I woke up this morning to a brisk 43 degrees outside, and all I wanted was a cup of hot tea before my crazy hectic day began. So far life has been wonderfully.... busy. With nursing, ethics and inequality in America my schedule is kept jammed packed full of reading, writing and studying. I recently switched clinical sites from St. Joseph's Hospital to Robert Packer Hospital down in Sayre, PA. This meaning, I have to wake up before the sun does. My usual clinical day consists of my alarm going off at 4:30 AM, me hitting the snooze button a few times until I actually wake up at 4:50. I usually leave the college parking lot at 5:30 in time to get to the hospital to do my pre-shift patient information before a starting time of 7 AM. I love working at Robert Packer and I am seriously considering getting a job there as a Care Partner for this upcoming summer. :)
On top of all of my classes I have my lovely Perry 3rd freshman that are "keeping me young." Oh the days of being a freshman feel like yesterday, they complain about the work now but they have no idea what is in store over the next three years of their college career. Next week is registration for term two classes, which blows my mind because that means I'm almost halfway through my junior year of college. eeeeccckkk I don't want to grow up, however I am excited that I will be done with all of my pre-requisites for graduation at the end of this school year. That means my senior year will be purely nursing clinical courses and fun classes. I can't wait to have the time to take photography.
Alrighty, it's time for me to head to nursing class, but atleast it's Friday. Have a good Halloween weekend.... I'm on duty!
-Ashley
Friday, October 29, 2010
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Junior year?
Hello!!!!!
Can you believe that it is already October? Of my Junior year? I know I can't! So far this school year has been really busy with being a Freshman RA in Perry, Equestrian club President and working at our local Buffalo Wild Wings. I do still find time for some fun, for example, this past weekend was Apple Fest in downtown Ithaca, which I went to my Freshman year. Six of us decided to go together and we enjoyed the booths and we loved the deep fried oreos! It is going to be a great year for classes and friends, and I can't wait to share it with all of you!
Love,
Ashley
Can you believe that it is already October? Of my Junior year? I know I can't! So far this school year has been really busy with being a Freshman RA in Perry, Equestrian club President and working at our local Buffalo Wild Wings. I do still find time for some fun, for example, this past weekend was Apple Fest in downtown Ithaca, which I went to my Freshman year. Six of us decided to go together and we enjoyed the booths and we loved the deep fried oreos! It is going to be a great year for classes and friends, and I can't wait to share it with all of you!
Love,
Ashley
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Valentine's Day
I have been curious as to what different people have to say about Valentine's Day. I know that this year my boyfriend had to work during the holiday and I found myself sitting in my room watching the Olympic Luge competition by myself. Every time a Valentine's day commercial came on I got really annoyed. It seems that Valentine's day isn't about celebrating the love that you have with an individual, but that it's simply an excuse for Hallmark to make money and for women to ask for materialistic things. I wanted my Valentine's Day to be a day when I spent time with the person I love to celebrate being with each other. I told him that all I really wanted was to know that he loves me and that we have each other, and that if he did get me a gift that it was something from the heart and not something he was pressured into buying due to commercials.
Please leave a comment and answer the poll, because I'm very interested in what other people have to say about the holiday.
halfway through the term already?
Believe it or not it is Tuesday, Feb. 16th. Since my last post a few things have happened that I've wanted to blog about.
I had my first experience in the hospital!!!!!!!!!!!!!! As a nursing student I've been anticipating the day that I could put my scrubs on and walk into a hospital to care for a patient. The first day was just orientation, but the next time we stepped foot into the hospital we were on our own (with the supervision of our clinical instructor of course). As we got off the elevator onto floor 3 of St. Joseph's Hospital (this is part of the Long-term care unit) my heart was beating near out of my chest. Nervous and giddy my partner and I walked into our patient's room. After providing our patient with Morning Care we looked at each other and realized "wow, this really isn't that nerve-wrecking." Our last time in the hospital until after break was amazing, because we took care of more than one patient and had hospital staff asking for our help, which made me feel like a nurse.
A group of my friends went out to dinner for a birthday weekend. 3 of the girls actually had birthdays all within 5 days, so naturally we used that as an excuse to get off campus and go out to dinner. We went to Legends!!! If you are visiting Elmira I highly recommend this place for all of their food but especially their boneless wings!
This upcoming week is MID-TERM BREAK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am super excited about this break, because this term so far has been unbelievably busy and I really need a break. My boyfriend is driving back with me, and I can't wait to see how my boyfriend, born and raised in NY will respond to our southern ways in Virginia. I think I'm probably a little more nervous about the trip my dad is planning for the two of them. My father + My boyfriend + the Norfolk naval base to see the Aircraft carrier = lots of questions...... I will keep you updated on that progress. Hopefully it won't snow anymore down in Virginia.
I'm off to finish up HW and study for my 2 mid-terms. I'll blog again soon.
Ashley Hemphill '12
I had my first experience in the hospital!!!!!!!!!!!!!! As a nursing student I've been anticipating the day that I could put my scrubs on and walk into a hospital to care for a patient. The first day was just orientation, but the next time we stepped foot into the hospital we were on our own (with the supervision of our clinical instructor of course). As we got off the elevator onto floor 3 of St. Joseph's Hospital (this is part of the Long-term care unit) my heart was beating near out of my chest. Nervous and giddy my partner and I walked into our patient's room. After providing our patient with Morning Care we looked at each other and realized "wow, this really isn't that nerve-wrecking." Our last time in the hospital until after break was amazing, because we took care of more than one patient and had hospital staff asking for our help, which made me feel like a nurse.
A group of my friends went out to dinner for a birthday weekend. 3 of the girls actually had birthdays all within 5 days, so naturally we used that as an excuse to get off campus and go out to dinner. We went to Legends!!! If you are visiting Elmira I highly recommend this place for all of their food but especially their boneless wings!
This upcoming week is MID-TERM BREAK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am super excited about this break, because this term so far has been unbelievably busy and I really need a break. My boyfriend is driving back with me, and I can't wait to see how my boyfriend, born and raised in NY will respond to our southern ways in Virginia. I think I'm probably a little more nervous about the trip my dad is planning for the two of them. My father + My boyfriend + the Norfolk naval base to see the Aircraft carrier = lots of questions...... I will keep you updated on that progress. Hopefully it won't snow anymore down in Virginia.
I'm off to finish up HW and study for my 2 mid-terms. I'll blog again soon.
Ashley Hemphill '12
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Term 2 begins
Back to school...........
Let me begin with before break. Finals week was crazy and intense, but I got through it and actually raised my GPA with my term 1 grades (to my surprise). Getting home on the other hand was deffinitly the worst way to start my actual Winter break. So here it goes:
Friday, December 18th
- Slept through 5 alarms and 20+ phone calls to miss my 6AM flight out of Elmira.
- Departed from Elmira at 3:30 to only land in Philadelphia to find out my flight to Richmon had been cancelled.
- Learned that the Richmond airport had been shut down due to snow. (yes, I said snow.)
- Booked a flight into Newport News, VA to not get stuck in Philadelphia for 3 days.
- Parents drove 1.5 hours to pick me up.
- Luggage didn't arrive.
- Drove 4 hours through blizzard snow to get home.
- Woke up to 14 inches of snow on the ground and no luggage.
Saturday, Sunday and Monday
- Snowed in...... NO LUGGAGE
Tuesday
- Drove to airport to get luggage.... FINALLY!!!!!
After the ordeal of getting home I had a fantastic break, but there was a chance of snow on the day I was supposed to return. I chose to fly back to Elmira early inorder to miss any possibility of being delayed or canceled again. I had RA winter training the Saturday before classes began, which was fun...... however I could really move my head too well due to a stiff neck. I didn't think much of it until I woke up Sunday and couldn't move my head. I went to the Emergency Room and come to find out I had sprained my neck. So with a neck brace on and pain killers and a muscle relaxer in hand I returned to my dorm room and entered a comatose state until classes the next day.
This term I am taking my first Nursing Practicum course and I am extremly excited to be wearing scrubs and doing something other than book work. Of course I am excited about my pink stethoscope and my pink bedazzeled I.D. holder. It is a very very very busy term, and as I told my residents I am sorry if I am not available as often as I should be. The first week felt like a month and I can only hope that the rest of the term doesn't follow in that trend.
The RA selection process has begun and today I spent my time evaluating candidates in the small group process. It felt like yesterday I was in their shoes, nervous and hoping I would get the position. It was a relief to be on the other side of the process, and I have a whole new appreciation and understand of what it takes to hire a staff. A lot of the current RA's are graduating so it will be a fresh staff next year and a brand new building, which will hopefully provide a breath of fresh air to Resident Life next year.
Friday night S.A.B. brought Mike DuBois and his act "Adult circus" on campus. It was a great time!!!! Here is a link to his website. http://www.theadultcircus.com/circus/home.html
My last little tid-bit for today's blog...... I highly recommend going to see the movie Extrodinary Measures.
Thanks for reading
Ashley!
Let me begin with before break. Finals week was crazy and intense, but I got through it and actually raised my GPA with my term 1 grades (to my surprise). Getting home on the other hand was deffinitly the worst way to start my actual Winter break. So here it goes:
Friday, December 18th
- Slept through 5 alarms and 20+ phone calls to miss my 6AM flight out of Elmira.
- Departed from Elmira at 3:30 to only land in Philadelphia to find out my flight to Richmon had been cancelled.
- Learned that the Richmond airport had been shut down due to snow. (yes, I said snow.)
- Booked a flight into Newport News, VA to not get stuck in Philadelphia for 3 days.
- Parents drove 1.5 hours to pick me up.
- Luggage didn't arrive.
- Drove 4 hours through blizzard snow to get home.
- Woke up to 14 inches of snow on the ground and no luggage.
Saturday, Sunday and Monday
- Snowed in...... NO LUGGAGE
Tuesday
- Drove to airport to get luggage.... FINALLY!!!!!
After the ordeal of getting home I had a fantastic break, but there was a chance of snow on the day I was supposed to return. I chose to fly back to Elmira early inorder to miss any possibility of being delayed or canceled again. I had RA winter training the Saturday before classes began, which was fun...... however I could really move my head too well due to a stiff neck. I didn't think much of it until I woke up Sunday and couldn't move my head. I went to the Emergency Room and come to find out I had sprained my neck. So with a neck brace on and pain killers and a muscle relaxer in hand I returned to my dorm room and entered a comatose state until classes the next day.
This term I am taking my first Nursing Practicum course and I am extremly excited to be wearing scrubs and doing something other than book work. Of course I am excited about my pink stethoscope and my pink bedazzeled I.D. holder. It is a very very very busy term, and as I told my residents I am sorry if I am not available as often as I should be. The first week felt like a month and I can only hope that the rest of the term doesn't follow in that trend.
The RA selection process has begun and today I spent my time evaluating candidates in the small group process. It felt like yesterday I was in their shoes, nervous and hoping I would get the position. It was a relief to be on the other side of the process, and I have a whole new appreciation and understand of what it takes to hire a staff. A lot of the current RA's are graduating so it will be a fresh staff next year and a brand new building, which will hopefully provide a breath of fresh air to Resident Life next year.
Friday night S.A.B. brought Mike DuBois and his act "Adult circus" on campus. It was a great time!!!! Here is a link to his website. http://www.theadultcircus.com/circus/home.html
My last little tid-bit for today's blog...... I highly recommend going to see the movie Extrodinary Measures.
Thanks for reading
Ashley!
Sunday, November 29, 2009
November
This has been a whirlwind of a month! I started the month off sick, which isn't an uncommon trend for me this school year, but I finally found the cause of my constant sickness. I left my mattress pad in the basement of Columbia (storage area) over the summer, which left my mattress pad full of lovely mold spores. Before Thanksgiving break I disposed of that pad and got a brand new down mattress topper. That was the best decision of the school year, as it is very comfortable and it has zero mold spores. I am now feeling back to my normal self!!!!
Before break I was busy with classes and getting ready for my first horse show. I was riding three times a week, which is a lot considering the amount of work I have right now, but it was well worth it. The team went to Skidmore College on the 21st and we all did well. I placed 4th, which isn't exactly what I wanted, but for my first time ever showing in the IHSA show circuit. Many people don't realize that when showing inter-collegiate you do not know which horse you are riding until the day of the show and even then you have never seen or been on the horse. You get on the horse in the ring and the moment you begin walking you are being judged. It is a bit of a stressful situation, yet the adrenaline kicks in and it is a fun experience.
I am currently sitting in the Philadelphia airport on my way back to school after Thanksgiving break. It was a fun and relaxing break. I went to my great great Aunt's 90th birthday party and spent Thanksgiving at my uncles. I did not participate in the early morning Black Friday shopping, but my mother did. 4:40AM she was in line at Target (I though she was crazy). We decorated the house for Christmas and now I can't wait to decorate my dorm room for Christmas. I'm a huge fan of Christmas music and decorations!!!!!
Hope everyone else had a wonderful Thanksgiving Break.
Ashley
Before break I was busy with classes and getting ready for my first horse show. I was riding three times a week, which is a lot considering the amount of work I have right now, but it was well worth it. The team went to Skidmore College on the 21st and we all did well. I placed 4th, which isn't exactly what I wanted, but for my first time ever showing in the IHSA show circuit. Many people don't realize that when showing inter-collegiate you do not know which horse you are riding until the day of the show and even then you have never seen or been on the horse. You get on the horse in the ring and the moment you begin walking you are being judged. It is a bit of a stressful situation, yet the adrenaline kicks in and it is a fun experience.
I am currently sitting in the Philadelphia airport on my way back to school after Thanksgiving break. It was a fun and relaxing break. I went to my great great Aunt's 90th birthday party and spent Thanksgiving at my uncles. I did not participate in the early morning Black Friday shopping, but my mother did. 4:40AM she was in line at Target (I though she was crazy). We decorated the house for Christmas and now I can't wait to decorate my dorm room for Christmas. I'm a huge fan of Christmas music and decorations!!!!!
Hope everyone else had a wonderful Thanksgiving Break.
Ashley
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Fall Break
Hello!
Sorry it has been a while since my last entry. The past two weeks have been interesting to say the least. The week before Parents Weekend I became very sick with some bacterial infection that caused me to miss 3 days of classes and therefore 4 exams. My average temperature was 101, which is unusual because I never get a temperature. My parents did not come up to Elmira for Parents' Weekend, so I used that weekend to do a significant amount of sleeping and studying for the exams I had missed. The week was very stressful, because on top of trying to stay out of bed for the full day of classes and doing the normal homework, I had to schedule times to make up the exams. I thankfully was able to take all of the exams before I left for fall break. Being sick prevented me from horseback riding, therefore I can not show at our first show at Hartwick.
I was scheduled to leave from the Elmira airport to fly home to Virginia Friday night. After the winter weather I figured I would be somewhat delayed, but all day it looked like my flight would be on time. On my way to the airport I received a notification informing me that my flight was delayed an hour. This would have been okay, and I could have made it to my connection flight in Philadelphia. When I arrived at the airport they informed me that the flight was not scheduled to leave until 8 pm. My connection left at 8:30. I made the decision to avoid sleeping in the Philadelphia airport and fly home Saturday Morning. Little did I know that this decision would cause me to injure myself. Saturday morning while walking down the stairs with my suitcase in hand I "missed" a step, twisted my ankle (heard a pop) and continued to fall down the last few stairs. My ankle continued to swell while in transit and when I arrived home ventured to the doctor's office with my mom. I sprained my ankle and am now wearing an air-splint. Yes, I am clumsy and yes, this prevents me from riding!!!! Story of my life...... I'm always hurt.
I'll write soon.
Ashley
Sorry it has been a while since my last entry. The past two weeks have been interesting to say the least. The week before Parents Weekend I became very sick with some bacterial infection that caused me to miss 3 days of classes and therefore 4 exams. My average temperature was 101, which is unusual because I never get a temperature. My parents did not come up to Elmira for Parents' Weekend, so I used that weekend to do a significant amount of sleeping and studying for the exams I had missed. The week was very stressful, because on top of trying to stay out of bed for the full day of classes and doing the normal homework, I had to schedule times to make up the exams. I thankfully was able to take all of the exams before I left for fall break. Being sick prevented me from horseback riding, therefore I can not show at our first show at Hartwick.
I was scheduled to leave from the Elmira airport to fly home to Virginia Friday night. After the winter weather I figured I would be somewhat delayed, but all day it looked like my flight would be on time. On my way to the airport I received a notification informing me that my flight was delayed an hour. This would have been okay, and I could have made it to my connection flight in Philadelphia. When I arrived at the airport they informed me that the flight was not scheduled to leave until 8 pm. My connection left at 8:30. I made the decision to avoid sleeping in the Philadelphia airport and fly home Saturday Morning. Little did I know that this decision would cause me to injure myself. Saturday morning while walking down the stairs with my suitcase in hand I "missed" a step, twisted my ankle (heard a pop) and continued to fall down the last few stairs. My ankle continued to swell while in transit and when I arrived home ventured to the doctor's office with my mom. I sprained my ankle and am now wearing an air-splint. Yes, I am clumsy and yes, this prevents me from riding!!!! Story of my life...... I'm always hurt.
I'll write soon.
Ashley
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