Lady with the Lamp

Can I begin by saying how absolutely adorable babies are when they're sleeping in their little cots? You can stare at them for hours on end, admiring their teeny toes and fingers.

We were all ooh-ing and aah-ing today when some of my classmates and I visited the NUH nursery. I even got to carry one of them babies! Tried out what's called a "football hold" on the baby, which sounds like what it means. You tuck the baby under one arm like a football and support the head with your hand, clutch the body tightly like a handbag and you're good to go. It was really different from carrying the mannequin though cos for one, they're quite squirmy and I was afraid of squashing her but actually babies are much stronger than most of us realise.

Just like this:


We visited the O&G side as well and my my, are the delivery suites comfortable or what. They're class-less so no matter whether you're paying full or being subsidised, you still enjoy the same comforts when delivering. One of the suites even has a Jacuzzi-like bath tub inside! Of course, you pay about $100 more for it.

The technology's pretty impressive as well. They have a bed whose lower half can be detached, a warmer that regulates the surrounding temperature so that you don't get a baked baby, an incubator that minimises the risk of infection and so much more. We were all quite amazed by the end of the day.

Anyway here's something funny that one of my classmates blogged about but I think only fellow student nurses will understand.

Top 10 NANDA diagnoses for nursing students: (r/t means related to)

10. Fluid volume deficit r/t dehydrating effects of caffeine associated with increased student sightings at coffee bars.

9. Impaired social interactions r/t inappropriate topics of conversation associated with incessant discussions of bowel and bladder functions.

8. Sexual dysfunction r/t time constraints and stress-induced impotence associated with increased irritability of nursing students and their significant others.

7. Functional constipation r/t lack of time to go to the bathroom associated with moving at the speed of light and still not getting everything done.

6. Impaired skin integrity r/t increased intake of fat, chocolate, and alcohol associated with return to adolescent facial breakouts.

5. Anticipatory grieving r/t impending midterms and final exams associated with crying fits in October, December, March, and May.

4. Maturational enuresis (in English, enuresis means uncontrolled pee-ing) r/t trauma-induced regression to childhood associated with frequent changing of linens.

3. Ineffective individual coping: obsessive compulsive behaviors r/t high demand of nursing school associated with continual checking and rechecking of calendars, date books, course syllabi, and other nursing students to reassure that one is not forgetting assignments.

2. Altered thought processes: caffeine-induced psychosis r/t increased coffee consumption.

1. Self-care deficit r/t being a nursing student.

Procrastinators: Leaders of Tomorrow

My professor asked me today, "Did you all have enough time to finish [the case study]?" and my immediate answer was No.

Was it because I procrastinated again? Probably. I'm sure I can rival Yen for the Procrastinator of the Year Award.

But I realised it's also because I will never be satisfied with my work. I don't understand how some people can hand in their work so early, some not just one day but a few days before the deadline! I will always be working until the very last minute to make sure I've done all I can before submission.

Well I've handed in the blasted case study without a minute to spare, only to stress out over the concert. Why do so many unforeseen things keep happening? I simply can't understand it.

Dated and Strung

I'm so remarkably unobservant that I didn't realise my blog entries had no date! All applause goes to Sandra for helping me fix it cos I know nuts about html, CSS and whatnot.

On a different note (pun intended), here's a video of the String Quartet's version of Muse's Time Is Running Out.

Twilight: another ending

Edit @ 01 30, 15/10/08: Just in case there's any confusion, Twilight didn't spark my fascination with vampires, it was Buffy the Vampire Slayer that did. I have always loved all things mythological anyway, just that nothing in recent years, besides HP of course, has got me this excited. Thus I didn't jump on the vampires-are-cool bandwagon only now so please don't think that I did, cos I'd sound even more superficial haha.

Dammit, I honestly can't believe I'm hooked onto the Twilight books.

When I first heard about it being the next Harry Potter, I was skeptical. Nothing in my mind could be fantastic as HP and its wonderful world, much less some vampire romance. Then cos the movie was coming out and there was so much hype, I decided to read Twilight. Yes, I'll be the first to admit that I'm a junkie for bestsellers :) I mean they have to be somewhat good if they remain on the Bestseller List for weeks right?

I borrowed the book, started...and couldn't stop. I can't really pinpoint exactly what it was that kept me reading hour after hour, maybe it's cos Edward Cullen is perfect: the dream boyfriend, straight-A student and oh-so mysterious that I feel compelled to find out more about him.

I realise the book is terribly shallow - thus making me a terribly shallow person - but I love love love Edward! Reading the first draft of the first chapter of Midnight Sun, which is Twilight from Edward's perspective makes him all the more awesome. I really can't wait for it to be published cos then I get more insight into his actions. He's a more complex character than Bella so it should make for a good read.

I have to admit that though the book is nowhere near as good as HP, which has infinitely more depth, I like being all enthusiastic about something again. I find myself scouring websites for set photos, articles and wallpapers, and watching E! News in hopes that they'll have something on the Twilight cast. It helps that Robert Pattinson, who plays Edward, is looking pretty good in the movie though some people don't think so. I didn't too, at first, but my loyalty for him from GOF mitigated the fact that he's not nearly as perfect as I pictured. He's starting to grow on me though, as is Kristen Stewart who plays Bella. Pity the movie's only coming out in December over here, while it opens in November in the States.

Now anxiously waiting for Arisya to lend me New Moon :(

I decided as long as I was going to hell, I might as well do it thoroughly. - Edward Cullen