Make a wheal in my superficial dermis…

Ok, so you may not know exactly what the above refers to, so I’ll just give you the story. I recently trained to volunteer at a local Latin Health Fair, providing education and testing for TB. As you may know, the first part of the test involves inserting a small needle and injecting tuberculin. With proper technique, the injection makes a cute little bump (the wheal) just under your skin (superficial dermis). To help me and my fellow student volunteers learn the technique- and more importantly, relax- I sang the song:

“Make a wheal in my superficial dermis/ a cute little wheal in my superficial dermis/ educate me about tuberculosis/public health rocks!”

Um, yes, I’m a bit of a dork- and ridiculously cheerful much of the time (I stay well-caffeinated). My 4-year-old son appreciates it, at least. The above anecdote, however, is a good example of how each student here has the ability to cope with the challenge and stress of a demanding accelerated BSN program. Some of us run around Patterson Park, many do yoga, many hit the happy hour on occasion, and some of us make up silly songs.

I am more than halfway through my first semester here at Hopkins, and the experience has been fantastic- not without the inevitable frustrations (I couldn’t remember my class room for the first month) and disappointments (maybe my overconfidence tripped me up on a test), but whatever my anxieties may have been prior to beginning the Accelerated BSN program, I am now reasonably assured that I can handle it.

Yes, it may all seem overwhelming. Yes, the material may be voluminous and possibly intimidating if you’ve had limited exposure to the health sciences. But guess what? Your fellow students and the faculty want you to succeed. There will always be someone to listen to you laugh and/or cry at yourself, to practice a skill with, or to discuss the heck out of a disease process with you until you get it right. And someone may even sing to you, if you’re lucky!

Peace,
Stacy G, ABSN 2010