Bowel Elimination & Urinalysis

Hello all!
Today I will be discussing bowel elimination. I know, to some, this may seem like quite a gruesome subject but i actually love talking about it! It's so facinating! My mum and dad, before i started nursing, were concerned that I wouldn't get used to the 'bad sights' i.e. blood, poo, wee and many more. But actually i don't find it too bad. Anyway, the point i'm trying to make is that it's just a fact of life and it's just part of human anatomy. So, here we go...

GI tract
*Is a tube from the mouth to the anus
*Consists of smooth muscle
*7.5m long
*Includes pharnyx, oesophagus, stomach, small and large intestine

Important organs of the GI tract

Mouth
*Tongue provides taste
*3 gland produce saliva...
1.parotid
2.sub-mandibular
3.sublingual

Pharnyx
*Allows passage of food from mouth to oesophagus
*Epiglottis closes over larnyx to prevent aspiration

Oesophagus
*Muscular tube
*25.5cm long
*moves food from pharnyx to stomach
*Fibres contract, propelling food into the stomach
*Lower end remains closed to prevent reflux of gastric contents

Stomach
*contains two sphincters (muscles)...
1. Cardiac (Protects the entrance to the stomach)
2. Pyloric (Guards exit)
*Stores food
*Mixes food wih gastric juices

Small intestine
*End products of digestion are absorbed through membrane lining of small intestine and into the blood stream
*Nearly ALL digestion and reabsorption takes place in the small intestine

Large intestine
*Absorbs excess water
*Stores food residue
*Eliminates waste

Liver
*Metabolises proteins, fast and carbohydrates
*Detoxifies the blood
*Converts ammonia to urea
*Synthesises proteins, amino acids, vitamin A, D, K and B
*Creates bile to help digest fats and absorb cholesterol

Gallbladder
*Found under the right side of the liver
*Stores bile

Pancreas
*Releases insulin and glycogen into the blood

Key Terms
Mastication - Chewing
Deglutition - Swallowing
Polyuria - increase in volume of urine
Nocturia - getting up frequently in the night to urinate
Anuria - nonpassage of urine
Oliguris - production of abnormally small amounts of urine
Dysuria - Painful urination

Characteristics of normal stool
25% solids
75% water
*Consists of bacteria, undigested fibre, fat, inorganic matter and protein
*Bilirubin produces brown colour of stool
*Bacterial decomposition of proteins creates unpleasant odour of stools
*The 'Bristol Stool Chart' is a chart that is widely used in healthcare settings to determine the type of consistancy of stools

Charateristics of abnormal stool
*White stools indicate malabsoption disorder or blockage in the liver
*Thin stools may indicate haemorrhoids or colorectal cancer

Factors affecting elimination
*Body position - Sitting aids bowel movement. Can be difficult for patients to go when on a bed pan because squatting aids bowel movement.
*Exercise - good muscle tone aids elimination. Reduced physical activity can increase chance of constipation.
*Faecal diversion - alternate route for bowel elimination is called a 'stoma'. This is sometimes performed in patients with bowel cancer, bowel obstruction or in crohn's disease.
Two types of stoma
1. Ileostomy - Part of small intestine redirected through abdominal wall
2. Colostomy - Part of large intestine or colon is redirected through the abdominal wall.
*Fluid intake - Decreased fluid intake means the stools become hard and difficult to pass. The longer the stool remains in the colon, the more dry is becomes. Stool that doesn't remain long in the colon will be watery, resulting in fluid loss.
*Ignoring the urge to defecate - for patients with chronic conditions (or haemorrhoids) it may be painful to go to the toilet or due to lack of privacy they may not be able to go. Both can lead to constipation.
*Lifestyle - Bowel movement is convenient for their lifestyle. Stress, fear, anxiety, anger or depression, including the stress of hospitalisation can alter ones bowel elimination.
*Medication - Opioids and iron tablets can cause constipation. Antibiotics can cause diahorrea. Antacids can cause either.
*Nutrition - increased fibre in diet assists in bowel function (i.e. fruits, veg, cereals.)

Urinalysis
*Urine dip tests - Dip the test stick in the urine specimen for 30 seconds and observe the change in colour against the corresponding chart on the bottle.
*The urine specimen bottles are usually red and have boric acid inside in order to preserve the specimen
*24 hours urine collection bottles (More like 'tubs' i guess...) comes in large white bottles. Make sure these are labelled correctly with the time and date on.

Understanding Urinalysis Results
*Glucose - Excess sugar in the urine usually indicates diabetes mellitus
*Ketones - Indicates diabetic ketosis or calorie deprivation
*Blood - Indicates infection
*Proteins - A small amount of filtered plasma proteins can be found in normal urine but total protein excretion does not normally exceed
150mg/24 hour. If a ppositive reaction is seen this usually indicates infection or poor kidney function
*Bilirubin - Indicates poor liver function, serosis or anaemia
*pH - Normal range approx. 7.4 to 6 in the final urine
*Specific gravity - measures urine density, or the ability of the kidney to concentrate or dilute the urine over that of plasma. A score of 1.002 and 1.035 is considered normal.

Okay, so that's it for today I'm afraid! But i really hope you enjoyed reading this post! To those who aren't nurses, this might sound overbearing but, as a nurse, you just deal with this sorta thing and you realise that it's just human nature and it's nothing to be embarassed about. I also want to say, thank you very much to all my wonderful readers out there - even if you total just one or two, you still mean a lot to me! Thank you for continually reading what I post! See you again soon!

Emily

A&P Part Two: The Renal System!

Hello!
In this post I'll be chatting about the renal system! I know It's been a while since A&P but I thought I'd give us a break from A&P for a bit because it is a slightly hard to grasp at first!
But the renal system isn't so bad, so here goes...

The Renal System

The renal system (Also known as the Urinary system) is made up of the Kidneys whose main roles are the removal of wastes and the maintenance of the body's water balance.

Here are their other vital functions:

1. Control of the body's water balance. The amount of water in the body must be balanced against the amount of water which we drink and the amount we lose in urine and sweat etc.

2. Regulation of blood pressure via the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system

3. Regulation of blood electrolyte balance - Na+, Ca2+, K+ etc.

4. Excretion of metabolic wastes such as urea, creatinine and foreign substances such as drugs and the chemicals we ingest with our food

5. Help in the regulation of the body’s acid base balance

6. Regulation of red blood cell production via the hormone erythropoietin

7. Help in the production of vitamin D

Indeed, this long list shows us how important the renal system is to the normal functioning of the body.


Structure of the renal system
The kidneys are large, bean shaped organs which lie on the dorsal side of the visceral cavity, roughly level with the waistline.
Blood is supplied to the kidneys by the renal arteries which branch off the aorta. The kidneys and are drained by the renal veins into the inferior vena cava. From the kidneys, urine passes to the urinary bladder via the ureters.
Urine is passed to the outside environment via the urethra (this is routed differently in males and females)- See Figure 1.


Macrostructure of the kidneys
The kidneys are protected by a tough fibrous coat called the renal capsule. Under the capsule, the arrangement of nephrons and capillaries in the kidney produce the appearance of distinct regions when viewed in longitudinal section.
The outer cortex region surrounds darker triangular structures called pyramids which collectively form the medulla. The inner part of the kidney, the renal pelvis, collects the urine draining from the nephron tubules and channels it into the ureter - (Figure 2 shows a sectioned view of the kidneys)

Microstructure of the kidneys
The basic functional unit of the kidney is the nephron. Each nephron is composed of a glomerular capsule, glomerulus, proximal convoluted tubule, loop of Henle and distal convoluted tubule. The renal corpuscle includes the glomerular capsule and the glomerulus. The renal tubule is the part of the nephron that directs the filtrate away from the glomerular capsule and includes the proximal convoluted tubule, loop of Henle, distal convoluted tubule and the collecting duct. The collecting duct is not considered part of the nephron as many nephrons drain into one collecting duct.
There are over one million nephrons in each human kidney and together they are responsible for the complex water regulation and waste elimination functions of the kidneys. The heads of the nephrons are in the cortical region and the tubular component then descends through the medulla and eventually drains into the renal pelvis - (Figure 3 Shows the arrangement of nephrons in the kidneys)

The key area of interface between the circulatory system and the tubular part of the kidney is the knot of glomerular capillaries in the Bowman's capsule. Those liquid parts of the blood that are able to cross through the filtration membrane of the capillaries pass into the Bowman's capsule and then into the tubular section of the nephron - (Figure 4 shows The Bowman's capsule and glomerulus). The filtration membrane only allows water to pass through it and small molecules that will dissolve in water such as waste (urea, creatinine etc.) glucose, amino acids and ions. Large proteins and blood cells are too large to be filtered and remain in the blood.

The filtered fluid or filtrate enters the proximal tubule and then into the loop of Henle which is the part of the nephron which dips in and out of the medulla. From the loop of Henle, the filtrate travels through the distal tubule and then into a common collecting duct which passes through the medulla and into the renal pelvis - See Figure 5.

Now to consolidate our knownledge of the nephrons components...

Component's, their description and functions

Glomerular (Bowman) capsule
• The start of the nephron.
• It is a double-walled chamber that looks as if the wall of the nephron had been pushed in on itself.
• The walls of the glomerular capsule are thin, but only allow water and small ions to pass through.
• Filtrate (water and small molecules) which is similar to blood plasma passes into the capsular space of the glomerular capsule.
• The glomerular capsule continues as the proximal convoluted tubule (PCT).
• Function: Filtration

Glomerulus
• A tiny capillary network that lies within a glomerular capsule.
• The glomerulus receives blood at high pressure from a tiny branch of the renal artery, called the afferent arteriole.
• The filtered blood (blood cells, proteins and large molecules) leaves the glomerulus via the efferent arteriole which goes on to form a capillary plexus around the PCT, before draining into a tiny branch of the renal vein.
• Function: Filtration

Proximal convoluted tubule (PCT)
• Originating from the glomerular capsule the PCT is a highly twisted and coiled tubule that descends through the cortex.
• It is the part of the nephron responsible for most of the reabsorption of the filtrate.
• Water, glucose, amino acids and salts are reabsorbed from the PCT back into the bood.
• Drugs, toxins and solutes such as bicarbonate, hydrogen and potassium ions and urea are secreted into the PCT.
• It continues as the loop of Henle.
• Function: Reabsorption & Secretion

Loop of Henle
• A tubule with a long hairpin turn, its descending limb enters the medulla, where it makes a 180 degree turn so that its ascending limb enters the cortex.
• Salts are reabsorbed from the loop of Henle into the medulla of the kidney (making the medulla very salty compared to the filtrate).
• It ends in the cortex as the distal convoluted tubule (DCT).
• Function: Reabsorption

Distal convoluted tubule (DCT)
• A highly coiled tubule located in the cortex and surrounded by capillaries.
• Salts such as sodium are actively absorbed from the DCT under the control of a hormone called aldosterone.
• Hydrogen and potassium ions are actively secreted into the DCT to regulate pH.
• The rate of absorption and secretion in the DCT are controlled by hormones.
• It empties into the collecting tubule (CT).
• Function: Active Secretion

Collecting tubule(CT)
• They pass through the medulla forming the pyramids of the kidneys.
• Bicarbonate, potassium and hydrogen ions, are secreted into the CT to regulate pH.
• Water and salts are reabsorbed from the urea in the CT under the control of two hormones (one of them being anti-diuretic hormone that increases the CT permiability to water).
• Each CT opens into a minor calyces at the apex of the renal pyramid.
• From here urine flows via funnel-like calyces into the pelvis of the kidney.
• Function: Reabsorption, Secretion & Transport


Understanding the functions of the components

Filtration

Filtration at the glomerulus is under pressure as the afferent arteriole is so close to the abdominal aorta. The fluid that passes through the wall of the glomerular capsule into the nephron is called the glomerular filtrate and is similar in composition to plasma. Blood and protein cannot pass into the filtrate but small waste molecules can.
Interesting fact I found: 600 ml of blood will pass through the glomerulus each minute, 125 ml of which will be absorbed into the nephron as glomerular filtrate!

Reabsorption

The tubule of the nephron functions to reabsorb most of the glomerular filtrate. The cells of the tubule reabsorb vital nutrients and water back into the blood, while retaining the waste products that the body needs to eliminate. The plexus formed by the efferent arteriole (from the glomerulus) passes closely to the proximal convoluted tubule, allowing direct transfer into the blood. In the loop of Henle the filtrate is further concentrated. Water is absorbed by osmosis, being transported down its concentration gradient.
The amount of water reabsorbed is controlled by an anti-diuretic hormone (OMG Endocrine system, guys!!) secreted by the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland. The amount of salts reabsorbed is controlled by aldosterone secreted by the cortex of the suprarenal glands. These hormones are increased or decreased according to the needs of the body.

Active secretion

During active secretion, wastes that were not initially filtered out of the blood in the glomerular capsule such as ammonia and certain drugs and toxins are removed from the capillaries into the distal convoluted tubule.


I think that's all i'll type about renal for today, guys! There's so much to go through and i'm pretty sure that i've barely scratched the surface!! O_o
So watch out for A&P Part Three: The Respiratory system coming very soon!!

Bye!

Emily

A&P Part One: The Endocrine System

Hello everyone!
I know it's been about a week since my last post but I thought I'd wait a bit so I could make this post more interesting!!
Good news by-the-way! We've finally moved onto the more exciting stuff - Life Sciences!! xD Yey!! haha!
In this post, as you can probably guess from the title ^^, I will be discussing the all-important and absolutely astonishing endocrine system! (Quick note: I was originally going to be talking about Endocrine, Renal *AND* Respiratory in this one post but... I started writing and realised that there was just *SO* much to write about on each system - why does the human body have to be so complex?!?!? Ahaa - So I've decided to split this post into three A&P parts. So, A&P part two and three will follow soon! Enjoy!!)

The Endocrine System
This vital system in our body consists of widely separated endocrine glands which secrete hormones. Hormones, as you may recall from GCSE biology, are 'messenger' substances produced in one part of the body but regulates the activity of cells in other parts of the body. Most hormones enter interstitial fluid and then the bloodstream. The circulating blood then delivers hormones to cells throughout the body. Hormones exert their effects by binding to receptors on or in their 'target' cells and their levels are greatly influenced by factors such as stress, infection and changes in balance of fluid and minerals in the blood. If, however, a hormone is present in excess, the number of target-cell receptors may decrease. This is called 'down-regulation'. In contrast, when a hormone is deficient, the number of receptors may increase. This is known as 'up-regulation'.
The Endocrine system is vital for regulating mood, growth and development, tissue function and metabolism, sexual function and reproductive processes. Responses of the Endocrine system are also slower than the responses of the nervous system. Although it may take seconds for a hormone to act, most take several minutes or more to cause a response. And while the nervous system acts on specific muscles and glands, the influence of the Endocrine system is much broader as it helps regulate virtually all types of body cells.

Endocrine Glands
Endocrine glands secrete hormones into the interstitial fluid surrounding the secretory cells. The hormones then diffue into the blood capillaries and the blood carries them to target cells throughout the body. Because they depend so much on the cardiovascular system to distribute products, the endocrine glands are some of the most vascular tissues in the body.

The Endocrine Glands & the hormones they produce...

Pituitary Gland
Human Growth Hormone (HGH)
-Chemical Nature: Protein.
-Mode of Action: Cyclic AMP.
-Important Roles: Stimulates protein synthesis and release of energy from fats.

Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
-Chemical Nature: glyco-protein.
-Mode of Action: Cyclic AMP.
-Important Roles: Stimulates production and release of thyroid hormones.

Adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH)
-Chemical Nature: Peptide.
-Mode of Action: Cyclic AMP.
-Important Roles: Stimulates production and release of adrenal cortex hormones.

Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
-Chemical Nature: glyco-protein.
-Mode of Action: Cyclic AMP.
-Important Roles: Maturation of follicles in females and production of sperm in males.

Luteinizing hormone (LH)
-Chemical Nature: glyco-protein.
-Mode of Action: Cyclic AMP.
-Important Roles: Triggers ovulation and development of corpus luteum.

Prolactin (PR)
-Chemical Nature: Protein.
-Mode of Action: --
-Important Roles: Stimulates milk production by mammary glands.

Melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH)
-Chemical Nature: Peptide.
-Mode of Action: Cyclic AMP.
-Important Roles: Increases skin pigmentation.

Anti-diuretic hormone (ADH)
-Chemical Nature: Peptide.
-Mode of Action: Cyclic AMP.
-Important Roles: Stimulates reabsorption of water by kidney tubules.

Oxytocin
-Chemical Nature: Peptide.
-Mode of Action: --
-Important Roles: Stimulates contraction of the uterus.

Pineal Gland
Melatonin
-Chemical Nature: Amine.
-Mode of Action: --
-Important Roles: Possible inhibitory action on ovaries.

Thyroid Gland
Thyroxin
-Chemical Nature: Amino Acid.
-Mode of Action: Cyclic AMP.
-Important Roles: Increases metabolic rate, stimulates growth in infants.

Thyrocalcitonin
-Chemical Nature: Peptide.
-Mode of Action: --
-Important Roles: Promotes calcium absorption by bones.

Parathyroid Glands
Parathyroid hormone (PTH)
-Chemical Nature: Protein.
-Mode of Action: Cyclic AMP.
-Important Roles: Promotes calcium absorption from intenstine, stimulates calcium release from bones.

Thymus Gland
Thymosin
-Chemical Nature: Peptide.
-Mode of Action: --
-Important Roles: Possible influence on B-lymphocytes.

Pancreas (Islets of Langerhans)
Insulin
-Chemical Nature: Protein.
-Mode of Action: Cyclic AMP.
-Important Roles: Stimulates absorption of glucose into liver and muscle cells, formation of glycogen.

Glucagon
-Chemical Nature: Peptide.
-Mode of Action: Cyclic AMP.
-Important Roles: Increases blood glucose level, breakdown of glycogen.

Adrenal Glands

The Cortex:
Mineralocorticoids, aldosterone

-Chemical Nature: Steroid.
-Mode of Action: Gene activation.
-Important Roles: Stimulates reabsorption of sodium ions by kidney tubules, reduces reabsorption of potassium ions.

Glycocorticoids: Hydrocortisone, Corticosterone, Cortisone

-Chemical Nature: Steroid.
-Mode of Action: Gene activation.
-Important Roles: Reduce effects of stress responses.

The Medulla:
Adrenalin (80%), Noradrenalin (20%)

-Chemical Nature: Amine.
-Mode of Action: Gene activation.
-Important Roles: Increased heart and breathing rates, other 'fight or flight' responses.

Ovary
Oestrogen

-Chemical Nature: Steroid.
-Mode of Action: Gene activation.
-Important Roles: Development of female sexual characteristics, repair of uterus lining.

Progesterone

-Chemical Nature: Steroid.
-Mode of Action: Gene activation.
-Important Roles: Development o uterus ready for implantation.

Testis
Testosterone

-Chemical Nature: Steroid.
-Mode of Action: Gene activation.
-Important Roles: Development of male sexual characteristics.


The Master Gland
Attached to the hypothalamus in the brain, hangs the pituitary gland. This gland is nicknamed 'the master gland' because it stimulates all other hormone-producing glands to produce their own hormones. And while it is vital in the endocrine system, amazingly it is only the size of a pea!
It is comprised on two parts - the anterior and posterior lobe (see first picture in post). The anterior lobe secretes six hormones (which are named above) and is influenced by the hormones from the hypothalamus. The posterior lobe stores hormones that are from the hypothalamus, they are released when needed. Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) and oxytocin are produced in the hypothalamus and transported by axons to the posterior pituitary.

Feedback Mechanisms
The endocrine system uses cycles and negative feedback to regulate physiological functions. Negative feedback regulates the secretion of almost every hormone. Cycles of secretion maintain physiological and homeostatic control. These cycles can range from hours to months in duration.

This 'feedback' mechanism involves the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland and the target gland to control hormone production. A feedback system promotes to release of another hormone (positive feedback) or can inhibit its release (negative release). This mechanism helps to maintain the body's balanced functioning.

Example of how it works...

1. Responding to levels of the Thyroid hormone, the hypothalamus make TRH (Thyrothropin-releasing hormone). This stimulates the anterior pituitary gland to release TSH (Thyroid-stimulating hormone). The thyroid gland is then triggered to produce hormones.

2. If the Thyroid hormone levels are too high, negative feedback alters the hypothalamus so that it produces less TRH. A lower level of TRH results in a reduced level of TSH. So the Thyroid responds by producing less hormone.

3. If the Thyroid hormone levels fall too low, the feedback mechanism is weakened. In response, the hypothalamus makes more TRH; TSH rises so that the levels of Thyroid hormone also rise.

Chemical classes of hormones
OK, so above you can see that I have (in the description of glands and the hormones they produce) mentioned whether hormones were steroids, amines, peptides or proteins. Well, now I'm going to explain what all this means. So, here goes...

There are two main types of hormones
* Lipid (fatty acids) soluble hormones: i.e. steroid hormones which are derived from cholesterol.
* Water soluble hormones:
Amine hormones: synthesised by removing the CO2 molecule and modifying amino acids. Example: Tyrosine.
Peptides and proteins: Amino acid polymers (large molecules with high melting and boiling points). Smaller peptide hormones consist of 3-49 amino acids while the larger consist of 50-200. Examples of peptides: oxytocin/ADH. Examples of proteins: HGH and insulin.

Adding to this, hormones can either be...
* Circulating hormones: Pass from secretory cells that make them, then into interstitial fluid, then into the bloodstream. Circulating hormones may linger in the bloodstream but are finally excreted by the kidneys.
* Local hormones: Act locally on neighbouring cells (or on the same cell that secreted them) without first entering the bloodstream. In comparison to circulating hormones, local hormones are inactivated quickly. Hormones acting on neighbouring cells are called 'paracrines'. Those acting on the same cell that secreted them are called 'autocrines'.

Hormone Transportation
*Water Soluble: Molecules circulate in blood plasma and are not attached to other molecules.
*Lipid soluble: Bind to transport proteins.

These transport proteins (which are made by cells in the liver) have three functions...
1. Make lipid soluble hormones temporarily water soluble which increases their solubility in the blood.
2. Delay passage of small hormone molecules through the filtering system in the kidneys which slows the rate of hormone loss in the urine.
3. provide ready reserve of hormone already present in the bloodstream.

Actually about 0.1-10% of molecules of lipid soluble hormones don't bind to transport proteins. This is called 'free fraction'. It is the free fraction that diffuses out of capillaries, binds to receptors and triggers responses.

Clinical connection: Peptide/protein hormones such as Insulin need to be taken by injection. Taken orally, the digestive enzymes destroy them by breaking their peptide bonds. Steroid/thyroid hormones both are effective when taken orally as they are not split apart during digestion and easily cross the intestial lining because they are lipid soluble.

Mechanism of hormone action
The endocrine system acts by releasing hormones that in turn trigger actions in specific target cells. Receptors on target cell membranes bind only to one type of hormone. More than fifty human hormones have been identified; all act by binding to receptor molecules. The binding hormone changes the shape of the receptor causing the response to the hormone. There are two mechanisms of hormone action on all target cells.


Water Soluble
Water soluble hormones do not enter the cell but bind to plasma membrane receptors, generating a chemical signal (second messenger) inside the target cell. Five different second messenger chemicals, including cyclic AMP have been identified. Second messengers activate other intracellular chemicals to produce the target cell response.







Lipid soluble
The second mechanism involves steroid hormones, which pass through the plasma membrane and act in a two step process. Steroid hormones bind, once inside the cell, to the nuclear membrane receptors, producing an activated hormone-receptor complex. The activated hormone-receptor complex binds to DNA and activates specific genes, increasing production of proteins.



Phew! I know this was a long one, guys! Probably the longest one yet! And I have to tell ya - we're not even finished yet!! There's so much that I haven't said in this post!! Plus we still have Renal and Respiratory!! O_o IKR! LOL!
Anyway, I hope you are all well and I hope you enjoyed this post!
I find all this fascinating! I love learning about how the human body works. It's truely amazing that it all goes on without us consciously knowing about it!!
Anyway, ttyl!!

Emily

Introductions: Starting the first semester

Hello!
Welcome to the first ever post on 'Through The Labyrinth'! My name is Emily and I am a first year Adult Nursing student at University Campus Suffolk. The aim of this blog is pretty much just to act as a kind of portfolio (so i can look back on my time at university at the end of the three years). It will also be a learning resource. I hope to post information about what I am learning in lectures and stuff and also this blog is just so that I can vent my emotions and stress etc.
Anyway, more about me, eh? Well, I chose nursing because it seems like a good enough career. I've always wanted to work in a hospital because I pretty much grew up in hopsitals because of visiting other family members so I never feel strange walking into hospitals...
Anyway, I like studying. Always have, really. My best subjects at school were maths and science. I love anatomy and physiology (A&P) as well.
Ok, so I've just started university. I started Monday and it's currently only a few days into the semester. Induction week has been ok I suppose. We've pretty much just been sitting there listening to lecturers drone on and on about 'deadlines', 'expectations' and blah-blah-blah... admittedly it HAS been fairly... BORING. I almost fell asleep, tbf. -_-
But I really love the UCS campus, it is situated on the Ipswich waterfront and it's so beautiful. On my daily commute I walk along the waterfront. Today the sun glistened off the surface of the water. It was beautiful.
I must say, however, I have a few tips for prospective 2012/2013 students who will be starting in September.
Below are a few tips for the first few days of university. What to bring, how to prepare and what to expect of your first few days...

What to bring...
*A notebook - at least A6 size. You will find that you'll be writing down you timetable/important names and dates. Don't forget this!!
*Two pens - in case one decides to break.
*A plastic A4-size wallet - you will be given SO MANY random pieces of paper, this will be INVALUABLE! Also, being plastic it will protect important papers from rain, leaking water bottles etc. Practically idiot proof.
*Money - Even if you plan to bring a packed lunch, you may decide to get a coffee or a blueberry muffin on-campus at breaktime, which is NOT cheap, might i add.
*Mobile Phone - To text mummy or daddy to let them know how you're getting on! But!!! Keep it on silent. No vibrate! No wolf-whistle ringtones, either.
*SFE info - Probably the most important thing to bring after yourself. Without Student finance information, the admin office will not be able to scan the little barcode to confirm your attendance and you know what THAT means. Yep. NO MONEY until your attendnce is confirmed. Make sure you bring it. Otherwise it'll take longer to get your money.
*Enrolment confirmation - Without this, you might not be allowed into classes.

How to prepare...
*Clothing and (a supportive and comfortable) bag (not a handbag) - Prepare your clothing, lay them out ready. Pack your bag and put it by the door, the night before. This means that if you wake up late, you can just grab them and GO!! Also, please, please DO NOT bring a handbag. Your shoulder will ache at the end of the day. It's not worth it. Wear a good, strong and supportive rucksack. Believe it or not, many people do. It's not just a geek thing. These rucksacks are good.
*ALARM CLOCK!! - Do i really need to explain this one? Set your alarm at a reasonable time to allow yourself to get up, have a shower, get changed, have something to eat and actually get there!
*Books - It's nice to be enthusiastic about your course and all but DON'T buy any books until after the first lecture at least! I actually lost count of how many times my lecturers have told us NOT to buy books until we are absolutely sure that we need it. Remember, google books is just as good and the library at your college is brilliant too! Use these resources as much as you can! They are free after all.
*Sleep - Please, please, please!!! Get enough sleep the night before!! Believe it or not lectures are actually very tiring. If your uni is campus based, you will find that you will walk around a lot and also talk a lot which really drains your energy! So go to bed at a reasonable time, say 10:00-ish. No, not 01:00. please. No Xbox if you can help it. No video games! You need sleep!! Don't waste this valuable time!
*Grooming - I know I kind of touched on this but I thought of something else... Make sure that you clothe yourself according to the weather. Don't make the same mistakes I did in the first few days. Look outside as you wake up. Is it raining? Windy? Chilly? What is the weather forecast for the day? Chilly at first but warmer later? Plan ahead! Also, get a hair cut one-two weeks before to allow it to grow in a bit. (It will look better!) And DON'T pluck your eyebrows in the morning. Unless you want red patches on your face for others to stare at... Also, this kinda ties in...
*Personal hygiene - Let's face it, no-one wants to sit next to someone with a BO problem. And no-one wants to be friends with someone with smelly hair or dirty clothes. It's just COMMON SENSE!! I mean, I don't mean to be rude but, COME ON!! There's NO excuse. Have a shower/bath in the morning. Not the night before. You actually sweat a LOT whilst sleeping. Plus, it makes you feel more alert and more ready to face the day.
*Enrolment - Another very inportant point. Make sure you enrol before you go for your first day. Depending on the university, you'll either enrol online or by post. Make sure you check the post or e-mail inbox regularly for any notifications from the uni telling you to enrol. If you dont enrol, well... you won't be on the registration list on your first day... And that might cause a few problems... Also, you won't get your student ID card, which (especially at my uni) will mean you will have very limited access to university facilities meaning you won't be able to gain access to the lecture theatres, library and other vital study areas.
*Reading - Some courses (not all) will send you a reading list before you start your course. Make sure you read all that is required. You don't wanna be behind on the first day.
*Your own laptop & printer - A few weeks before I would say it is very wise to invest in a good laptop. Why? You will NOT (or rather you will but it would be extremely difficult) for you to study/complete assignments/dissertation without your own laptop. Even if you share a laptop with a sibling/other family member or partner. Chances are, the other person will get peed off with having restricted time on the laptop to play World Of Warcraft or.. whatever they play... and this means home life will start to bug you. If you have NO money before you start I would recommend buying a laptop as soon as your SFE payment has been received. Laptops are amazing. They are portable works of art, use them to your advantage. Here is the one I have. (Another tip: don't buy a laptop just because it's cheap. Chances are it's a pile of poo. Spend the extra £100-ish for better quality). Also, buy your own printer. There will be lines and lines of people at the college printers and what if the printers are 'out of order' the day of the deadline? Opps. Yep, spend that extra £30 and get a decent printer. It will save you a lot of stress later on. This is my one.

Other tips...
*Dont be afraid to be alone - Granted, it would be great to make friends on the first day but this doesn't always happen. If you find yourself in this predicament there are always areas you can escape to by yourself at lunchtime. Most libraries have eating areas and I'm sure there are plenty of off-campus coffee shops. And not forgetting McDonalds or Burger king. Remember, it's only the first week. Chill. After classes or in study periods take a little walk to find some of these smaller coffee shops that charge a fraction of the price Costa and Starbucks do. Plus, there are, more often, no queues which means less study time to waste. Also, do the same for study spots. In the first two weeks seek out quiet areas for study. Some places will be more crowded than others but there are always quieter times and quieter areas around campus.
*Don't shout out in lectures - might sound a bit weird but it's true. So many people just shout out their 'answers' during a discussion. Be polite and raise your hand slightly just to get the lecturers attention. Granted, you're not a child anymore but it's just something called 'manners'. You don't wanna shout something out and then the lecturer isn't even listening to you. Embarrassing, much? Also, there is someone kinda like this is my lectures and she has no friends. I mean, there might not be a correlation but I'm betting that that is why...
*Don't flirt - Again, I can explain. Don't push yourself forward on guys. It's weird. You've JUST met them. Sure, greet them as you pass in the halls or make small talk like you've been doing to pretty much everyone on your course. Just, rule out flirting. It's humiliating. So just don't (at least for induction/when you're sober anyway...). Also, guys might think you're desparate and might take advantage later on. Other girls might think you are just being their friends to get the boys attention. Either way, you're screwed.
*NO chewing gum - Remember in high school when you got told off for chewing gum in class? Well, don't chew in lectures. It's distracting and you might get told to spit it out. On your first day. In front of 150 other people in the lecture theatre. Don't humiliate yourself. Please. Most lecturers don't like you eating/drinking in classes anyway. But if you really can't stand it, eat a mint.
*Try to enjoy it - uni is hard but it's also very exciting and its very different to what you may have experienced at sixth form or school or wherever. There is more freedom. But in the first two weeks just pace yourself. You dont HAVE to join societies or sign up to be a course rep etc in the first two days. Just settle in. Take it easy. Don't spread yourself too thin or you'll have less time for assignments/studying. Enjoy what you're learning. You are paying for it after all! xD

Ok, I've said enough ^^
What a lovely first post, eh? (:
Very longggg. But, hey.
I hope it was helpful. Check back soon for my next post!!

Emily