The past few weeks

So, I'm still waiting for the approval from the AMCB to schedule my certification exam to become an official CNM.  Yes folks, I took that comp exam and passed it way back on 4/10, electronically submitted my application to AMCB, paid my $500 fee, and am still waiting to schedule.  Sigh.  Good things come to those who wait ......... patiently.

In the meanwhile, I've been working on L&D, as usual.  There are some days when I think to myself, maybe I'll just stay working as an RN, but with a fancy degree?  Then things happen, and I think to myself, geeze, why couldn't I have that little title of CNM after my name and be working as one RIGHT NOW?!??

Yeah...so I'm a bit contradictory and conflicts rage in my brain.  But darnit, I am ready to move on over into my CNM role!  I'm scared at the thought of much higher responsibility and liability, but super excited about the fact that I will be able to have a greater function/role in helping women during pregnancy, birth and beyond.

I have noticed that the docs at work are much more trusting in my thoughts and opinions on how to manage labors.  One doc in particular is taking a more proactive, woman-centered approach in actually asking the woman what SHE wants to do.  Score!  He also outright asks me --- how would you manage _____ ?  Then he and I actually have a discussion on management options, possible outcomes.  Holy crap --- I'm feeling much more like a colleague!

I recently had a family member thank me for being so thorough and complete in my care for a more complicated pregnant patient.  It really felt great to have a family member take the time to say "thank you" like she did.  I was only doing what I felt was best in caring for this person -- even if it meant triple and quadruple checking with the patient with how she managed her illness at home, so that she would receive the utmost excellent care in the hospital setting.

Well, back to prepping for my certification exam!!

First day of the new term

I'm back to school again!  The new term started today (well, by now it's after midnight, so I must correct that to "yesterday").  As you can see by the class list on the right sidebar, I'm currently taking advanced antepartum and the Health Policy: Birth Centers as a Case Study class (aka: the birth center business proposal class).

I have saved all documents, modules, and journal articles to my hard drive.  I've printed out the modules and grading rubrics.  Heck, I've even started some of the reading and note taking!

Here's to an excellent last term before clinicals!!!

Current reading/studying.....

........Postpartum blues, postpartum depression, postpartum psychosis, and postpartum anxiety.

Etiology, signs and symptoms, treatment, midwifery management.

Yes, I am definitely on the downward slope towards the end of the term!

Excuse the lack of posting. It's going to be a whirlwind of studying and test taking for the next 3 weeks.

Oh, and can the ink fairy send some more ink for my printer? Thank you.

No patients? No problem!

We had zero (yes, a big fat ZERO, nada, zilch) patients on L&D. This happens, perhaps once a year? Or less? Anyway, no patients. Just a bunch of quirky L&D nurses sitting around, telling old battle stories of our adventures/misadventures on L&D.

What did I do? Studied my little heart out. Congenital heart disease and cardiac defects in the neonate.

Such is the lively life of a student nurse-midwife!

On the home stretch for the term

I'm officially in the last week of the term. Only two more tests to take, one in each class (Antepartum and Primary Care). Working on studying the material for both finals. I'm bounding back and forth in the classes with studying. I find that if I focus for too long in one class, I lose interest. When I lose interest, I start to find a million different things that I'd rather be doing........oh, like sorting laundry, vacuuming, painting the inside of the house, pulling weeds.........basically, anything to get me away from studying.

I have to finish strong this term! I have an "A" in both of my classes. I'm planning to keep it that way!

How to handle working, family life, and school

Some people wonder how I'm able to juggle everything: working full-time, family life, and midwifery school.

I suppose the fact that I like to be super-organized really helps! I keep two calenders: one on the fridge and a personal sized day planner. I put everything on both calenders - work hours, doctor appointments, family get-togethers, nights out with my girlfriends, scheduled phone conferences for school, due dates for school assignments. You name it, I put it on the calender/day planner. It is the only way that I am able to communicate to my entire family about what everyone is doing each day.

I keep a photocopy of the current work schedule for the entire unit in my day planner, just in case I need to call someone to make a swap of shifts if something comes up at home.

I have all of my bills organized on a chart next to my desk (which is at the center of all activity in the house). I can simply check off each bill as it gets paid, and see if there is anything else due at that moment. I also pay most of my bills online - so much easier!

For school work, I keep a file folder for each class. I have a checklist on the very front of each folder with all of the assignments and the due dates. I create this folder and document at the beginning of each term, so I stay organized and on track for each class. I started keeping a 3 ring binder for each class that has a lot of loose papers/notes that I need to keep organized. I also keep a file folder for each class on my computer, with tons more documents that I have saved for each class. (Just so you don't think I'm killing trees and printing out EVERYTHING!)

Study time is usually in the mornings/early afternoon, before I leave for work. Or I do several hours of studying on my days off of work. I've been known to bring textbooks to bed with me at night to do some more reading. Whenever I can get reading time in for school assignments, I do it! I always bring something to read to work and do that in down time, or over my dinner break. I have also been known to take a textbook with me when I go out to dinner or to a family gathering. Like I said - whenever I can get a free moment to read, my nose is in a book or in a journal article.

One place that is school free is when we go on a vacation. Vacation is just that: a break from the everyday world. No computer, no email, no schoolwork.

Some days I just wing it. Just so you don't think that I'm so totally structured ;-)