Rusty
Just an FYI, I didn't go to clinicals last week. I was icky sick with achies and a 99.6 temp, so I stayed in bed for most of the day. Still am sick, but I am at least able to function. I suppose nurses (or nurses to be) don't get sick days. This week was...a little bit of a rough one. Even after missing one week I feel like I was not on the top of my A-game. I suppose this happens, but hopefully next week will be better.
Thursday was rather busy. Both of my patients kept me busy; one more than the other. I suppose that's always the way it is, isn't it? If it isn't something it's something else. My first patient was admitted for GI upsets and mild dehydration. But there was something...different about this patient. It's hard to explain because you have to know mental health, but still. Something didn't seem right...just call it a gut feeling. She was very anxious about, everything. She went off the floor for a while for a procedure and I was about to see CAPD when she returned to the floor. I missed the CAPD. Bummer bummer, but your patients come first. I was about to give her her morning medication since she had been NPO since then and kept asking me question after question. "What is this?" "Will this make me throw up?" "How do I take this?" Luckily her sister was with her and was able to answer her questions, but I answered them as well. She took her one medication and was relatively quiet for a while...until I was about ready to leave the floor. Her O2 sats. were dropping in the upper-mid 80's (she had a chronic lung disease. Just can't remember which one) so we had to take care of that. My second patient was admitted for pneumonia primarily. He was a nice man, but was very particular of how he wanted things done. He had several foot wounds too, which is what he was most picky about. I can't blame the guy though; hospitals do a really good job of stripping one's independence. Other than that he was very patient with us, and he and his wife were just adorable!
Yesterday was not a typical day for me. I did my makeup clinicals where my clinical instructor works, which is in the ICU. She was the ONLY nurse there and had 3 patients to take care of; there was also a CNA on the floor too...and me. Later the clinical manager showed up and helped us out, but the entire day taught me a really good lesson. Don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it, even though help was never asked for. These people just jumped in and volunteered to help. That's something else we all should do too; if someone is struggling, even if they're not, offer a second hand. It keeps us safe and it keeps the patients safe. Kudos to my instructor!!!
Thursday was rather busy. Both of my patients kept me busy; one more than the other. I suppose that's always the way it is, isn't it? If it isn't something it's something else. My first patient was admitted for GI upsets and mild dehydration. But there was something...different about this patient. It's hard to explain because you have to know mental health, but still. Something didn't seem right...just call it a gut feeling. She was very anxious about, everything. She went off the floor for a while for a procedure and I was about to see CAPD when she returned to the floor. I missed the CAPD. Bummer bummer, but your patients come first. I was about to give her her morning medication since she had been NPO since then and kept asking me question after question. "What is this?" "Will this make me throw up?" "How do I take this?" Luckily her sister was with her and was able to answer her questions, but I answered them as well. She took her one medication and was relatively quiet for a while...until I was about ready to leave the floor. Her O2 sats. were dropping in the upper-mid 80's (she had a chronic lung disease. Just can't remember which one) so we had to take care of that. My second patient was admitted for pneumonia primarily. He was a nice man, but was very particular of how he wanted things done. He had several foot wounds too, which is what he was most picky about. I can't blame the guy though; hospitals do a really good job of stripping one's independence. Other than that he was very patient with us, and he and his wife were just adorable!
Yesterday was not a typical day for me. I did my makeup clinicals where my clinical instructor works, which is in the ICU. She was the ONLY nurse there and had 3 patients to take care of; there was also a CNA on the floor too...and me. Later the clinical manager showed up and helped us out, but the entire day taught me a really good lesson. Don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it, even though help was never asked for. These people just jumped in and volunteered to help. That's something else we all should do too; if someone is struggling, even if they're not, offer a second hand. It keeps us safe and it keeps the patients safe. Kudos to my instructor!!!
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