Test Day Anxieties

Today was the day for my state certification test.... I had to drive 210 miles round trip to1 of 2 test sites available here in the UP. The oddity is that the west end of Michigan's upper peninsula is on central time, not eastern time like we are. I got my head around that and started the trip with a Yahoo map into unknown territory. I've never been west of Bergland before so it was a true adventure.

I arrive, test anxiety-ed and a tad weird with the drive to find out I'm to work on a live person, not a manniquin as originally told. OK, (it's all an adventure, right?). The crux of the test is for the proctor to evaluate your patient skills, patient privacy and infection control... she's to follow me through my every move and motion... (did I say I was ready for anything?)

I'm given my 3 tasks to do and the first one is.... Range of Motion ( Oh, they NEVER give anyone that task to do) OK, so glad I studied that one no matter what I was told by my instructers. 3 repetitions, flex and extend... done...... Second task, dressing a patient suffering right sided weakness from a stroke... Plugging right along here... duh... guess what... I did it backwards.... caught myself halfway through, started again.. Whew, done... (You can start over, but if you say you're done, there's no going back)..... Third and final task, empty a urine bag attached to catheter... (easy, done it a few dozen times) all supplies prepared, flip back the clip on the clamp... the whole clip falls off, pee ( lemon water) is all over me and floor.. I'm doomed but recovered and continued with task.

I was never so happy to be done with anything in my life... Now the waiting game.. if I didn't pass this part, I couldn't proceed with the knowledge part. Now true waiting anxiety as the proctor computerizes results.... everything I know I did wrong flashing like this giant beacon....Passed!

The worst was over after that one.....

And I knew I was walking out with my certifcation... Hooray...

Or should I say Hoop and Holler... the name of this watering hole on Lake Gogebic where I changed out of my scrubs into my shorts .

In the little town of Ewen, I'd passed a little quilt store on the way. My reward for passing the test ( if I did) was to stop on the way home. It was a tiny store but of course I hunted down the threads and also found some pretty green ric rac by Moda. How I love rewards!

I'd left at 7:30 and was home by 4 so pretty good day all in all. Dan even had BLT's ready when I got here. For now I'm "pooped", not to be confused with "pissed" of which I literally was earlier.... so thanks everybody for the luck and support with this latest step forward. Now I'm headed to the screen house.

Till the next time,

Jane