These books were made for studying...and that's just what I'll do

These are the books that took and time and paved the way to learn the stuff in the school that Yale built!

Needless to say, you can see that we have quite a work load - and I didn't even buy ALL the books!!! So, it's been crazy and exhausting. The before and after pictures from the last illustration pretty accurately show the state most of us are in right now. This past week we learned how to prime, and calibrate an IV. Here's a great picture from a friend of mine entitled "GEPN year IVs"

photo courtesy of Brandon

This week we will start administering medication and setting up IVs during our two days of clinical in the hospital. This is an exciting step forward from taking temperature, blood pressure, giving bed baths and making beds (yes, with hospital corners!) . I have also done blood glucose finger pricks as well - both in the hospital and at a soup kitchen where I will volunteer a couple of times this semester (and where the people are simply fabulous - this is why I'm doing this!).

Slowly but surely the skills and knowledge is coming. The pace is fast, the hours are long and the intensity can be overwhelming if we let it, but we will get there. I try to stay focused on why I'm here and where I will be in 3+ years!

On another note, the class of 2010 has been officially welcomed into the Midwifery sorority of YSN (Yale School of Nursing). I think that the midwifery "clan" has a really special energy and bond that may or may not be present in the other clinical specialties. I know I've chosen the right field. Here are the future nurse-midwives of 2010:

What a gorgeous bunch!

And despite how busy I am with class, I refuse to put my life on hold, so here are a couple snap shots from some non-academic fun of the past week.

1. Argentinian Tango class - last weekend I went to a "boot camp" (7hrs) to learn to dance Argentinian Tango. I can't quite claim to truly dance it yet, but we're getting there. It was a lot of fun and I made some new friends along the way. I think now I'll join the Sunday night Tango classes. (Seems to be the big thing around here these days).

with some new friends after class

taking a turn around the floor with the instructor

Yesterday was a fellow midwife's birthday and though we had a test to suffer through in the afternoon, there was a party at the Grad student pub last night. "Blast from the past". A good time was had by all!

"Happy Birthday Mara!"