It was in our first year during the winter. I'll describe the environment. There was tons of snow out there. The steam heat was pouring out. The windows were all frozen over. It was as hot as you know what in the room. Both of the patients were smoking cigars. My patient had a recent colostomy surgery. The stench in the room was unbelievable. All not a good environment, especially for a first year student. I remember stating to get dizzy. Instead of sitting down, which we probably weren't allowed to do in those days, I started for the door. I came to on the floor. Marion Wacek came in with a wheelchair, one of the big old wooden ones, and took me away. I think those old chair backs went almost flat, like a gurney. The next thing I remember was being in bed in the dorm, being observed for a concussion. I was so embarrassed I was going to quit. Well I managed to swallow my embarrassment and with Marion's encouragement, stayed at St. A's.
In my senior year a doctor was showing for several of us students. He had us gathered around the bed. The patient apparently had a huge abdominal abscess. There was a small opening in his incision. the doctor had a huge, to me, pair of nursing scissors. Looking at a ruler, I would guess, 9-10 inches. At the bend in the scissors, it had to be several inches wide. He inserted the scissors into the separation and twirled the scissors around to show how big the abscess was. I managed to get to the hallway, where I slide down the wall to the floor. I didn't get hurt. But it could be said, I fainted my way through school.
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I cannot single out one embarrassing moment in my 3 year stint at St. A's. It could have been the day I fell out of the swivel desk chair twirled by Fr. Hines In Psychology class. He was trying to illustrate if you find a point in your visual field to stare at, you'll immediately regain equilibrium. What no one knew at the time is I have abnormal inner ears and dizziness is common place for me. Another embarrassing moment was thinking I could sing solo at a Freshman welcome event. I tried to sing Edelwiess on stage, accompanied by Linda Day Moseley. It seems I don't have the vocal range for that song, especially when nervous!! I shook off that disaster quickly, but for some reason I went to the lounge of the freshmen, and a girl made loud fun of my singing. That was the embarrassing part. Taught me a huge lesson--I can't sing in public. :-)
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ReplyDeleteI hadn't really been able to identify a particular embarrassing moment until I read Jo's comment about her singing and it jogged my memory. I sang a song at my sister's capping (accompanied by Linda!) and I forgot the words. Groan. Just stood up there until they came to me. Several adults commented that I was so calm through it all. Calm my ass. I about died. Poor Linda was probably in a panic.
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