So … when you’re in ‘Medical Assistant’ School and trying to obtain several different certificates, for several different qualifications – part of the training/learning process is “hands-on” which is what the term “clinical” means with regards to this blog post.
Clinical means you have to PROPERLY perform certain tasks such as: taking Vital Signs, taking and reading an EKG strip, and of course drawing blood for phlebotomy. Also? You have to take a certain AMOUNT of PROPER blood draws and EKG’s and Vitals – in order to complete your clinicals.
Because in reality? Especially when you’re just learning? You have NO IDEA WHAT THE FUCK YOU’RE DOING and the FLOP SWEAT ALONE will make you feel like you’re going to faint before you even attempt to take someone’s blood pressure, not to mention sticking a needle in someone’s arm!
That being said, in order to complete my “CLINICALS” I needed …
10 clean EKG’s .
10 clean capillary punctures (finger sticks).
31 venipunctures (straight & butterfly style).
30 Vital Signs (temp, height & weight, pulse, BP, Pulse OX, and Apical Pulse.)
And they had to be done correctly, with the proper supervision, by an appointed instructor.
As some of you may recall, my BFF otherwise known as ATB, offered to be one of my volunteers to practice my “sticks” on.
[Side Bar: Click HERE to refresh your memory.]
After Amy’s rave reviews and her undying willingness to help me complete my journey through my clinicals, much to my surprise, her amazing husband, Robb, signed up too.
And then somehow – every time we had clinicals in classes, Amy & Robb, showed up at my school, RELIGIOUSLY, to help me out.
And not ONLY did they help ME out?
Those two ended up volunteering for my whole class!
They let OTHER students stick them too!
And they even let random students FROM OTHER CLASSES take their Vital Signs too!
** GOD BLESS MY PEEPS!! **
So tonight, Tuesday October 20th, 2020 – I completed my clinicals. Correctly and properly! Signed. Sealed. Delivered.
And I could NOT have done it without the two of them!
THANK YOU SOFA KING MUCH GB’S!!!
Now that everything, other than studying before the NHA, is mostly finished – it was time to say goodbye to my teacher (whom I’ll probably never see again in real life again). I REALLY didn’t think I would get as emotional as I did.
First, I asked her if I could give her a hug or if I was only allowed to give her an elbow pump, due to #COVID-19. When she agreed to the hug and put her arms around me, I broke down in tears, while saying, “Thank you Dr. Margareet, for teaching me so much and helping me change my life forever. And thank you for giving me the courage when I didn’t have any of my own.”
My classmates “awwed” at my “soft side” before I collected myself and thanked her again. This time without sobbing! She told me she loved me, she was so proud of me, to stay in contact with her, and that I will do amazing things in my future. And I believe her.
I cried tears of pride and joy the whole way home from school.
And then?
I posted my last class picture, with my teacher, on Instagram and Facebook.
And then?
I died laughing.
Why?
Because of ATB!
Here is the photo…
And here’s my caption …
Followed by ATB’s comment!
I swear on ALL THINGS BACON….
Amy AND Robb, legit withstood more clinicals than some of my classmates!
That’s all for now.
Stay, tuned.
Love,
M
