Hey everybody sorry haven't written recently but we have both been so busy on placement!! Neither of us had much to report from last week at work. Friday night we walked down to the pub with Keane (son) and had few drinks which was good, tasted our first ozzie alcohol, pretty much the same!! On Saturday we went to the Ekka which is Brisbanes yearly festival it was brilliant. We saw loads of animals as they are all there to be showed in various competitions. We watched the woodchopper competition and a horse show. There was also loads of rides, we went on one whch was 5G neither of us had experienced anything like it, it was so fast!! We went on the haunted hotel ride which provided us with the funniest moment of the trip. We both freaked so much when we were spooked in the dark and got a brilliant photo was hilarious, Claire jumped so much she cut her foot and charlotte looks like shes crying in the piccy!! We sampled the traditional strawberry sundae which was so yummy!! The ekka is famous for showbags which are like party bags except you can choose from over 200 different ones!! We got back from the ekka about 11 and charlotte fell fast asleep. Claire stayed up playing pool till 2.45 with Wade (Dad) and saw his b'day in which was good fun!! Sunday we had a lie in then strolled into Bulimba the small town and both had a huge ice-cream from Baskin Robins. The weather was so hot so we caught the city cat (catamaran) into the city, we both stood up on the front deck which was so nice and brilliant views!! We chilled at riverside for a bit then caught the city cat back and we sat and had afternoon snacks in the park!! Sunday had dinnner with the family and b'day cake as it was wades b'day and then i (Claire) cut charlotties hair for her (saves paying 4 it!) Both had placement today so will both tell you a little bit about our day.

Claire: I probably had the best day of my training so far. Spent the first part of the day buddied up wit a staff nurse where I had more opportunities to do i.v meds and set up i.vfluids, also been drawing up and giving oral medication and medication through a port!! Took my own patients and gave handover when admitting patients onto different wards! Along with that did many of my basic skills! The afternoon was where I had the best time and experience. I was placed in resus where normally no children came through but today we had 2 children. The first was a child who was having a seizure and in the end needed intubation which i had never seen before. I was able to prep for i.v cannulatio and also set up all the i.v fluids and drip sets. I was also able to take my first bloods and assist with such a serious case. During that resus another baby was brought in i was given the task of doing all observations and documentation which was so scary but a great opportunity. Again i did all i.v preps and fluids along with blood gases and urine testing. Managed to achieve so many skills and experience in one day, gave me such an adrenaline rush and confidence boost as felt like i had an important role within the resus team!!

Charlotte: Hello everybody, well my day wasnt quite so evenful but i enjoyed it alot as i got to meet one of my mentors so she will help me achieve all the things i want too and shes really nice. She said i will be able to go to theatre sometime to watch some operations which will be cool as im interested in the surgical side of nursing. I reckon this placement will go really fast as in the second week already.So today i worked with the older kids, who were really fun 2 work with and they nu where everything on the ward was so could show me if i couldnt find nethn! I helped to calcuate and draw up intravenous anti biotics and give alot of oral medication. I also went with one boy and his mum to have an mri scan, which was interesting and all the staff were so knowledgable, so learnt alot. Enjoying it still so far, you're allowed to do much more here practically which boosts ur confidence, compared to at home where you observe alot more! practical is beta! everyone is nice,staff, children and parents. Me and Claire are both working hard and trying to make the most of our time here,as only short!2morrro we are off 2 wet n wild a water park with about 10 water shoots for some relaxation-haha! Hope you are all still well and enjoying the rain! take care all, will speak 2 ya soon, love charlottie and clairey x