Friendly faces and crazy work places
Tuesday moved me to the front runners of any hospital; the ICU. Though I only had one patient, it felt like I had 30! I didn't realize how rusty I was with some of my skills...but, injury was prevented at all times and the patient didn't complain. Didn't really help the fact that I had a wicked cold all this week (still do!), which made my contact limited, but I still had to get done what I was supposed. The nurse I was with...FANTASTIC. She walked me through all the necessary steps and put me right in the front line; whatever needed to be done she made sure I had first-hand experience. Man, I did it ALL; from everything to a pain assessment to giving my first intra-muscular injection!!! Nice big shot of Toradol in the leg; the patient didn't even FLINCH. Yeehaw! I did...other things as well, but they were a little more invasive so if you really want to know just ask me in person.
The scare of the day came near the end of my time on the floor. Let me briefly inform you of what occurred prior to this moment; my patient had not complied with her BiPap machine (used for sleep apnea) because she didn't like it, so she only would wear it at night. The nurse and I fought tooth and nail for her to wear it for just a little while, and eventually she agreed. We took it off so she could eat lunch. I'd say...10 minutes after she had had it off, she buzzed for us. I went in the room first and I could already tell something wasn't right. I asked her what was wrong and she told me she wanted it back on. Immediately, I ran out of the room and notified the nurse I was with for the day. We put it back on her and she called the physician. After that point I left. I am unsure of this patient's outcome, but in a field such as this, if you have a gut feeling, don't ignore it. It could mean saving someone's life.
Now...yesterday. It was the start of our new rotation at Bluegrass, which is a facility for the chronically mental ill. And the Home part of the title...really is true. For some of the individuals, it is their home; it's all they've got. Some of the patients (I guess residents would be more politically correct) had only been there for a month or 2, some had been there seven, eight years, some longer. Like I said, it's really their home. It's a much different environment so far; there's less structure and the residents get to pick the groups they go to, which I believe is very beneficial. Some of the residents were very friendly and loved to talk to us. Me and one of the students in my group (who happens to be a very good friend of mine) were talking to this one guy for a while. I don't even remember what we talked about....just everything.
Honestly, sometimes I think as nursing students, we get so wrapped up in finding out what the problem is, assessing and doing interventions that we forget that these are real people. We put labels on them such as "the patient in bed 4 with COPD," or "the newly admitted diabetic patient." I do this mistake so often, more than I should, and when you're busy and have to do this that and the other it amazes me how quickly I forget this simple fact. It's something that I myself am going to try and work on. In the meantime, I suppose it'll take a conscious effort; me realizing it in action. It won't be easy, but hey. Goals are good! :]
Next week: another week at Bluegrass and then on Tuesday, I'm in the front line, AKA where supposedly all the action happens AKA the Emergency Department! Hopefully it'll be successful...maybe start an IV or two...only time will tell.
The scare of the day came near the end of my time on the floor. Let me briefly inform you of what occurred prior to this moment; my patient had not complied with her BiPap machine (used for sleep apnea) because she didn't like it, so she only would wear it at night. The nurse and I fought tooth and nail for her to wear it for just a little while, and eventually she agreed. We took it off so she could eat lunch. I'd say...10 minutes after she had had it off, she buzzed for us. I went in the room first and I could already tell something wasn't right. I asked her what was wrong and she told me she wanted it back on. Immediately, I ran out of the room and notified the nurse I was with for the day. We put it back on her and she called the physician. After that point I left. I am unsure of this patient's outcome, but in a field such as this, if you have a gut feeling, don't ignore it. It could mean saving someone's life.
Now...yesterday. It was the start of our new rotation at Bluegrass, which is a facility for the chronically mental ill. And the Home part of the title...really is true. For some of the individuals, it is their home; it's all they've got. Some of the patients (I guess residents would be more politically correct) had only been there for a month or 2, some had been there seven, eight years, some longer. Like I said, it's really their home. It's a much different environment so far; there's less structure and the residents get to pick the groups they go to, which I believe is very beneficial. Some of the residents were very friendly and loved to talk to us. Me and one of the students in my group (who happens to be a very good friend of mine) were talking to this one guy for a while. I don't even remember what we talked about....just everything.
Honestly, sometimes I think as nursing students, we get so wrapped up in finding out what the problem is, assessing and doing interventions that we forget that these are real people. We put labels on them such as "the patient in bed 4 with COPD," or "the newly admitted diabetic patient." I do this mistake so often, more than I should, and when you're busy and have to do this that and the other it amazes me how quickly I forget this simple fact. It's something that I myself am going to try and work on. In the meantime, I suppose it'll take a conscious effort; me realizing it in action. It won't be easy, but hey. Goals are good! :]
Next week: another week at Bluegrass and then on Tuesday, I'm in the front line, AKA where supposedly all the action happens AKA the Emergency Department! Hopefully it'll be successful...maybe start an IV or two...only time will tell.
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