Inspire

Summer’s end in September

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I can’t believe summer has come to a close already. Just starting out in September and the first weekend is spent relaxing, looking at fall decorations and putting away those summer ones. Time can not be flying by any faster!

Some news from me: I am now set up in Arizona at my condo. I am still adjusting to just how HOT it is here! Every day is over 100 degrees! It’s wild to say the least. I’m also having a lot of fun trying to find what my style is for decorating the house. Sometimes I want a dark/rustic farmhouse look and sometimes I want to go full on industrial! So it’s been fun adventuring around the city checking into all the craft, furniture and design stores. I brought along my cat Solo and needless to say he cozied right on in. Loves to bathe in the sun, attack all the cat toys and basically made himself right at home.

I started my third semester and half of the classes are in person at the school. It was weird going back to in-person classes again. However, it was nice because I met some people who are equally confused and stressed out about school and even wore my scrubs! So exciting…and nerve-wracking.

Goals:

Some goals that I have for September is to get all my nursing school notes organized. Come up with a better financial plan for saving. Study and get the highest possible grades on my assignments and to adventure around Arizona a little more. Maybe find a nice local coffee shops and some hiking trails.

What are some goals that you have for September?

“A goal without a plan is only a dream.”

-Brian Tracy

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Word(s) of the Day

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Nursing School Edition #6

I just started my 3rd semester of nursing school and do you know what that means? More info about nursing school and the classes I’m in. It also means more “Word of the Day,” POP Quizzes and other beneficial educational and fun information. I hope you’re excited to learn new things or maybe just to refresh your memory. I know I am more than ready for this semester and couldn’t be more excited to bring you along. I would say, sit back and relax but instead: Let’s open our mind and learn!

Pathophysiology

1. Pathology is:

a. a disease

b. the bacteria that causes the disease

c. the study of disease

d. the complication of diseases

2. Etiology of a disease means the:

a. study of cause

b. predicted outcome of the disease or condition

c. cause is unknown

d. disease was caused by a hospital environment

3. A chronic disease usually has which of the following elements?

a. It is related to the respiratory system.

b. It happens suddenly but lasts only a short while.

c. It persists for a long period of time, often for the individual’s entire lifetime.

d. It has a sudden onset.

4. Diseases caused by an abnormality of an individual’s genetic makeup can be classified in which of the following categories?

a. Trauma

b. Hereditary

c. Nutritional imbalance

d. Inflammation

5. Adenomas, carcinomas, and sarcomas are examples of:

a. malnutrition

b. hyperplasia and neoplasms

c. trauma

d. impaired immunity

6. When a cell adapts to irritants or damage by changing to another type of cell, it is called:

a. hypertrophy

b. hyperplasia

c. metaplasia

d. Dysplasia

These were questions I picked out of study material that we learned in WEEK 1 for my Pathophysiology class. The correct answers are displayed in bold green text. If you have any questions please feel free to ask. Happy Studying!

Word of the Day

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Nursing School Edition #4

Abdomen:

The abdomen contains many of our vital organs. The stomach, small intestine, large intestine, the liver, spleen, gallbladder, he pancreas, the uterus, the fallopian tubes, the ovaries, the kidneys, the ureters, the bladder, and many blood vessels.

Happy August!

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Starting off August PROACTIVE

This month I am starting off August strong. I have a lot of things happening this month and I need to stay organized and on top of things.

First: I will be finishing my second semester of nursing school in a couple of weeks. Once this semester finished I need to compile ALL my notes and organize the coursework in case I need it for later.

Second: I will be moving to Arizona OFFIICIALLY in about 3 or so weeks. I am stressed but, it’s manageable. I am packing up the rest of my stuff that I’m bringing and cleaning and organizing along the way.

Thirdly: Finding a job! It’s weird to look for a job in a whole other state. It’s proving to be difficult but I am trying to stay positive. I wish I was able to telework with my Fire Inspecting job but at the moment it doesn’t seem plausible.

Lastly: I’m slowly trying to get back into streaming videogames. I always have loved playing and I used to stream little bit before but got super busy. While I’m still busy I’m starting to manage and organize my time better and actually learn how to stream. I think it will be a fun pastime to pursue and a nice way to relax.

I’ll keep this short and simple because I know this month will go by quick! Goodluck out there! 💚

“Action is the foundational key for all success.”
― Pablo Picasso

Hello and goodbye July

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July has been a CRAZY month filled with school, military training and partially moving! It always seems like my summers are extra busy. This time though, it really was. 

What did I do?

At the beginning of the month I had extra training for the military. This involved a nice trip to San Diego and training on TCCC (tactical combat casualty course). I absolutely loved this recertification process. After my military trip I came back home, packed up my storage the next day and then got my tattoo the day after. I have been itching for a new tattoo for almost a year now and finally was able to do it. I got the rooster and pig tattoo on my feet! It is an old Navy tradition story and I love it. After my tattoo, the next day I packed up some things around the house, loaded the trailer onto my truck and headed towards ARIZONA! In a few weeks I will be moving to Arizona to attend my nursing school in person now. Since I am finished with the online pre-requisite portion it is now time for the in-person lab portions. I am both excited and stressed, to say the least. Once we got to Arizona, we unloaded the trailer and started to slowly clean, decorate and upgrade the house. With July coming to a close I find myself catching up on a lot of paperwork and errands. Can’t wait to see what is in store for me in the next couple weeks.

“You can get excited and feel unstoppable, but every week presents a new challenge. Each week, you have to work and get better.”

-Antonio Brown

Word of the Day

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Nursing School Edition #3

Aortic Regurgitation

This is a condition where the hearts aortic valve doesn’t close tightly enough. Due to this, some of the blood pumped out of the heart leaks backward.

This can have many complications, the most extreme is heart failure.

Q: What can cause this?

A: Congenital heart valve disease, other genetic heart diseases.

Q: What are some of the symptoms?

  • heart palpitations
  • chest pain
  • shortness of breath
  • fatigue
  • weakness
  • fainting
  • swollen ankles and feet

Q: Can this be treated?

A: Yes! This will typically require a surgery to fix the valve. Sometimes it can be treated with medications.

HEART.ORG
PENNMEDICINE

Word of the Day –

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Nursing School Edition #2

Hypercarbia

Hypercarbia is defined as the increase of carbon dioxide within the bloodstream. Another name that might be used instead is Hypercapnia. This can be caused due to hyperventilation or not being able to breathe properly.

Some of the symptoms that might be seen are:

  • Drowsiness or the inability to focus
  • Flushed looking skin
  • Headaches and feeling disoriented
  • Feeling short of breath or fatigued

If feeling abnormal seek medical treatment or consult your physician.

Reference

Off with April and onto May

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I feel like April came and went in such a hurry. What did you do for the month? Here is how I spent my April.

First semester down and onto my second for nursing school.

Halfway through April, I finished my first semester and I started my second semester of nursing school. I had a week’s break and then it was back to studying. This time around I has an even fuller schedule since I’m in five classes! Having five classes means I have to stay organized and on top of my game. I wanted to try out a different digital planner than the one I already use. I shopped around Etsy and decided to try out a new one that had room for multiple classes. So far it is working out great and really keeping things in check.

Working out even more!

In March I was starting to work out again, and I’m happy to say I stayed on top of that in April as well. I decided on not setting any hardcore goals and instead stayed with easier ones. Some goals were: workout a few times in April, go on a walk every day that you can, and try to go hiking. I managed to achieve every one of those goals and I can’t wait to do even more in May.

Hiking in Muir Woods

I was really excited when one of my friends and I found time to go hiking. We originally planned on a Mt. Tamalpais trail that traveled in a 5.2 mile loop into Muir Woods here in California. While we did make it down to Muir Woods we accidentally got turned around and instead hikes a 10 mile loop!! We were exhausted, a little nervous but overall we managed to do it! That’s a story for later 😅

I can’t wait to see what May has in store for me. What were some of the things you did in April? Any plans for May? Let me know in the comments below, can’t wait to hear them! Stay safe 💚 Kat

“After a day’s walk, everything has twice its usual value.”

G.M. Trevelyan