The Operation

I was standing next to my unconscious patient, when it happened. Grey dots gathered; blurring my vision. Breathe, I told myself. I knew I needed to let the others know what was happening, but I couldn’t speak. I couldn’t even slide down to the floor. All I could do was to hold on to the operating table. Everything went black.

Anyone fancy a makeover? 

And you would think I passed out. But I didn’t. No, instead I was caught in this strange inbetween. I was completely powerless, but I could still hear the nurses and doctors talking. I couldn’t make out the words they were saying, but I held on to their voices. I was not going to become the student that fainted before the operation even started.

Eventually one of them noticed that I had gone white as snow. I was placed in a chair, and up my legs went. My ears were ringing, and I was blinking like crazy. Blind as blind can be. Slowly, ever so slowly, the world came back to me. I could make out “you’re not the first one.” Gradually, shadows replaced darkness, and grey figures replaced shadows.

I sat outside for several minutes afterwards, watching my feet.

I can’t explain why it happened. Perhaps it was the new smells. Perhaps it was the face-mask. Perhaps it was my sky-high expectations. I’d been looking forward to the operation for so long – imagine how I felt when I messed up so early on. I was scared they wouldn’t let me come back in. However, after dutifully drinking several glasses of juice, they did.

And for the five and a half hours the operation took – I actually enjoyed myself immensely.

The Children’s Ward

In our second year, nursing students are assigned to a ward for two months. I received the children’s ward. This is my fourth week working there. It is exciting, it is educational, and at times it is funny – but overall I can’t say that it is fun.

At the entrance of the ward – A snake.

We laugh, we play, we run around – children and personnel alike. However, that is only one part of it. The next might consist of pain that I can’t relieve, and of tears that I can’t dry. I can go from one room, where all is well in the world, to another, where the world seems at a standstill – about to end.

I love children – love their innocence, free spirit and unfiltered minds. I love working with them. Except for when they’re very, very sick. I find it difficult to hold such tiny hands in mine, and feel them getting colder. Perhaps one adapts after a longer amount of time, and learns how to handle it better.

Aside from the hurt I experience, and the contrast of moving back and forth between getting better and getting worse – this is still a month I will look back on and appreciate. I have learned a lot of things – even if one of them is that I might not be cut out to work with this age group.

Mount Rundemanen

I’m slowly conquering Bergen’s seven mountains. My latest addition is Rundemanen.

Rundemanen – The-Much-Easier-Second-Tallest-Mountain

At 568 metres (1,864 ft) in height, it is the second highest of Bergen’s seven mountains. However, it is a much, much easier hike than Ulriken. Most of the way is paved and the whole trip takes about three to four hours, depending on how many photos you take.

And how long you enjoy the view at the top ❤

Rundemanen is easily accessible. There are several routes to the top, but the most common is to first conquer Fløyen (the easiest mountain) and move from there to Rundemanen. The start to Fløyen is located in the city center.

The path is beautiful, and it only takes about 30-45 minutes to reach the top.

At the top of Fløyen you might want to have your first break and enjoy parts of your lunch. Yes, bring lunch. There is a café, but everything is overpriced. Shop some cookies and fruit in a grocery store before you start hiking. Chances are you will find the grocery store pretty expensive too, but one cannot hike on an empty stomach. If you’re in Norway, you’re in Norway!

Fløyen is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Bergen, one can see why.

If you feel like stopping at Fløyen, remember why you started.

Rundemanen is worth it!

 

Autumn

My favorite season ❤

The Exam

The examinator called my name and I stepped up. “The assignment is to change the stoma and teach the patient how to do so himself.” I was overjoyed. Over the last few weeks I’ve spent hours upon hours practicing the different tasks we could receive, and this one I felt confident in.

My patient ❤

The exam began. And it went wrong from the beginning. Suddenly I couldn’t remember the order of things. Suddenly I couldn’t explain my actions. I drew a complete blank on the first two questions she asked me. My pulse quickened. My breathing became shallow. Nothing about my hands resembled the firm, yet gentle, touch of a nurse.

With real patients I’ve never wavered. But with this doll? My hands were shaking.

“Tell the patient what you’re thinking,” the examinator said. Our eyes met. I didn’t need her to say it out loud to know what she was thinking. I refused to give up though. I struggled onward and made awkward conversation with the doll. It went a little bit better, but not nearly good enough. The last minutes were miserable ones.

I’m sorry for the awful treatment this time, but at least you know that I know better.

The nerves really got the better of me this time. What’s worse, I can tell you exactly where I went wrong. When push came to shove I choked – I couldn’t show my knowledge when it mattered. Have any of you ever experienced something similar? If you haven’t, be glad, because it downright sucks.

Torture to Peaceful Music

I had a bad day yesterday. First I overslept by an hour, then I was completely unfocused at school – and to top it off, I overcooked my yummy-looking fish.

There was only one solution – yoga. I used to do it regularly, but that’s years ago now. However, I’ve been thinking about getting back to it. Stretching, lots of breathing, and relaxing – sounds like what every stressed out student needs, right?

Wrong. Oh so very, very wrong. Twist this way, bend that way, and get those elbows to the floor! It was torture to peaceful music. To make matters worse, my mokey mind refused to shut up. It kept going on about push-pause injections, and oh-my-god-this-pose-hurts.

Perhaps some days are just like this. No matter how hard you try, it just won’t do. Thank goodness for tomorrows. Thank goodness for sleep being twist- and bend-free. And thank goodness whoever invented the “Destroyer of universe”-pose, is far, far away from me.

If we were having tea…

Because I don’t drink coffee. But I do have so much to tell you.

It’s been several weeks since I suddenly stopped posting (again). I’m back in Norway, back in school, and have already had my first exam. In two weeks I have another. Ususally we have our exams at the end of the semester, but the second year Nursing students will spend months at the hospital, so the idea is to get the exams out of the way.

The days are becoming shorter and shorter, but feel longer and longer.

I don’t blog that much about it, but studying Nursing is hard. In this week alone we have done (on each other): peripheral venous catheter, sub q pain pump, several different injections, and nasogastric tube. There’s been a lot of blood. Suffice to say, I’m tired at the end of the day.

It took a couple of tries, but everyone finally found a vein!

Despite the struggle, I’m happy. I’ve started dancing again, I’m spending more time with the people I care about, and ultimately doing more of the things that I love. I just often find myself exhausted. I wish I had more energy to blog. I haven’t even answered all of your amazing comments. I have read them though, and appreciated Every. Single. One.

Thanks for sticking with me through it all!

Lastly, I just want to wish you well. Feel free to tell me about what you’ve been up to since I’ve been gone! And if you’ve had a bad week, remember it’s almost Friday. It’s almost Friday!

Cliffs of Moher

One of my favorite places in Ireland so far ❤

 

Dublin Castle

There since the days of King John, the Dublin Castle still stands. Large, yet not colossal. Hidden, yet not forgotten. Amongst new buldings, the castle can be found in the centre of Dublin. The outside is befitting the royals that once lived there. However, it still doesn’t do the inside justice.

From the side of the castle

Tourists can only visit parts of the castle. You can either buy a self-guided ticket (and download a free app for an audio guide) and venture through the State Apartments, or you can join a tour that also shows the Viking Excavation and the Chapel Royal. Student tickets are available.

The State Drawing room. Today in use for the reception of foreign dignitaries.

The royals were all about fireplaces, floor to ceiling windows and chandeliers. They had at least two fireplaces in every room, and a room for every possible occasion. I wonder what it was like living here. Were they happy? Did they sometimes wish to be normal, and not have to follow each uncomfortable (#corsets) fashion trend?

Because if you didn’t look like this guy, were you even a royal?

I would recommend a visit to the Dublin Castle to anyone in the area. Be prepared to spend at least an hour and a half. It’s easy to lose yourself in imagining how they lived, and fascinating to compare the previous functions of the rooms to the new ones. The castle is a significant part of the history of Dublin, and will continue to be.

Saint Patrick’s Hall. Formerly the ballroom, today used for presidential inaugurations.

Dublin, Ireland

Dublin is organized chaos. It is a mix of soft and hard, modern and old. In one moment you can walk down cobblestone streets with flowers hanging from every lamppost. In the next, the edges of the modern houses are in sharp contrast to the traditional brick ones. And then, suddenly, palm trees.

The traditional Irish weather is overcast, with a strong chance of lots of rain. 

Dublin is the largest city and capital of Ireland. Walking around today, you’d never think it started as a Viking settlement. The citizens seem constantly happy, and the sound of clinking glasses and Irish music drift out through the open doors of the many local pubs – seven days a week. Inbetween there’s loud voices speaking polite words.

You can find the Dublin Castle amongst colorful new buildings.

I love Dublin so far. It is welcoming and tourist-friendly. My only objection is that if you can’t party like the Irish – find a hotel outside of the city centre. Irish people believe that a couple of pints a day keeps the doctor away, and sleep is therefore overrated. Lastly, if someone asks you to join them for “strong tea”, you better believe it’s not tea.

I’m in love with these lampposts ❤