Day 3: Skills Test, AKA, "handwashing test"

Well, yesterday was a little bit more eventful than the first day of school. We actually had a lecture with power point and everything. The big excitement though was our Skills Test we had today and our Medical Calculations pre-test we have tomorrow, Thursday.

So, today we all suited up in our glorious royal blue -- yes, Duke blue -- scrubs for our inspection and test. I passed, which is the best part. However pulse has always been my weak spot. Robin and I compulsively practiced this morning. Every time I went to take her pulse, I could feel it so easily, but I'm sure you see where this is going. I got myself so worked up in the test, that I almost didn't pass. Fortunately, I know how I am. I asked if I could change sides and try again. My instructor allowed it, and I did it!!!! I just needed to switch it up a bit -- like the spot I was sitting in was jinxed. Change is good for me.

The funniest part of this is that I had to still go to the BP station. When Robin released the stopper somewhere between 160-180, I could feel my pulse. Now my BP is never high. Clearly the stress was taking effect. Our fabulous instructor just looked at Robin and said, "why don't you give Caroline's arm a rest and do that again." I'm sure she thought I was going to stroke out. I guess my 1 1/2 hour work out at the Y this morning could only put so much of a dent in my stress. Ms. Jones-Sutton told me to pull on my earlobes. My BP dropped to a more normal level immediately. Note to any of you who have BP issues, pull on your earlobes!

Tomorrow is math. I'm sure I'm not as prepared as I should be, but math has always been good to me. And, it's only a pre-test.

P.S. I'm still a little bitter about the color of our uniforms. Why not Carolina Blue? Counting the days until basketball season.