Phlebotomy, Sleep, Good Grades, Social Life, Work. Pick 2.

    Going into the second half of this semester I began my clinicals for Phlebotomy. They happen to be 62 miles away in Montrose at Montrose Memorial Hospital. I am in the hospital for approximately 29-30 hours every week (Monday-Friday) and I am driving to and from about 12-14 hours each week as well. And then I work about 15-20 hours on the weekends. I have no time to myself. I barely found the time to write this just like I have barely been able to find time to sleep lately.
    Monday and Wednesdays I wake up at 5:30 am and leave my house at 6:00 am to get to Montrose around 7:00 am. I stay and work from 7-10:30 am when I leave to drive back for two classes (12:00pm-1:20 pm and 2:00pm-2:50pm). Following my last class I leave back to Montrose so I can get another hour and a half of work at the hospital in before coming back home at 5:30 pm-ish when the OP Draw Room closes.
 
    On Tuesdays and Thursdays I go to class from 9:30 am until somewhere between 10:00 and 10:45 before leaving for Montrose from 12-4. Around 4pm I come home to go to class from 5:30-6:45 pm. Most Fridays, however, I get up at the same time I would on Monday or Wednesday (5:30 am) but I stay in Montrose until 5:30 pm. What a long day!
    Where is there time for me?? Where is there time for me to study, time for me to take a breath and to sit and think for a minute? There isn't any time! I am even writing this in class, once more. What the heck, right? The only good thing about my lack of time is that my time management has improved so much even in the last week and when the time comes for my clinicals for the Nursing Program I feel that I will be more ready for them and that I will be able to handle the lack of sleep like a champ!
    Clinicals are going as well as could be expected. I wish they were closer to home and less time consuming, though. The people at the MMH Lab are great, though! They are some of the funniest people I have ever met! They are also all very helpful with my learning and training as a Phlebotomist. They are patient and kind and aren't afraid to give me constructive criticism (Which I am always open to). But they also tell me when I'm doing something well and effectively. I am really going to miss them seeing as I only have this last week left with them.
    I have learned many things from the people at MMH. I feel so much more confident in my ability to draw blood, both from easier and harder sticks. I have found that it gets easier with the practice and the longer you spend doing it. Today I lost track of time after we got very busy in the draw room and I didn't even care. I wasn't constantly looking at the clock wondering what time I would be able to leave or how soon or far away that would be.I was content to stay there and draw blood for as long as I could. Once I get started doing it I have trouble stopping. I get into a groove and there is no stopping me. That is when I do my absolutely best work.
    There are times when I have rude patients and all I can think is, "dude, I have a needle in my hand that I am about to poke you with; would you like to rephrase that sentence?" Thankfully, I have only thought that a few times with the few rude people that I have drawn from. I feel like there will be more in my future but that I know how to handle them in a much better way than I had known before my clinicals. Overall this experience has been amazing and I have gained so much knowledge and experience. I just can't wait to continue and get my start in Nursing and actually being able to help people. It is what I am most excited about!