News from the former classroom

I have spent approximately the last fourteen weeks in lesson plan land. I'm still not completely done - there's still a classroom to be dismantled, debriefing to be done after my students finish their clinicals, and plans to be made for the next time I'm insane enough to admit I like to teach and will take on another class.

The up side to this is that, having done the bulk of the work this time, the next time should be easier!

The road to today was a bit rocky, and I often wondered just what in the hell I was thinking to try to take on a class I'd only taught half of; yet, it seemed as though something was compelling me to take the risk to myself and go for it.

I worried because with the economy as it is, plus knowing the stories of the students in my class, they were depending on me to give them the knowledge to take advantage of a new career, should job availability open. Could I deliver what they required of me? I pretty much quit sleeping, averaging 3-4 hours a night, and giving myself permission to sleep till I woke up on days off, if a: my spouse would let me sleep, and b: I would allow myself to not overbook myself on days I could sleep in.

Some days it worked, others it didn't.

I told the coordinator that I only wanted ten students in my class. It was a good number, well within what I could offer them in sites for their clinicals, and an even number would create instant partners, leaving me with arms and hands intact because I wouldn't have to donate MY veins to the cause!

It didn't work out that way, though. The coordinator gave me 13 students. Sure, it's a good magical number for this Pagan, but there it was...my arms became open season once again! Damn!

I found out that I hate using Power Point as a basis for lectures. It's great for studying, in my opinion, but it still doesn't beat reading the textbook and doing homework assignments. So, that will change.

I've also found out that utilizing the style of another instructor is only good in the short term...as in when you're filling in as a substitute! Trying to lecture like my co-instructor did just didn't feel right to me. But, we did okay, the class and I.

I "test hard". I see no reason to mollycoddle a bunch of folks who presumably, are adults trying to find a way to make a career change. One person in particular who reads this blog occasionally knows the angst I went through. And, I'm grateful that he always took the time and had the patience to listen to me. Thanks, Wolfie.

I'll tell a wee tale or two, perhaps, about those weeks in another post. But, I do want to state that the first group of students began their clinicals yesterday.

And every single one of them "stuck" patients their first day. One woman was so stressed during class that she generally puked on class nights. She's gonna be wonderful - as will the others in that group of five who've began contact with needles and blood outside the classroom and lab.

I called the students last night to see how the first shift of real patient care had commenced.

The record...and I believe this has to be an ALL time record...came from the woman who chose one of the two clinical spots at the VA hospital. On her first day she got
ONE HUNDRED TEN SUCCESSFUL STICKS. And...she only had ONE unsuccessful draw.

The VA did something unheard of around here. They handed her an application to fill out for a job opening. She called me after her shift today and told me she had 53 successful draws today. I can't wait to find out what her grand total will be after she's done her 80 hours!

And, I was pleased to learn that her preceptors said that she had a teacher who knew her stuff; and that they had had other students that didn't make the grade. I have mixed feelings about that as I've always taught the lab portion, with help, of course, but this time I did every single thing alone.

I imagine I'll be hearing from the others periodically throughout the next two weeks and then will hear comments from the second group!

I will be tickled if most of them get hired out of their clinicals. I certainly hope so!

More to follow on another post.