us for a week. After a week, Hesam decided to move on to Rifle while Erin stayed back and contemplated visiting Joel in Squamish, B.C. One rare day that I had off work, Erin and I decided to head up to Rocky Mountain National Park and start working on some boulder problems. We had big plans for a boulder problem called Potato Chip. After an hour hike, we arrived to the warm-up boulder and enjoyed a snack before a couple of climbs. Just as we were about to get on Potato Chip, a few people showed up so we decided to go find some other warm-up problems and then come back. Long story short, we began hiking from one boulder to the next across the snow and over some rocks. Along the way, Erin slipped and fell off one of the boulder landing on an angular, protruding rock with a bare foot that had falled out of her flip-flop. She was immediately in pain. After waiting for ten minutes or so, she tried to put weight on it with no luck. Our friends Shannon and Ben came along to help carry her stuff out and we began the long hike out, this time much slower with Erin's hurt foot.

When we got to the Emergency Department in Boulder several hours later, our fears of a broken foot were confirmed. She would need to see a specialist in a few days to determine whether surgery was necessary. To the right is Erin at the ED, below is Erin in the scooter at Target. A broken foot will not stop girls from shopping!














Erin ended up going to Squamish but when she flew back to Colorado the ortho doc said she needed surgery. So, she had surgery and the photo to the right is a couple days after surgery. She was naughty and took that splint on and off about seven times a day!

Family, Friends and the Wrap-Up of Summer 2008 Part I

Eric and I had a VERY busy summer. We kicked things off with HERA and the TEVA Games in June. After that, we had a number of visitors from out of state stream in. Two of Eric's friends from California, Christian and Michelle (see photo to the right from May 2006 at their wedding) stayed with us for the weekend. When they were here Eric joined them and two of their friends on a hike and climbing day at Mt. Evans. One of their friends promptly fell off a boulder problem and broke his ankle and leg. Needless to say, it wasn't a very productive climbing day!

In July we had an equally busy month. We had a few sets of visitors, a trip to Crested Butte and lots of family visiting. The photo at the top of Peanut was taken in Crested Butte. Below is a picture of this kid Ziggy, part of the Peaceful Warriors junior team in Gunnison, Colorado. He is ten and crushed this long, pumpy V5!
The photo to the left is of Eric on a V6 boulder problem that is featured on the front of the Colorado Bouldering guide. Crested Butte climbing is so perfect and has such amazing scenery! It was a very good day of bouldering and I can't wait to go back.