After finding out several weeks ago that she was accepted into nursing school, Joye has had some trouble getting into the routine. Difficult professors, lots of work, and uniforms made the going tough for our friend in her last installment. Today, she fights the boredom of class and gets excited about the prospect of actually seeing some real patients. Let’s join her.

It’s two years ago on October 6 at 9:07 a.m.

Teachers drone on FOREVER. I think they like to hear themselves speak. Captain (my professor with the military background) keeps on, and on, and on, and on about . . . I don’t remember now. I am sure it was vitally important to my future career.

One minute later:

I have succeeded! I can spin a pencil on my thumb. Joye, you are a ROCK STAR!

9:10 am:

I’m awake. Eyes open. Slobber wiped from the creases of the lips. What was that?  We actually get to finally touch real live patients. YESSSSSSSS!

9:23 am:

Behind Captain, we head into a nursing home. Oh, I just love old people. The women want to look sexy for the men, so they all get their hair colored. You know, blue or purple. The men are my favorite. They dress to the “nines.” They all have neatly pressed pale blue shorts with a mismatched plaid shirt, suspenders, black trouser socks pulled to their knees, and loafers. I just love them so much.

2 minutes later:

So we’ll be working with these patients? Denied. Captain says we have to have some skills first. We are rushed off to the skills lab. The lab opens. Oh so many toys, so little time. What is this?  Captain swipes it from my hands. “These things are not toys. They are assessment tools.” The first tool we must learn to use in our assessment is “not a hammer.” It is an otoscope. “It is NOT A HAMMER.” Teachers take away all the fun.

11:22 am:

Watch out care home people. Here we come! But not until next week . . .

Editor’s note: Joye’s column appears exclusively on StressedOutNurses.com. Write comments and share your opinions with Joye by writing to editor@stressedoutnurses.com. We’ll make sure she receives your message.