Normally, I don't like to talk about school. BUT I must today. =)
I was in the emergency room to do my clinical rotation this week. Yesterday was a long day but I didn't get to do much. The nurse I was shadowing felt that the patients he was getting were hard sticks and that he should do them his own. So, he did everything. I just basically shadowed him and was his little "go get this, go get that" girl. ha ha. Oh actually, now that I think about it, I learned how to put the 12 lead EKG.
Anyhoo, today I had a different nurse. And she asked what year I was in and what I'm capable of. I told her the same thing I told the nurse yesterday. So, she said, okay, I'll see what you can help with. She told all the nurses in the ER that if they needed to "stick" anyone, to let her know so that she can let me know! How cool is that? And when she wasn't busy, she would walk around the ER to see if anyone had a patient that needed and IV running. She was so cool. So..I had a few patients that needed to get their IV started. She was with me while I did the IV start and talked me into it. THANKFULLY, all the IVs were in the veins like they were supposed to!!! WHOO WHEE! Oh wait. There was a lady who had a twisting vein. So, even though I was holding her veins down, it twisted a bit. I was able to see blood and able to flush the IV with normal saline...BUT it blew. =( But I still considered that a success cuz I still was able to get blood back and was able to flush her line. ha ha.
I was busy helping that patient out the whole time and I was able to give her meds (Dilaudid) all the time. So, I was late to the post conference held by my teacher. And a few minutes after I walked in, the teacher said, "no more prepping". I said, "excuse me, I don't think I heard you. What did you say? Did you say no more prepping?" She said, yes, no more prepping. I was so overwhelmed! I started crying!! In front of my classmates, mind you. ha ha. I couldn't help myself. I was so emotional because that means we're getting near the end. I mean, of course I knew we're nearing the end. I kept track of how many weeks we have left as a student nurse. BUT to have it validated by your teacher. WOWW. I was in tears! I still can't believe it!
Let me give you a little background and maybe you'll see my excitement:
Since school started, we had to go to the hospital a day before to get the information we needed for our patients. That included, looking at the patients' diagnosis, medications, and labs. And then we come home to prep for them, which included making a care plan. In the beginning of the nursing program, we only had to prepare for 1 patient. Then 2 patients, and then 3 patients. We were also picking up new patients when we get on the floor because some of the patients we have prepped for the day before were discharged by the time we get to the floor the following day. So, that meant, we spent hours preparing for a patient who were not able to take care of anymore. That was frustrating and was a pain in the you know what.
So, by us not having to prep anymore, we will not be required to go to the hospital the day before and we will not have to prepare for our patients the night before either. So, all around, lots of time saving! BUT that means, you better know your sh!t because you're responsible for your patient from the beginning of shift until the end and you won't have your computer to help you "guide" your patient care...
Sigh...what a week! And it's only Wednesday. ha ha.