Today, the most amazing thing happened to me on practicum. The student that I thought would be difficult to handle opened up to me. He was last on my list to do a one-on-one as I was still getting enough courage and confidence to do so. I observed him for more than one week. I was thinking that my second week of practicum is almost over and I might not have the chance to assist him. So, I went ahead and just did the best I could.

Surprisingly, we had a great time talking. I was thankful for being able to experience working with this student. It is hard to describe the rewarding feeling when you get a response from the student. The receptiveness is what every educator always wishes to occur when teaching. There are quite a number of students that are under the program that I was assigned to and my goal is to assist all of them. Since I had reached my objective, my focus now is to finish my leave project. I decided to do a visual routine schedule for two students. I am still in the process of drafting it and getting all the picture symbols that I need. Since I don’t have the necessary computer software at home, my integration teacher has kindly allowed me to work partially on my project in the school.

Hopefully, I will be able to complete my 2 routine schedule projects this Friday. I am so looking forward for the coming long weekend and would like to just spend it with my family, take my much needed rest and not do any school work!

…you desire to do, can be found working on a Surgical unit. I have to say of all the places I have worked, this has to be my favourite. The best part of nursing in my eyes, is all the hands on skills.

In Surgery, you see many types of incisions afterwards. It is a great place to practice all the dressing changes you learned. You get to use your critical thinking when it comes to post-op complications and learn the things to watch out for. What’s the number one thing?! Infection!!

Almost every shift you can learn something new. Whether it be a new surgery or specific care for a type of recovery. I never felt like I was done learning. It is nice to work in a place where you can continue to expand your knowledge and become a more experienced nurse.

On a unit like this, it is important to remember that things can change in a instant. A person who has just had surgery is at risk for many complications. You need to be on the ball, watching vital signs to make sure the person remains stable.

Yes, this unit may not be for those who are faint of heart. You will see a lot and need to be able to hold it together Remember what wound Evisceration is? Yes, it really does happen!!

Some of the surgeries are sad. People who are palliative. I found myself many times becoming emotional. You can’t get away from it no matter what unit you work on. Surgery to me is an amazing thing, it saves many lives and it makes life easier for many. Most of the time on this unit the end result is SO positive. 

So, if you want staple or suture removal, catheter insertion, and dressing changes, surgery may be for you. Don’t be afraid to jump in there and get your hands dirty so to speak

Supporting a special needs student may seem difficult in the beginning, but when you get to know the student’s strengths and concerns, you will find the process of working with them easier than expected. This is what I observed during the course of my practicum. Being a keen observant is one of the skills a special education assistant should have.

You need to be attentive of how the student communicates. In addition, you have to be intently aware of their behaviour, learning skills and the method they learn best. If you get a chance to read the student’s IEP (individual educational plan), that would be very helpful as it gives more information in managing the student. The report also provides the expectations in the student’s behaviour and learning skills for a certain period. Usually on the first day of practicum, the student’s EA (education aide) will share strategies they follow in assisting the student. Take advantage of this period by listening and observing how the EA work. Take notes as much as you can, especially on how they prompt and reinforce the student to keep him on task.

My current practicum experience compared to my working in an elementary school setting is totally different. The variation is more in the area of getting the students engaged in an activity or in a mere conversation. I find the younger ones more willing to comply. But of course, it is a case to case basis. Things happen that may upset the student you are working with. Don’t expect a good response during that time because you won’t get it. In such situations, you just have to do the best you can. For me, to sustain my enthusiasm at what I am doing is to treat small reactions as an accomplishment. It may be a hello or a smile, a short talk or simply getting a question from the student. That is enough to make each of my days a rewarding one.

I am sure everyone knows the story about BCNU wanting the LPN’s to join their union, and that it did not work out. Then our contract with HEU was up, so negotiations happened, an agreement was met, and some things changed.  Good and not so good.

Of course, we are all happy that there is now pay scales and we get more money long term. But, the one thing I was not too happy about was the fact that I can no longer work in more then one place. I am currently employed at 2 hospitals, so when I return from maternity leave I will need to choose one. I love being able to work in different areas. This allowed me to see what type of nursing I wanted to do.

In my 2 years, I was able to work in Surgery, Orthopedics, Acute Medicine and Mental Health. I have great experience in all these areas, and feel it helped me become a more confident nurse. I know there are many LPN’s looking for work. Like I had said before it is REALLY important that while on your preceptorship you try and talk to the manager. Even getting hired as a casual is great. This will get your foot in the door!

Try not to be discouraged if it takes some time. You are not the only one going through this, and it will get better! So, I have 8 months to decide which area/hospital I want to go back to. I need to think about where it is I feel most valuable as I nurse. Where is it I enjoy going and feel I make a difference….

It has all come down to now. The day you are to write your LPN licensing exam. The year’s hard work has lead up to this moment. You have spent countless hours reviewing medical terms, diseases, and nursing interventions. You are ready!

How do you study? Do you work best alone or in a group?

I found it easier to study on my own. I found I was able to learn at my own pace and concentrate on the areas I felt I needed more work in.

One thing I found to be very helpful was the LPN exam predictor test. Yes, it does cost you money but it is well worth it! Anything you can do to increase your chance of passing is worth it. Or else you may be paying to take the exam again and missing months of work where you could be making money.

The test gives you a couple hours, and I found it to be plenty of time. Make sure you have the time to yourself and that there are no distractions. For me, I had to make sure NO kids were around.

You want to get as much out of the exam as you can.

Once again, it is structured like the real deal!

I had one trick I used while taking the exam, but it is my secret You will have to comment if you want to know

Besides that, have a pad of paper with you and take down notes on important topics that were covered. This will give you areas to study.

I will never forget the one question that kept popping up on the exam….It was regarding patients who have dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) and how you would teach them to make swallowing easier. SO look that up.

I wrote my exam in May. So, if the times are still the same, best of luck to the upcoming writers.

Today happened to be the last day of my practicum in grade school. I was already feeling sad days ago counting down the end of my three week great learning experience. I will definitely miss the students as well as the staff there. They made my stay so wonderful. To thank them for their generous assistance, I made sure that my leave project would truly reflect how grateful I am for their effort.

I spent hours preparing my projects. We were supposed to do only one but I did two – one is publishing a story book and the other is the calendar board. The plan for publishing a story book was proposed by my practicum monitor. It was a great idea that I would like to do for students that I will be working with in the future. The reaction I got when I gave the book to the student was very touching. I think that in every opportunity, we, as education aide should find ways to make something special of the work that the student made to boost their self-esteem.

It reinforces them to do best in their field of interest. My goal for my second project is to teach the concept of the calendar – to show the students how to identify the name and number of the days and months. With it, the students will also identify what date comes before and after. I made it also possible for them to learn the abbreviation of the name of the months and date as preparation for their next learning level of using the calendar. My second project took most of my time. I almost gave up and thought of doing only one project but the school I worked with deserved much more. So even though I know the second project will certainly take double effort to create, I went ahead with it. When I presented both my leave projects to staff, it was met with praise and positive feedback. Lacking hours of sleep for two days were worth it.

I am off to my second part of practicum next week in a high school setting. I hope the odds of being fortunate again to having a great practicum experience is on my side.

Preparing for the licensing exam (practical nursing) was one of the most nerve wracking experiences of  my life. The length of it alone was enough to make any one sweat! It was comforting to know many of my classmates were writing in the same location….you know, for moral support!

Once you graduate it is easy to put all the work aside, because you just spent the last year working your butts off! But, I tell you it is much easier to continue with studying. If you take too much time off, it really is hard to get your mind in it again. If you make a point to do some reviewing often, your mind will stay fresh and have an easier time remembering things.

Of course, you do deserve some a break, so take time for that too

You achieved something great by making it through the program, because man, it was intense! I never thought my brain could retain SO much information, but it did! So pat yourselves on the back and go out with your classmates for a margarita….or two

The best things I used during studying were the exam prep guides. Yes, I said guides. I know the school provides you with one (the most current one I believe), but there are also other editions. I am not sure if they have made any more now, but at my time there was 3 editions. I was lucky enough to track down the other ones to use!

The exam questions are exactly like that! Next blog post I will talk more about my experience with the exam and share some other useful tips.

One thing I learned when I started working was to share my knowledge and skills with my colleagues. For me, those attribute will only become more valuable when shared with others. So when I went back to school, the habit of sharing what I know, either from studying or from my own personal experience, came naturally. It felt great to know that you have helped someone change for the better because of what you contributed. I continuously share due to my belief that in every positive action you put out, you will reap the reward.

I guess in some way I am getting those blessings now, in my practicum. I am in my second week and each day is filled with gratitude because I get to work with people who are not only professional but generous enough to share their knowledge and skills so I can learn. The four senior special education assistants (SEA) that I have been working with are all very kind and willing to help. They constantly give me tips and strategies on how to support students with exceptionalities. They are also easy to talk to. I can ask them questions or receive clarification without difficulty. All of them are also open to suggestion. In short, I didn’t have any problem approaching them.

Last week, I had to go with the flow on what work needs to be done. But this week, they made a specific schedule just for me so I can experience every area of their program for special needs students. I get to work with four SEA’s who each handle different cases. I was fortunate also to support other students who don’t have disabilities but are lower in their math and reading level. In addition, the school freely shared with me their learning resources. Browsing the educational sites they are using is an added activity in my daily schedule sheet and a valuable resource.

Overall, my almost two weeks of practicum has been so productive. The support I got from the people I am working with is overwhelming. That is why I am also doubling my effort to give my best in assisting the students as well as the staff.

It’s hard to believe but this will be my last blog as this is the last week at school for our class. The time has simply flown by. I don’t know what to write about as there is so much going through my mind right now. We met up as a class today for the first time in five weeks and it seems like it was only yesterday that we were together.

We all had different stories of our practicum experiences, some people were missing as they were actually working already (good for them!!!) but we hope to see them later this week and catch up. I think we were a great class – we were a mixture of ages and personality types but that did not seem to matter. We not only supported each other but we also showed a great deal of respect for each other and even now continue to support each other as we move forward in reaching our goals.

We’ve had a lot of laughter, some (no, make that a lot of) tears, lots of homework and many doubts; but we were encouraged by our instructors and also by each other with genuine wishes for everyone to succeed. It truly was the best learning experience I’ve had in my life and I thank each and everyone.

Learning isn’t just reading in a book and answering questions on an exam – learning is listening, helping someone else who is perhaps struggling with a concept or by simply giving of you – being there – and each and every one of us did that. I am so proud of us that my heart is filling up and I can’t wait until we all stride across that stage with our heads held high (with a certain somebody running back for her forgotten Ikea umbrella!) We did it – take a well deserved bow!

I feel there were many reasons I was successful while attending Stenberg. I had great teachers, peers, and felt a sense of community at the campus. The school was always having activities and events geared towards having the students from different programs interact. They were always well thought out and a good time for all.

My favourite event was halloween. My class participated in the pumpkin carving contest. I have to say, it was interesting to see all the pumpkins done by the different groups, we all seemed to carve ideas based on our programs. For example, our pumpkin was a nurse, syringe and all!

I made an effort during my time there, to be a real part of the school. I was my class representative and attended as many meetings as I could. I was proactive to have things changed to the school in order to make it better for the students. You know the water cooler in the student kitchen? I had part in getting that So, you are welcome!

I was honoured, as I said before, to be named ‘Student of the Year’. What an amazing achievement to strive for! And what an awesome thing for the college to do. I always felt that the school’s goal was to have their students succeed, and most of us have! You are a product of where you come from, so if you are trained well, you will do well, and Stenberg provides that.

Enjoy your time there. Work your hardest, be part of the school community and activities, be positive and supportive to your peers, and you never know what may come of it. You too may be ‘Student of the Year’!