Double Friday Random Ten

Since I did my Friday Random Ten last week, but never had time to post it, I'm posting this week's and last week's.

This has been two of the busiest-- and most rewarding-- couple of weeks of my life. I mentioned before that a week ago Monday, I had my first Med-Surg exam of the two I'll have this rotation. It's generally considered to be the most difficult test of the second year. I was happy that I got a B-- especially after finding out that most of the class got C's, D's and F's on it. A lot of people are at the edge of dropping out of the program.

Last Friday, we had the HESI exam-- a practice for the NCLEX, the state nursing board I have to pass when I'm done with school in order to get my license. It was one of five I'll take this semester, but the most important one. It's comprehensive, covering everything we learned in the whole program, and counts for a percentage of the grade in one of my classes. It's probably a good thing that I didn't know, until right before the test, that it counted for 15% of the grade, not 1.5% like the other HESI's, which are in specific content areas, count.

I whipped through the 160-question test in a little under two hours, and got the score immediately. I needed to get at least an 850 to get the full 15%. I got an 1007. About a third of the class did not get the 850. The average score was in the high 800's.

I had one more test this week-- the clinical test for my Med-Surg rotation. The instructor, Ms. Beaumard, is one of the favorite teachers I've ever had. She's rigorous and demanding, but knows just when to back off when you're nervous. She inspired us to be better nurses.

Thanks to her and other instructors, I've felt different this semester. I used to walk into clinical days scared to death. Each time I was doing something new and terrifying. I'm still doing new stuff, but I approach it with a new attitude. I'm eager and excited to learn a new skill.

I passed my clinical test with flying colors. Yesterday, the last day of that rotation, Ms. Beaumard did evaluations. Mine was short and sweet. Ms. Beaumard told me that I'd done a great job this semester, and that she didn't have any concerns about my abilities as a nurse-- unlike some of the other people in the program. She praised my critical thinking skills, and that I was going to be a good nurse. Having her tell me that was like having Willie Mays tell me I was going to be a good baseball player.

I have my second and last Med-Surg test on Monday. Then I start my final rotation, Gerontology. Six more weeks to graduation.

1. Mastercharge- Albert Collins
2. I've Been Loving You Too Long- Otis Redding
3. Run Through the Jungle- Creedence Clearwater Revival
4. Gimme Shelter- The Rolling Stones
5. Hold Me Tight- The Beatles
6. Tattooed Love Boys- The Pretenders
7. Car On A Hill- Joni Mitchell
8. I'll Be Around- The Spinners
9. Bastards of Young- The Replacements
10. Roll Over Beethoven- Chuck Berry

Notes:
1. I was fortunate to see Mr. Collins while he was still with us. Great performer.
2. A classic from a guy who was taken from us way too soon.
3. CCR commenting on the Vietnam War.
4. From the great "Let It Bleed" record.
5. Some older Beatles
6. "I shot my mouth off and you showed me what that hole was for..."
7. Read about this song in "Girls Like Us," which was about Ms. Mitchell, Carly Simon and Carole King.
8. Great break-up song.
9. I saw their last show nearly 20 years ago.
10. I saw Chuck Berry at a show in Grant Park in 1986. Left and discovered that Keith Richards joined him on stage shortly after I left.

And last week's...

1. Hotel Illness- The Black Crowes
2. Love Too Good- The Jefferson Starship
3. Bohemian Like You- The Dandy Warhols
4. If We Make It Through December- Merle Haggard
5. Baby, I Love Your Way- Peter Frampton
6. Rock Me On the Water- Jackson Browne
7. There's a Moon in the Sky (Called The Moon)- The B-52's
8. Your Gold Teeth, Part II- Steely Dan
9. A Girl Like You- The Rascals
10. She- The Monkees


Notes:
1. This is my current favorite song.
2. Gracie Slick voicing some past relationship regret. I can relate.
3. Love, love, love this song!
4. Maybe the perfect country song.
5. I love Lisa Bonet's version of this in "High Fidelity."
6. Jackson Browne taking a spiritual turn.
7. This one was fitting for the "biggest moon" that turned out to be a bust here in Chicago-- overcast that night.
8. A lot of people missed how damned funny Steely Dan was, including this song.
9. Love the Rascals/Young Rascals!
10. For a prefab band, these guys were awesome.