We sure don't mess around!
After my first week back on the floors of the wonderful world of nursing clinicals, I must say that I am utterly exhausted. I realize I have a lengthy journal entry to write for today's, but I am so exhausted right now I may fall asleep while typing this. Normally I don't sleep on the way home, but I conked out for about half an hour today. Ok, I know most of you are thinking "just shut it and suck it up," so I will now. :]
Anyway, this week I started once again brand new rotations. On Tuesdays, I am at Shriner's, which is a beautiful facility!! Wonderful healthcare is given to these young children; top of the notch if you ask me. If you are not familiar with their hospitals, then GET familiar. The very sad and unfortunate truth about these hospitals is that they are not very well known, and so most of them in the US are in possible danger of closing (including the one we are currently at). There are different focuses that the Shriner's Hospitals across the US have; the one we are at focuses on orthopedic problems. I, along with two other students in my group, were assigned to the outpatient clinic (there is also an inpatient area).
I saw SO MANY different cases, and it was insanely busy! The director who talked to us at the end of our day said there are somewhere of 1500+ patients seen A MONTH. I saw everything from Cerebral Palsy (AKA CP at the clinic) to bone growth disorders, ranging from ages very young to almost 18. We also encountered another "foreign contaminant" in this hospital; computerized charts and medication records. EVERYTHING is on a computer. All I could think was what if the entire system just crashed? Nothing. No backups. That would just...suck. It's taking some getting used to but it has its pros and cons for sure; I'll get it eventually :]
Now...onto today. Today was tough! I only had one patient but with the amount of work that we did it felt like we all had 4 or 5. Charting is hard, not to mention, but overtime I feel it will get easier...just have to remember what goes where. Anyway, so for this Med/Surg rotation us students from here on out will be "in charge" of providing entire care to two patients. Of course, the nurse assigned to these patients as well will guide us, not to mention my wonderful clinical instructor is also there to help us get on the right path. As I think about today, I make a very humble observation; I still have A LOT to learn. I thought I was pretty darn good at this nursing stuff, not that I'm bad, but like I said....lot of growing up to do. That's about all to report for this first week of being back on the saddle. More will be sure to come next week!
Anyway, this week I started once again brand new rotations. On Tuesdays, I am at Shriner's, which is a beautiful facility!! Wonderful healthcare is given to these young children; top of the notch if you ask me. If you are not familiar with their hospitals, then GET familiar. The very sad and unfortunate truth about these hospitals is that they are not very well known, and so most of them in the US are in possible danger of closing (including the one we are currently at). There are different focuses that the Shriner's Hospitals across the US have; the one we are at focuses on orthopedic problems. I, along with two other students in my group, were assigned to the outpatient clinic (there is also an inpatient area).
I saw SO MANY different cases, and it was insanely busy! The director who talked to us at the end of our day said there are somewhere of 1500+ patients seen A MONTH. I saw everything from Cerebral Palsy (AKA CP at the clinic) to bone growth disorders, ranging from ages very young to almost 18. We also encountered another "foreign contaminant" in this hospital; computerized charts and medication records. EVERYTHING is on a computer. All I could think was what if the entire system just crashed? Nothing. No backups. That would just...suck. It's taking some getting used to but it has its pros and cons for sure; I'll get it eventually :]
Now...onto today. Today was tough! I only had one patient but with the amount of work that we did it felt like we all had 4 or 5. Charting is hard, not to mention, but overtime I feel it will get easier...just have to remember what goes where. Anyway, so for this Med/Surg rotation us students from here on out will be "in charge" of providing entire care to two patients. Of course, the nurse assigned to these patients as well will guide us, not to mention my wonderful clinical instructor is also there to help us get on the right path. As I think about today, I make a very humble observation; I still have A LOT to learn. I thought I was pretty darn good at this nursing stuff, not that I'm bad, but like I said....lot of growing up to do. That's about all to report for this first week of being back on the saddle. More will be sure to come next week!
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