I peeked out of my "box" today.  It was my first day of my clinical rotation.  I had nearly had myself a full scale panic attack at 5am, complete with crying, when I could not find my blood pressure cuff.  I suspect it was stolen.  It is kind of hard to take a patient's vital signs when you are missing one of your tools. 

Annnnyway, I got my other supplies and into my uniform and headed out into the still black night.  I got to the nursing home and sat in on my first nurses' report meeting.  I met my CNA (nurse's assistant) I was to shadow for the shift and we went to get our people ready for the day.  First year students shadow a CNA for their first couple of shifts because it is our first time in this sort of facility for the majority of the class.  They don't want us to do anything that could potentially endanger the patients.  I can understand that.  We don't handle any medicine administration until the 2nd year. 

5 of the 6 people I helped take care of today were the nicest folks I've met in a long, long time.  The last one was sadly feeling too ill to be very sociable.    All in all, aside from not being able to sit down even once (not counting the bathroom), it was a good shift.  I learned alot and I'm not feeling as crappy. 

I still gotta replace my blood pressure cuff before my next shift, tho.    I hope the rotten person who stole it gets a karma-tic kick in the butt.  Being a struggling college student, that isn't a cheap piece of equipment to replace!!  And yes, I'm angry over my panic attack. 

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