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February 2024 CNSA - SACRAMENTO STATE CHAPTER VOLUME 44, ISSUE 1

The Benefits of Learning in a Simulation Environment: A Personal Reflection

By Jude Soriano
Community Health Director
3rd Semester

In November 2023, I had a remarkable experience during my second semester of nursing school, where I
volunteered as a moulage model in one of UC Davis Medical Center’s (UCDMC) Advanced Trauma Life
A Day in Labour and Support (ATLS) courses. Volunteers are assigned as the patient for a case scenario, and members of the
Delivery trauma program put moulage makeup on them to simulate a patient with specific injuries. They also
wear provided hospital scrubs that have been cut to show the injuries. The course was attended by reg-
Page 2 istered nurses from various hospitals, who rotated through different simulations to enhance their skills.
My Day in the PICU I also was paid $75 for a time commitment of about 4 hours of volunteering.
Page 3
I first learned about this opportunity when Dr. Gennifer Holt advertised it during the summer, and I im-
The Most Challenging mediately knew I wanted to be part of it. On the day of the course, I played the role of a motorcyclist in-
Yet Rewarding Two volved in a motor vehicle accident, arriving at the ED at a non-trauma facility with critical injuries. My
Years of My Life: Nurs- initial vital signs were alarming: BP 84/48, HR 146, and RR 44. My prehospital interventions included
ing School
spinal immobilization, frequent oral suctioning, 12 L of oxygen via non-rebreather mask, placement of a
Page 4 16 gauge IV in the right AC, and immobilization of the left arm. In the simulation, the nurse explained
Friendships in Nursing that they would coordinate resources, assemble a team, and address my critical needs in this situation.
School
As I laid there, there was all the equipment that the nurse had available to treat me. It was educational to
Page 5 witness the nurses respond to a critical situation and to my particular kind of trauma, and it was a great
Nursing Artwork learning experience just to be there as they prioritized different interventions. For example, the jaw
thrust maneuver, suctioning, and intubation with subsequent confirmation were simulated to manage
Page 6
the airway, followed by insertion of a chest tube for pneumothorax to help with breathing. Afterwards,
Nursing Students in Ac- they simulated establishing 2 large bore IVs, rapidly infusing 1 L of warm crystalloids, and giving 2 units
tion of O blood to address circulation. Throughout this whole experience, there was an instructor in the room
to help guide the nurses in their interventions.
Page 7
Mental Health As the case unfolded, my VS showed improvement (BP 100/60, HR 116, RR 16 ventilated, SpO2 94%,
Page 8 End Tidal 35), and the nurse continued with the primary/secondary surveys, ongoing monitoring, and
interventions until the sim ended with a transfer to a trauma center.
Campus Resources
Page 9 This content aligned perfectly with what I was learning on emergency nursing in my Advanced Medical-
Surgical Nursing class, and I also realized I really appreciate the value and benefits of learning in the sim-
Updates & Other Info ulation environment. It provided a safe space for nurses to make mistakes, learn from them, and im-
Page 10 prove skills without compromising patient safety. The instructor’s support for the participating nurses
and kindness towards volunteers like me further enhanced the learning experience.

I encourage nursing students to look out for opportunities such as this one. This experience at UCDMC
has reinforced my dedication to professional development and continuous learning. I am grateful for the
opportunity to have participated in such a meaningful and educational course and I look forward to ap-
plying the knowledge and skills I gained to my future nursing practice.
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A Day in Labour and Delivery

By Khem Shergill
Chapter Representative
3rd Semester

My rotation within the Labour & Delivery Unit was an eye opener into a completely dif-
ferent world of nursing. Whereas in normal med-surg we are tasked with taking care of pa-
tients with various ailments, in L&D we are instead responsible for ushering in new life. Al-
most immediately after coming onto the floor, prep began for a morning cesarean section (CS)
for a breech presenting baby. A breech presentation is a baby who presents with their legs
coming out first in the pelvis, rather than correctly their head. We checked in with the patient
and brought her to the operating room. There I saw an epidural being administered for the
first time and what a sight it was. The needle to administer the anesthesia is much longer than
I expected and the CRNA administering it talked me through how he performs the procedure
plus what complications they are looking out for. Shortly afterwards an antiseptic solution was
administered over the incision sight and the doctors arrived to perform the CS. The ensuing
surgery is definitely not for those with a queasy stomach. An initial incision was made, then
stretched by hand by the doctors to reveal the amniotic sac. This sac was then ruptured by the
doctors and we saw an arm fall out. The baby had gone from breech to transverse. This unex-
pected finding resulted in a complicated delivery and a longer CS operation than what the doc-
tors expected. Eventually the baby was shifted into the correct position and a vacuum attached
to their head in order to pull them out. After failed stimulation of the baby, it was immediately
resuscitated, eventually resulting in the baby starting to cry. Everyone within the operating
room was relieved and after finishing the surgery, Mum and baby were sent to the PACU to re-
cover and bond. Another CS happened
later in my shift, but this was far more
standard and without any complica-
tions. My nurse and I reconvened and
there we talked through the events of
the day and connect the dots on various
conditions observed. It was an amazing
learning opportunity with helpful nurs-
es, CRNAs, and doctors who were more
than willing to answer questions and
provide insight for the unit. I hope oth-
ers get the same invaluable experience
when it comes to their Labour & Deliv-
ery rotations!
Photo from Meril Life website
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My Day in the PICU

By Henry Chiu
Activities Director
3rd Semester

During my time on the PICU floor at Sutter, it was definitely something that was new to me.
Compared to the other ICU I have been at (Cardiac ICU), it was different from my experiences at
the PICU floor. When I arrived at the floor, I was surrounded by enthusiastic nurses, who were
very helpful and welcoming when I was on the floor. Observing my nurse perform patient care
was interesting, as there were many things to be aware of. My nurse was very detail oriented and
it was definitely a learning experience for me. There were times where I was able to observe
small infants and older toddlers beginning to walk. The environment was very calming and
peaceful for the pediatric patients to recover. Things that I was able to pick up was the attention
to detail made by the PICU nurses on the floor. There was meticulous charting and assessment of
the patients on the floor. In addition, communicating with the parents was something that I was
able to improve on. Being able to observe different respiratory illnesses and seeing small humans
recover was amazing to witness. Overall, the PICU was a great experience for my clinical
rotation because I was able to see how nurses in pediatrics interact with other tiny humans. I
enjoyed how the nurses were very helpful with each other and the nurses were very helpful.
From this experience, this made me become more interested in the pediatrics unit and it was
great working with all the nurses there.

Photo from Author

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The Most Challenging Yet Rewarding Two Years of My Life: Nursing School

By Kailee Martin, she/her/hers

Class Representative 4
4th Semester

It is no secret to the world that nursing school is not an easy feat. When most people pic-
ture nursing students, they think of late-night studying, an excessive amount of caffeine con-
sumption, and practicing nursing skills and assessments on each other. And to be truthful, that
image is not far off from reality.
Nursing school has been the most challenging two years of my life. From the first semes-
ter all the way to the fourth semester, we as students are expected to put every ounce of our
effort into passing courses and excelling in a very difficult program. I personally felt my mental
health and well-being slip from my grasp throughout those two years as I was constantly being
pushed harder and harder, both by professors and my own work ethic. I know I am not the on-
ly student who felt these struggles and that this was the reality for most of my classmates.
One of the biggest positives from my nursing school experience has been the amazing
friends I have made along the way. Before I began the program, I was unsure of the friends I
would make along the way, or if I would make any friends at all. I was quickly proven to be
wrong when I entered many wonderful friendships. For once, it felt so easy to connect with
people and make friendships based on a common passion. Over the course of our program,
those friendships blossomed as we consistently leaned on each other for support. Coming out
of the end of nursing school, I know I can carry these friendships with me for a lifetime. Nurs-
ing school is a very difficult experience, but when you go through it with amazing friends by
your side, it makes you forget about all the hardships and instead remember the amazing expe-
riences.

Photo from Author

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Friendships in Nursing School

By Angela Kaye Mariano, she/her/hers
Historian
3rd Semester

It’s no secret that getting into nursing school is competitive. The pressure to get a 4.0
GPA, having volunteer hours, and overall just being the “perfect” student. Competing with hun-
dreds of other applicants, hoping what you have is “good enough,” encompasses the feelings of
doubt and uncertainty.
“Congratulations!” Reading those words made every sacrifice worth it. The pressure fi-
nally gets relieved, but new challenges arise once you’re in nursing school. The long hours of
lecture, clinicals, assignments, and exams; it’s hard to juggle and find light between the lines.
However, the people that you meet during nurs-
ing school is really what makes the experience as
amazing as it is. I have been fortunate enough to
meet so many great people once I got in. I had
this mindset that I was just going to study, go to
clinicals, go home and nothing in between. I had
this notion that nursing school is just school, but
the people I have met changed that, which I’m
glad they did. These are the people that I consider
my lifelong friends, even after nursing school and
I’m just so blessed to be with people who are
kind, considerate, and supportive. Failing exams,
a bad day at clinical, and simply just having a
hard day, these days are inevitable in nursing
school. Whether it be personal or academics,
these days are the hardest to get through. I’ve had
a fair share of bad days and they were unbeara-
ble, but just having friends around me who
shared the same struggles made it endurable.
I never thought I would’ve met so many
amazing people. Everyday, I’m grateful to be put
in the same timeline as the people I love and
cherish.

Photo from Author

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Nursing Artwork

“Battery”
By Panyia Thao, she/her/hers
2nd semester
Reference:
Morgan, K. I., & Townsend, M. C. (2020). Davis
Advantage for Psychiatric Mental Health Nurs-
ing (10th ed.). F. A. Davis Company. https://
fadavisreader.vitalsource.com/
books/9781719645140.

“Ceramic Anatomy of the

Heart”
By Esfir Usmonova
CNSA Treasurer
MIN Secretary
4th Semester

“Life in the PICU”

By Justin Perez, he/him/his
CNSA President
4th Semester

Do you have a nursing meme you want posted?

[email protected]
Photo Credits: CNSA Board
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Nursing Students in Action

Photos Courtesy of CNSA Board and @sacstatecnsa

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Resources

COUNSELING: CRISIS ASSISTANCE & RESOURCE

Student Health & Counseling Services EDUCATION SUPPORT (CARES):
https://www.csus.edu/student-life/health-
counseling/counseling/ https://www.csus.edu/student-affairs/crisis-
assistance-resource-education-support/
We offer confidential individual and group
counseling. If you would like to explore The Sacramento State CARES office provides support
whether counseling is right for you, the to students who are in crisis or experiencing unique
first step is to call us during business hours challenges to their education. They address a variety of
at 916-278-6461. issues including, but not limited to: Transportation
Barriers, Mental Health and Wellness, and Physical
If you are experiencing an urgent matter, Health and Wellness.
you can drop in during our business hours. Office Hours: Mon-Thurs 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m
(Mon-Fri: 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m) Fri 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Please reach out, support is out there you do not have to be alone!
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Campus Resources—Food Pantry and Pop Up Pantry

ASI Food Pantry ASI Pop Up Pantry

Registration once every semester: Fresh produce at no cost to Sac State

https://asi.csus.edu/asi-food-pantry students in need!

MONDAYS: 11:30 am—2 pm Spring Semester 2024 dates:

TUESDAYS: 11:30 am—3:30 pm
WEDNESDAYS: 10:30 am—6 pm February: 5,12
THURSDAYS: 11:30 am—3:30 pm March: 4, 11
FRIDAYS: 11:30 am—2 pm April: 8, 22
Location: University Union, Room 1246 Location: Library Quad, 10:30am- 12pm

Students are able to select foods using a

points system every week!

For more information, visit ASI’s website https://asi.csus.edu/asi-food-pantry or Instagram @sacstateasi

Photo Credit: Andrea Price (Instagram @andrea.price.sac)

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Learn more about

Men in Nursing at IMPORTANT
aamncsus.weebly.com UPCOMING DATES
& aamn.org
Events:

CNSA Meeting
April 5 @4:30 pm
Folsom Hall 1050
Spanish Medical Terminology
Men In Nursing Meeting
Thursdays @4:30-6 pm March 8 @4:30pm
Folsom Hall 1048
from 2/21/2024-4/11/2024
Folsom Hall 1048 Contact Info
California State University, Sacramento,
School of Nursing:
View Past Monthly Shots 7667 Folsom Blvd.
Sacramento, CA 95819-6096
sacstatecnsa.weebly.com/past-entries https://www.csus.edu/college/health-
human-services/nursing/
Phone: (916) 278-4106

Monthly Shot Editor:

Katrina Orizonte
Email: [email protected]

Faculty Co-Advisors:
Write for the Monthly Shot! Dr. Rachel Hill
Join CNSA: Each article is one CNSA event and is great for your
& Prof. Maria Wheeler

nsnamember- resume! Articles should be at least 250 words, and can CSUS CNSA chapter:
be about anything nursing or school-related. sacstatecnsa.weebly.com
ship.org
We want to hear from all semesters!

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