Catch Up

Well chums, I've been having a pleasant week (last week that was, this one's just began). Got another assignment back, my essay, which I've passed so I'm really pleased about that, also passed my placement with a high mark so phew - just the portfolio to tweak.

Spring has finally sprung and I enjoyed a doggy viewing, Henry and his lovely lady have just got a new addition to the family (what a cutie!!) so me and my friend, also called Hayley, went round for a doggy viewing/pizza eating/kerplunk and cleudo playing night which was very fun.

Have been working 24 hours a week along side my studies this module as the timetable allows me to fit this in and had a really great shift Saturday and then Sunday the boyfriend and I took a trip to a car boot that I had never been to before we went grocery shopping. Well it was packed!! It was a little bit like a strange museum of the 80s and 90s, well worth a look round. The only things I bought though was a springy butterfly to go in the garden for the cat to play with, and food.... also for the cat. He is a spoilt little boy.

Then after that I went to M&S for a new top and met my lovely chum Kiran for coffee and a chat. The boyfriend ordered me a book (all those who know him will gasp as he is not a reader!) as a surprise but when it got delivered I realised it was to make fun of me! But I shall most definitely be reading it and the joke will be on you all when you see my kick ass shelter building, fire starting and zombie maiming... ok maybe not the last one.

Busy Bee

Well, I have been busy these past few weeks. I'm still on placement which is going well (mostly!) that's 30 hours a week. I'm also doing class or independent learning each week, that's 7.5 hours a week. I'm working at my HCA job, that's 12 hours a week. Travel to placement and back on the bus twice a week is 6 hours a week. So that's 55 hours a week busy. Then on top of that I've got 3 big assignments:

 - a 3,000 word communication essay

- a portfolio of my first module's work

- assessment of practice booklet, review and 3,000 word written evidence

Phew - I need a holiday!

Skullduggery

Question - how do you finish your poster assignment for school when you don't have Microsoft PowerPoint and you have booked yourself into a couple shifts at work?

Answer - use the library computers at work before your shift!

Question - how did that work out?

Answer - not so good, the damn computer crashed just before it was time for me to start my shift and I had to stay an hour after work!!!

On the bizarre side of life I left the library and noticed in amongst the computers and medical books there was a skull?!

Sir Thomas Browne's skull to be exact, apparently a notable doctor from Norwich. It was removed from his grave when his coffin was accidentally damaged by workmen, the skull was removed, sold to a surgeon (err?) who in turn left the skull to the Norfolk & Norwich Hospital on his death (as you do) and there it has stayed. 

Til You Drop

I had a little mini shop yesterday before getting my hair cut. First to the Disney store... 

I'm fed up of the boyfriend stealing my tinker-bell and pink ice cream beaker cups so I decided to buy some his and hers beaker cups so we could be matchy-matchy

Then next to Accessorize to spend my vouchers I got from work... 

I got a new handbag and a wallet 

In other news, pussy cat has made a new enemy... ginger cat

My First Night Shift

I had my first night shift last night as an HCA... I wasn't really sure how to prepare but I decided I'd stay up late (OK maybe it wasn't that late, maybe it was 1am!) and then sleep late as I had no classes at university until 2pm only that part didn't go quite to plan as I woke up at 7am when the boyfriend got up to go to work so so far, not so good. I did get an hours nap though.

The ward was clearly winding down for the day and the hospital got less and less busy and I got an hours break about 2am. Some people try to sleep in this but I decided this would be a very bad plan in case I went to sleep and then couldn't get myself going again.

So instead I went down to the canteen, it was completely empty!

I felt tired about 5am, even the muddled patients had drifted off to sleep by then so there wasn't lots to do but as it got closer to home time I got a second win and felt more alert. By the time I got on the bus to go home I didn't really fancy sleeping (although I thought I'd better) and I saw the boyfriend in his car pass me on the bus as he left for work and I was just getting home! I had a very nice sleep when I got home interrupted only at 1pm by the postman bringing me some books I ordered from Amazon so I tore down the stairs and answered in my PJs. Poor man haha.  

Leaving Work AKA Sugar Shenanigans

I left work today, sad times. 

My desk at work is all packed up and tidy and restocked for the next person to use it. It's never normally this neat... ok it's quite neat... I'm a bit obsessed with stationery.

I was lucky enough to have two leaving lunches and my lovely boss came to our department lunch at the Wig & Pen even though she's on maternity leave at the moment and she brought her super gorgeous baby (who was so cuddly and well behaved that I just wanted to keep her). Totally gutted to leave my awesome boss. My second leaving lunch was with a bunch of girls from the office at the very unhealthy but tasty Zaks next door our work which was fun and really tasty. These are my cards - 

Then I had to turn in my florescent fire marshal arm band (woe is me) and clip board. Tidy up all the loose ends of on going work, hand in my laptop and IT equipment, desk key, door pass, delete all my emails and then... nothing! Rachel brought in birthday pick'n'mix so lots of sugar was consumed throughout the day which made us all a bit hyper. I got a gift voucher which will come in handy to buy a new handbag and/or purse - 

And I got loads of capri suns (I love capri suns and so does pussy cat)

And earrings, necessary snack yorkie and helpful medicine and pepper pig thermometer haha. 

I always think it's so sad to leave the people you've worked with and gotten to know every day; even though I'm looking forward to my degree and there's always Facebook it's not quite the same. There was lots of goodbye hugs :(

Working Working Working

I only have 7 days of full time employment left until I start my nursing degree but because I have also started my job at the hospital I've been working working working on the weekends too and by the time I go to my lovely cousin's wedding the day after I finish my full time job I'll have had one day off out of 26 in a row! 

But luckily my shifts at the hospital are only 6 hours and I've been going for the late shift so I get a snooze twice a week at least! Phew. Roll on the next two weeks...

In other news I have Rick Astley stuck in my head today, very annoying lol

Getting Racy

My work had a little staff event at the Greyhound racing track in Great Yarmouth last night.

It was really fun, we each paid £10 (and work subsidised £6) and we got admission, a drink, a tasty BBQ and a free bet

We each got a little programme telling us which doggies were racing

My first bet was Cool Sean

But he was far too cool and came last (boo). Before each race there was a little dog parade

And then they were off! Here's an action shot

Here are my winners

All in all I was about £2 up after the night

Special shout out to Lee and Sally for letting me scream in their ears! And yes, the first photo was dramatically enhanced - those are not my winnings haha.

Simple Things

I got a free pen

I've played with it all day

Simple things, simple minds... 

Chop Chop

I don't think I've ever had my nails this short since... well since I have had fingers. 

Very upsetting. In other news, wedding this weekend, hurrah!

Funky Fobs

Well as you might know I've been training these past couple of days. The first day started off with a bit of a disaster, I waited for my bus.... it didn't come.... waited some more.... still no bus. Then, finally, a bus! I waved at it like a mad woman - NOT IN SERVICE. Ugh! Luckily, a very kind nurse who had just finished a night shift and offered me a lift - how nice is that?! 

 But other than that it's going pretty good, I've had to make a little purchase -

Maybe by wearing a grown up watch instead of digital I'll get better at telling the time (don't laugh - I can do it, it just takes me a minute haha).

Training Time

Next week and the one after I'm off work to train for bank work as a HCA during my degree and I just got through the timetable!

All very exciting, here's what I've got to look forward to:

Introduction
Course Objectives & Basic Skills
HCA Role
Hospital layout (obviously I'll get lost!)
Who’s Who
Confidentiality
Numeracy & Hospital orientation Quiz
Equality & Diversity, Essence of Care
Security Issues
Resuscitation
Fire Lecture (I'm a trained fire warden I'll have you know!)
Uniforms (lucky me)
Manual Handling (oof!)
Obs  Training
ID badge (again, lucky me)
Fluids (sounds ominous....)
Health & Safety
Infection Control & Hand Hygiene
Observation Practice
Essential Care Skills hygiene, dignity, bed space layout
Last Offices
Handover & Oxygen Therapy
Theatre Prep, Blood transfusion issues
Ward Prep (same sex policy) & Ward Induction Visit
Ward placement (when they let me loose amongst the public!)
Abbreviations
Feedback
Fluid balance & Quiz
Urinalysis (lovely)
Accountability
Role of the Chaplain
Slips, Trips & Falls
Confidentiality
Information Governance and Health Records Awareness
Vulnerable Adults
Child Protection (stay back!)
Feeding Patients (nom nom)
Ward Feedback & Oral Health
Infection Prevention & Cleaning
Observation assessment
Malnutrition & Nutritional Screening - Dietetics
Patient Safety Awareness
Customer Care
Dignity
Patient Experience
PALS
Communication
Pressure area care
Property
Bereavement
Dementia & Quiz
Feedback
Review Programme & Objectives
HCA role
Appraisal & Competencies booklet
Sign up & booking shifts
I think it's safe to say I'll be rather tired out!

Frilly Friends

We had a rather adorable visitor today at work and I managed to get a snap of some very cute frilly socks of hers! Also her little leggings match my blog - further proof she should have been named Hayley Junior!

Lunch Time Follies

You know lunch is gonna be great when you can open your desk drawer and see pizza leftovers that your boyfriend wrapped up for you! Yummerz

After my busy busy weekend involving a BBQ, me being forced to go to club (I'm far too uncool and homely to enjoy clubs) and winning an epic game of operation with friends, I spent my relaxing lunch break today munching pizza and spending some vouchers I got from work. I ordered a new book: The Royal Marsden Hospital Manual of Clinical Nursing Procedures that should hopefully be helpful in my nursing degree - and if it isnt it looks suitably large and heavy to be an fly killer.

Back to work!