Bitter Sweet

Today was my last time wearing my student nurse uniform. I still have a few clinicals left before I graduate but I am allowed to wear professional dress because they are psych clinicals. The whole white uniform apparently doesn't foster an inviting environment for the mentally ill. Can't say I blame them!

I can remember ordering the expensive things. I can remember trying them on for fun before I ever stepped in the hospital. I had that weird I am a legit nursing student feeling. I felt COOL in those bad boys. The newness quickly wore off as I got up every Friday at 5a.m. and patient's spit, blood, other bodily fluids ended up on them.

My uniform has seen a lot over the last six semesters and it was kind of nostalgic as I tossed them in the hamper this evening realizing this is the last time I will wash them.

In honor of my uniform (yes I realize I am a dork for doing this, oh well!) here are some pictures!

The night I was inducted into the nursing program.

My first day of clinical sophomore year.

My last "uniform" clinical of senior year.

In celebration of my last weekend clinical I ate 240 calories worth of Snickers. Totally worth it, don't judge! (I feel a little guilty seeing as I am just not sure I will work out tomorrow because I strained my back today but again why let that minor detail rain on my parade, right?)

Two stethoscopes?! A few weeks ago I lost my blue stethoscope. You're probably wondering how you can do that as a nurse but I'm here to tell you as a pretty responsible person that it IS possible. My patient kept pulling on it when I would assess him so I would place it to the side. Well I forgot I did that one day and left without it :( The next day when I realized it no one could seem to find it. I made it through four years of nursing school and seemed to manage to lose my stethoscope in the last eight weeks. Needless to say I rush ordered a new pink one because if I was going to spend that amount of money I was going to get one that is my favorite color. 

So I stroll into clinical yesterday and I'm charting when I look over at the rack of paper charts and low and behold but what do my blue eyes see? Yup! My long lost stethoscope hanging from the rack. I had to laugh because in my head I was thinking "seriously"?!?! I guess now I have a back up in case I happen to lose misplace my other one.

And now back to studying....