Well, I want to keep up with this journal at least one entry every month. Just because I think it's cool to see on the side bar of the dates that I have an entry for. SO... I just started the process to take my board exam. I had to do this "Fingerprint" thing for a background check that the LA medical examination board must do. It was my first time ever getting my fingerprints recorded. So, yeah. It was an experience. If i ever get arrested, I would have to go through that again. LOL. Hopefully I won't have that experience again. So this process to apply and take the board takes alot of time and money.>_< But it's okay. considering how much I will make after I get it all done. =) I can't wait, just a couple of more months. I can't beleive it's been a year. and I've learned alot. Almost enough to be able to be ready to take that board. We only have this summer to go through. We're going to do more clinical hours and do a more wider range of rotations. Well, the one that really counts. Like intubation and intensive care. Some of the student are even going as far as Washington D.C. to work. I don't think I will go that far. Not yet anyways. I think Convington is the farthest I will go. Yeah. I'm doing a rotation at St. Tamany's this summer. Man, the price of gas !! >_< And then we're also doing NICU at Children's. This semester rotations are fun. I met this HOT phillipine guy that graduated in the same program as I at West Jeff. WooHOo... It was my motivation to wake up extra early in the morning and drive over to the west bank just to look at that man. Damn. I just like looking at him, nothing more. He's a cool guy. Very laid back and taught me a thing a two about the new ventilator the hospital used. He can speak vietnamese too! he says he has alot of viet friends. I really believed him when he told me di an (go eat) for lunch time. LOL. I hope I get to go back there one day.
Oh, I almost forgot. I applied to go to Camp Pelican. There's a mandatory meeting in May during my break that I'm going to. I hope I got accepted to be a member. What is Camp Pelican? Well, student RT's go to play with kids that has ventilator dependency. So, we'll help them do regular kid things that they normally can't do because the ventilator is too big. And it's a Plus to meet new friends who are just like them and they don't have their parents around. I think these kids will teach me a thing or two on how to take care of them if anything happens. Of course there will be cleaning and changing their trachs daily. They will be so occupied on having fun they might forget they're trached. If they want to go in the pool, then we'd be next to them. Simple?! Not really. It's important that they don't drown, but also to breathe even if they're on a floaty high above the water. Since they won't have their ventilator connected to them, we're responsible to be their human ventilator. Yes, bagging them! Suction them if things starts to build up and just keep them in check with all their vitals. All day and all night for one week! Isnt' cool?! I'm going to be their personal caretaker for one week. I'm not sure if I will get two or three kids, do we switch around with kids or get the same kids over and over. I'll find out soon.
I'm supposed to do a case study report right now. But I'm taking a break and write a little. I chose a 1 year old baby who has alot of birth defects. He has holes in his heart. Yes, litereally he does. So all the bllod that pumping out of his heart is not being oxygenated well. The major ones he has is called Pentalogy of Fallot, DORV (double outlet of right ventricle), VSD (ventricular septal defect). He also have non-related heart problems. One is where all his stomach contents from liver & large/small intestines are protruded out of his body through the umbilical AKA omphalocele. Another is Diaphragmatic hernia where some of his intestines are mislocated in his thoracic cavity through an opening of his diaphragm. Okay. All these are not correct medically defined because I'm trying to describce it myself without looking for it in my book. I actually had a look at his stomach to see what it looks like in real life. But he had a cast over his stomach. He just looks like a pregnant baby. I just have finals until this semester is over. This week is a big week for me. And it'll get a little better next week. And then the semester is over. It's been a year since I've been in this program. Wow. I guess I can write more on my next entry next month. Then, it'll really be one year. Also, I want to write about my first experience in a coding situation. With the persistent high-stress this program has, I'm getting real used to it all. I'm taking it easy man.
