Nursing Clinical Experience

Hello all. This is Camille

I hope the first few weeks of your classes have been treating you well.

I want to share with you about my first few weeks of school. 

I started my clinical with OB (mother and baby). I felt ambivalent. I was excited about the opportunity for me to learn how to care for mom and infant/fetus during antepartum, labor delivery and postpartum period but I also have anxiety and fear about my incompetency to deal with such little and fragile babies who are precious to mom and family. I have doubt about myself. What if I accidentally hurt the baby as I have no experience at all handling babies. I didn't even know how to properly hold a baby.

Fortunately, I was assigned to an awesome and encouraging clinical instructor who helped get us oriented to the units, and she demonstrated a full infant assessment with one of my fellow students. In addition, she suggested a few strategies to calm a fussy baby. I was still nervous after all of the lessons so I seeked help from her and hoped that she would be able to supervise me while I performed the assessment. However, she said this to me: "You can do this! You know more than you think you do. You just need to be confident." Well, actually, that didn't really help me at the moment. I was still nervous and frightened. I remember one of the TED Talks that I watched a while ago suggesting "fake it until you make it." So yes, I faked the confidence and went into the room to receive the baby from mom, and did an assessment on her.

Did I know what I was doing? Yes! Like my clinical instructor said, I have the knowledge.

Was I nervous the whole time I was handling the baby? Yes! I could sense the mom staring at me the whole time.

We are halfway done with the OB clinical. I am feeling more comfortable and confident for my assessment on baby and mother. For the most part, I don't feel anxious or nervous anymore, and I am truly confident providing care to mother and baby.

Sometimes, you just need to take the first step out of your comfort zone and swing it.

At the end, I want to share a video with you of me holding my baby sister for the first time.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/LabCexcEcEnAidXh8

FYI, the boy-looking kid was me. My family asked me about my sister's name and her zodiac (they forced me to say it in English)

     

   

             

How is your summer? This is mine 😆

Hello everyone! 

I hope you all had a great summer 😆. This time I am back with my reminiscence series - the series of me missing the time when I don't have school 😂😂.  So, I went back to Vietnam this summer and I had a blast like usual 😍. I got to go to Mui Ne beach with my family (it's the Southern of Vietnam). Then I spent sometimes in Zhangjiajie, China and Seoul, South Korea with my sister ☺️. Here are some pictures from the trips just because I can't choose the highlights to tell in this blog 😂.

My lovely parents and their mission to go
take some pictures haha 💕💕💕 (Mui Ne, Vietnam)

Mui Ne white sand dunes - it was so funnn riding
on the jeep on these sand dunes 🤩

Heaven's Gate - Tianmen Mountain, Zhangjiajie, China

This random old street that I just really like 🙈

Fenghuang ancient town🏯

Seoul from Nami Tower 🏙️

And this beautiful tiger from
Everland amusement park🐯😍

Me wearing Hanbok 😂

My amazing high school friends
that are there for me whenever I'm back ❤️

My typical coffee date with my best friend all summer along 💛💛💛

These pictures are chosen mostly random but it can't hide the fact that I really miss this time already. It was just filled with happiness being around my friends and my family all the time. Anyway, Moon Festival is coming soon on September 24th 😉😉😉. Go eat some moon cake because it's about that time of the year when you can eat this just because 😏.

At last, good luck everyone with this school year, especially anyone that is a senior this year, you got this!

See ya next time~

Cloud ☁ ~

What to do in the summer while being in the U.S.? 🤔🤔🤔

Hello everyone!

I'm back with a summer blog this time 😏. So if anyone is around campus or in the states this summer, I have a list of fun things that you all can try out!

1. Hiking ⛰️🧗‍♀️/Playing sports 🚣🏊🚴🎾🏀/Camping 🏕️/Picnic 🥪🍎

Washington State is famous with Mt. Rainier so why don’t take advantage of that? Summer is the probably the best weather to hike! Or go to Oregon, there are beautiful hiking trails right down there too 😉. And during the hike you can have a picnic and camp overnight too with some friends 😆. Or playing some sports, yes? Maybe? 😂🙈 How about just sit down and enjoy World Cup tournament ⚽ (it will ends on July 15 so join the crowds!). It's such a thing in Vietnam that my dad is even watching it during his work trip whenever he can 😂☺️.

2. Water park/Theme park 🎡🎢☀️

We have one right close to us - Wild Waves (it's in Federal Way, WA)! Choose a sunny day when is 80 and above in Fahrenheit and 26-27 Celsius or just warm enough and go!💃

3. Traveling to different states/cities ✈️/Having road trips with friends! 🚌🚗

Perfect season for traveling! Fly out to other states or cities or go to Canada! Have a road trip with friends, create some memories for summer time while still in college 🤩.

* Don't forget to check the travel signature if you are flying out of states!

4. Concerts 🎼🎸🥁

Tacoma Dome or many other locations are used for concerts all year long. And since you may have more time to go now, look up some concerts and buy the tickets!

Or if you want a free and fun live concert, PLU has Jazz Under the Stars concert series in 4 weeks every Thursday night from July 19 to August 9 @7pm-9pm at Mary Baker Russell Music Center. Go enjoy the music and atmosphere! For more information about the artists that are performing on each day, click here.

5. Internship/Summer jobs 👩‍💼

Maybe if you’re getting closer to senior year or just wanna earn some more experiences, you can find internships or summer jobs! PLU career connections is a great start to find these opportunities!

6. Festivals 🎈🎏🎆🎇

Summer festival in West Seattle from July 13 to July 15! More information here. 

Or PLU has berry festival in July and August, just bring your PLU ID and you will get to have tasty berry dessert for free! There are three different berries: strawberries (June 13), raspberries (July 11), blueberries (August 8). Although strawberries are already passed, we can still enjoy raspberries and blueberries!

7. Learn a new thing! 📚📚📚

Either taking a summer class or just spend some time to learn anything! Play an instrument, cook a new dish, a language, a new skill, whatever you feel like!

8. Volunteer

If it’s hard to find internships, don’t worry, there are always volunteer activities around! So if want to help out with the community, do some volunteering 🤗🤗🤗.

9. Try all kind of different restaurants/food 😋😋😋

It’s hard to not include food... 😂🙈 So why don’t spend this summer to go around and try some different food? Maybe you will find you favorite restaurants 😌.

Okay I'm just gonna stop right there because I like number 9 😂. But there are really a lot of different things to do in the summer if you are willing to try them! Or you can find a cheap ticket to go home in the last minute like I do 😂🙈😆. Good luck and have fun this summer everyone! 🍀🍀🍀

~ Cloud ☁️ ~

Self-care before dead week and finals 😪🤧🤗

Hi everyone! 👀😆

I hope the semester has been going well so far with all of you. Now that we are closer to dead week and finals week, don’t forget to take care of yourselves! I know that we have blog posts about this before, but I think it’s important to have it as a reminder every semester that we are the most important. If we are not healthy, we cannot do anything. So keep that in mind, and put yourself on your to-do list!

PLU offers care week with all different activities EVERY SINGLE DAY from May 14 to 18 on campus, so if you want to take off some time from studying, come to the events! Any of them! You can find this information on the bulletin board everywhere on campus.

May 15: Treat yourself with late night breakfast @Commons 9-10.30PM

May 16: Write a loved one a letter and send it for free @The tables outside the Commons 5-7pm

May 17: Help yourself with others - a discussion and action event based on mental health awareness @Harstad Main Lounge 7-9pm

May 18: Find Kind bars hidden in the UC with challenges to make someone smile

Pick one or more or if you have something else you like to do to relax, do it! Don’t start a new series on Netflix or anywhere, it’s a trap…😂😂

Puppies! (Dogs are forever puppies😍) featured Billy the goat 😉 (I actually have never met Billy the goat 😂)

Come to Red Square on May 17 11AM-2PM to meet these beautiful creatures to recharge your day! 

It’s Mother’s Day 👩 in the U.S. on Sunday May 14, so call your mom, or your family even if you don’t celebrate this day in your country. Show some love, give some love and receive much more from your beloved people. The supports from them can be the most powerful resource to get over this stressful time. 💜💜💜

Listen to some music. Find a good playlist. Create a playlist. This is what I listen to end my Friday night. 

Like always, good luck! Take care and don't forget that YOU, are important.

From,

Cloud~ ☁

Joel's Final Blog Post!

Hello again everyone!

As this is my final blog post during my time here at PLU, there is definitely a mix of emotions as I reflect upon my 4 years at this university. I decided that the most fitting way to sign off would be to talk about my experiences through every year, in a nice, brief summary.


2014 - 2015

• Transferred from Green River College in the Fall of 2014
• International Student from Malaysia!
• Started on a Bachelor's of Arts in Communication with a concentration in Public Relations and Advertising
• Added Business Administration as a minor
• Started working as an International Admission Intern with the PLU Office of Admission (same job, now called a Student Intern)
• Started working as a Special Events Programmer for ASPLU

My International Orientation Group!

2015 - 2016

• Enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserves in the Summer of 2015
• Interned at Parkland Light & Water over the Summer for Communication
• Withdrew from PLU for the Spring
• Shipped to Basic Training with the U.S. Army at Fort Benning, GA February 2016
• Became a Naturalized U.S. Citizen April 2016
• Graduated Advanced Individual Training June 2016
• Started working at Vans at the Tacoma Mall and Jade Pacific (restaurant near PLU that recently closed)

Graduated AIT at Fort Lee, VA!

2016 - 2017

• Returned to PLU and joined PLU Army ROTC
• Added a Bachelor's of Arts in Computer Science
• Resumed working for the International Admission Office
• Went to Advanced Camp at Fort Knox, KY Summer 2017
• Presented my Communication Capstone on the U.S. Army and Peace-Training benefits

Graduated Advanced Camp 2017!

2017 - 2018

• Selected as Battalion Cadet Command Sergeant Major for the school year
• Presented my Computer Science Capstone with a Flower Identification web application
• Set to commission as a 2LT in the U.S. Army May 25th 2018
• Set to graduate with both my Bachelors' May 26th 2018 with cum laude honors
• Moving to Illinois and seeing what life has in store for me afterwards!



Awards Ceremony May 1st, 2018

I had a wonderful time here at PLU, and wouldn't trade it for anything else. These past 4 years have taught me a lot, and I'm grateful to have spent the last of my teenage years here and in the Army. I'm excited for what lies ahead, and maybe one day I'll be able to provide you an update down the road.


Good luck to you, and thanks for reading!


Joel Goh