midterms are upon us

With a vengeance! They are! They're doing 2/3rds of the readings in the first half of the semester so we can go into clinical actually knowing stuff.

the good: Well, pharmacology math, I passed with a 98. I can't believe the question i got wrong, the first one, and a simple conversion I got right in my calculations next to it..and then tickied the wrong one.

Then there's the first few theory midterms, which I've done pretty well on (can't recall exact marks, but nothing under 85 out of 100) and today was practical skill test - I lost out at least 20 out of 100 on forgetting to verbalise that I knew what my doctors order was despite the fact I did, clearly, and told my dummy all about why I was doing it. I also managed to break sterile field once. We only got one lab to learn that skill earlier this week. I'm not horribly horribly upset, as I know it was literally a slip of the hand. We worked with foreceps once, yes, the odd item is going to drop sometimes until I've practiced it some more. Still, I passed.

Now in the mean time, I have four more midterms next week. One is practical, and that would be a relatively doable one, I deem. Three theory. I'll pass, the only question is what kind of mark. I'm going to have to put my nose to the grindstone.

The thing that vexes me though, is pharmacology. Not the readings, I don't mind those though they are american based -and I do have to question the amount we have to learn about a different countries legal system - and we're in Canada. No, its the drug cards.

You can buy perfectly good drug cards. You can read them and learn them before you go in. no, they want something like 96 drug cards for midterms, and again as many for finals. Its worth 15% of our grades, so I can't afford to give it up.

But typing that much, and there is a good bit of data on one drug card, really isnt' learning it. You type and its straight data entry. Or I guess most of my classmates are writing but I find it faster to type, and I manipulate word well. Besides this way I can read 'em!

Still, I can't give up the marks. But this strikes me as several days of work I can better spend studying the material. Its makework.  I'm going to end up playing with craft paper and glitter glue again.
An example of one of the cards:

Metoprolol aka Lopresor

Contra: uncompensated CHF, pulmonary edema, cardiogenic shock, bradycardia

Drug Class: beta blocker, antianginals, antihypertensive Preg Cat C

Route: PO Adult	Angina/hypertension: 25-100 mg qd/BID, up to 450mg qd MI: 25-50mg q 6 hr/48 hr then 100mg qd 3months
	Heart failure: 12.5-25mg qd, doubling/2 wks to 200 mg

For: hypertension, angina pectoris, prevent/treat MI's, management heart failure

Check: BP, ECG, HR, I&O, lab tests, freq/character of angina

Side effects: BRADYCARDIA, CHF, PULMONARY EDEMA, erectile dysfunction, fatigue, weakness

Teaching: - take as directed, do not miss

- check pulse, bp biweekly

- orthostatic hypertension and drowsiness may occur

Still, I guess at least its legible?

Anatomy, Arts, Crafts and Glitter Glue

Well, I did my first anatomy and physiology quiz. Didn't do bad, 88%. Sadly, that was the open book exam and yes I had to look some things up. I don't expect nearly as good a results on the actual closed book midterm which I still need to book and will do when I  have finished this post.

I picked up my first set of scrubs yesterday, but I swear the 'test' set is wonky so they can charge extra for the adjustments. Not on account of me, I know I have a slightly different shape, but my roomie is a perfect size 34 male and has never had a problem with anything off the rack and he even had trouble. They're in the wash now though to get the starch out and then I'll sew the flashes on.

And then there's comm, my eternal bugbear..
I must have spent the better part of two days this week, two full days on comm. Including building a 'tree of life'. This may be a great project for the 18 year old who don't know bugger all about what they want, what they find important etc, but I do. It took me longer to cut out everything than to do the write up and if you want me to talk about what is important to me? Don't give me a mere 2 pages. At least let me do it right. Though I wasn't aware I signed up in a diploma for arts and crafts. Or glitter glue. Ok there was no glitter glue harmed in the making of this project, I promise.



And then there's one other thing...we have to sign an oath of confidentiality not to reveal any details on a patient or institution...but what about coursework? that is in essence revealing social, economic, religious and political viewpoints of that patient, as is expressly forbidden, in their holistic model. I have emailed for clarification.  Clear as mud?

Thankfully we had Game last night. Vampire the masquarade. I got to mess with three players heads again, as my gals are wonderful and let me. They came up wiht a solid anti-tremere plan though, I was kinda impressed. Of course, execution was not nearly as flawless, but its progress from 'flailing newbie'..I'm talking about the players and the characters here mind you. But its fun. they make all the mistakes the  experienced players wouldn't and that makes it even better. *Grins*