Hi Interns,

My Jan term has been pretty busy...it's unreal that it is almost over! I've been spending time in both the ER and Medical/Surgical unit which has kept my shifts really busy. I've been really happy with having the time during January term to spend lots of hours and late nights getting experience. My favorite Med/Surg time is just handing out meal trays to patients. It seems simple but I really enjoy the patient interaction. Most of the patients don't say much but there is almost always at least one patient that will further a conversation with me. It's mostly older people who will ask why I'm spending time there, what I'm going to school for, and it's just fun carrying on conversations with them. I've been observing a lot recently in the ER. Spending so much time there, I have learned the nurses' names and feel a lot more comfortable asking if I can observe with them. I don't think I would be getting the experience I have been if I wouldn't have spend the majority of my internship during Jan term. The nurses are at such a fast pace, it really takes a while before they even know your name. It's been a lot of really small but important accomplishments I''ve achieved over the term and each shift gives me more confidence that I'm headed in the right direction with my future career.

Shelby