Last project in Humanities

My final project is due on personal exploration in Peru. I haven't actually researched this area yet, but I am sure it will be wide open. I have really enjoyed learning about different countries and their ways of life. I would love to go visit another country someday. Especially since I have read on several countries this semester.

Projects in Humanities

After the volcano project, I have another report due on The Rainforests. I have decided to focus my report on frogs from the Rainforest. I know there are many forms of frogs there, from poisonous to tiny frogs. I know I will find something interesting to talk about. As far as doing a cake on a frog, I think I will have to go a different route for a visual.

Communication project

My next project due for communications is on a skit that a group of 5 of us is participating in. We have decided to do our skit on politics and the President of the U.S. being a homosexual. We have to demonstrate different forms of communication to our class. I will be representing a reporter from a Christian group of some sort. Then at the end of the skit, I have to reflect on my life. I think it will be a fun and interesting skit!

Humanities Class

I just had a project due in my humanities class on the Andes Mountains. I chose my project on volcanoes in the Andes Mtns. I did not realize so many of the mountains in the Andes were volcanoes and that they can erupt thousands of years after the last time they erupted. I found this project very interesting and informative. As my visual for the project, I chose to make a volcano cake. My cake turned out very well, I was pleased. We did enjoy eating it in class as well. Here is a picture of it!

I interviewed a co-worker of mine for my English class as well. It was refreshing to sit down with someone and see where they started and how they got to where they are now. She inspired me a great deal during the interview to continue my education. There are so many options when it comes to nursing and it is interesting to see what other interests we possess that may lead us down a path.

Power Point Presentation

Additionally for my English class we are responsible for doing a power point presentation on our chosen career path. I am currently working on that for this upcoming week. I am going back to school for nursing and I work on a Behavior Health unit, so I am trying to incorporate a combination of psychiatric nursing as well as working with patients that are detoxing off of drugs and alcohol. I have not done a power point presentation before, so I hope all goes well.

Changes at work

I believe I am like everyone else in this feeling, but change is something we don't always want to happen. We get comfortable with the people with work with, as well as the job we do on a daily basis. At my current job there have been several co-workers transfer to a different department as well as leave the company entirely. I have been use to working pretty much with the same group of people every weekend for the past three years, so my comfort level was maintained. Now with new nurses and techs coming on our unit it makes me feel a little intimidating because of the unknown. I don't think this is a negative thing that new people are there. I know that their new ideas as well as the way they work with others will make our workplace a more positive atmosphere.

Critical Thinking

My main focus currently is obtaining my Associate's Degree. I have been working as a practical nurse since 1993 and now that both of my children are in school now I am looking forward to advancing my career. The further I advance my education the greater my chances are at progression at my current workplace or even opening doors for new opportunities. I want to continue my education even further after my Associate's Degree, but I'm just taking one step at a time and seeing where the road will lead me.

Current events

In this current economic recession I have seen alot more of an age span of people attending college, possibly due to them being laid off from their jobs. Improving your skills and increasing your knowledge of an area will greater your chances at obtaining a job or frankly just keeping your current job. I didn't start back to school necessarily for that reason, but I do see so many people around me losing their job. It's scary to think of being at a job for so many years then one day you lose it, due to a decline in productivity or companies downsizing, whatever the reason. I started back to school because my children are older and I have more time to focus on my education, while they are in school. I know that furthering my education now doesn't necessarily mean a job advancement for myself, but keeping my job is a main focus as I see all the job cuts occuring around me.

Classes at DCCC

I am taking 4 classes here at DCCC, and starting this blog is one assignment I have for my English class. I am not on Facebook or any other social website, so this is a whole new aspect for me, but I am enjoying it and will post pictures soon. One of my other classes is Humanities, which is focused on the country of Peru, but we are also learning about other countries as well. Currently I am working on Ireland, which is my country for International Nite here at DCCC on Thursday, March 26th. I am enjoying this class, we work on projects and presentations, my children have also helped me with some of my projects at home and have given me ideas as well. My third class is Interpersonal Communication and I am learning so much in this class about communicating which is helping me greatly in my job. I now notice so much in how we communicate with each other, from verbal to non-verbal. My fourth class is Math, which I take on-line. I am not a math person at all so just passing this class is my goal. I would definately be thrilled if I walked away with an A, but I won't beat myself up about it if I don't.

Current and past jobs

I currently work at a hospital in the area on the psychiatric unit, which I enjoy tremondously. I have worked there for a little over 3 years and have learned so much. When I did my rotation in nursing school on psychiatry I really did not have any interest in that field but I have learned so much more and understand it a lot more than I did being a new graduate. I want to stay at my current job but I would like to further my education to open up possibly new opportunities in that area. I have had the great opportunity to work in so many different areas of nursing. I began in a nursing home for one year, many doctor's offices; ob/pediatrics, cardiology, pulmonary, family medicine, internist. I have also done home health nursing visits, as well as scheduling nursing visits for home health nurses, and quality assurance on the patient charts. I worked at the county health department, administering immunizations to children. When I lived in South Carolina, I had the opportunity to be the weekend supervisor at a assisted living community. I supervised all the employees on weekends, as well as helped in any area that needed assistance. So you name it, I probably experienced it in nursing to some degree.

Course of Study

I currently am taking 4 general education courses this Spring semester to complete all prerequisites to be able to get into the LPN to RN Associates Nursing Program at DCCC. I have 1 course on line, which is Math, and the rest are on campus. I am enjoying the opportunity to attend class on campus and interact with all different kinds of people. This is my first semester taking college courses in a long time so at first it was a bit intimidating, but now I feel comfortable with the students and teachers. I am enjoying all my classes and the information I am learning from them. I know all the useful information I am receiving will definately help me in my current nursing position, as well as helping further my education. I have to admit it is a lot harder now then when I went to college for my practical nurse. I have two children, ages 10 and 4, and I work full-time every weekend at the hospital. Obviously squeezing it all in takes organization and time management on my part to succeed.