GRACE- January 12/22, 2015

      The residents haven't been on as edge as they usually are. Last week, when in G.B., a few of my peers and I hit a balloon back and forth to keep the residents busy. I stood between one lady who seemed almost afraid of the little red balloon and a man who was more than excited that he got to hit something. There wasn't a lot of talking or social skills, it was more helping the residents if anything; which I like. To be honest I prefer being able to help without word than I do sitting down and holding conversation about stuff I really have no interest in. Residents seem to really enjoy Disney songs, though. One of my close co-workers and I started singing "Make A Man Out Of You," from Mulan (aka the best Disney movie to possibly exist). I think that's one of the happiest times I've seen the residents. We continued on with more songs, which they loved. I think it makes them feel young or go back to happier times, which is sweet. I kind of want to encourage the others to sing. It makes the residents feel like they're sort of relevant to our generation, along with allowing them to relive some parts of their childhood or teenage years.
      Moving on, Therapy honestly isn't as bad as everyone makes it out to be. I enjoy it, especially because the residents have more of a reason to talk to you. Calms my anxiety of being ignored or regretted a little bit. Also, the workers in therapy (if asked) are super willing to help you. Don't get me wrong, a few of them are little standoffish and question your every move, but the two I normally talk to are always really nice and ready to help teach me. Exciting news! I got to feel what a shoulder after a reverse shoulder replacement felt like. Reverse shoulder replacement, for the resident, occurred because her rotatory cuff made up of 4 muscles was almost towards the middle of her humerus. Compared to her other shoulder that was soft and loose (and mobile), her left shoulder seemed tight and very limited. I would describe it as a really big knot or a piece of ply wood under the skin but both relations seem a little under exaggerated or over exaggerated.

January 9th, 2015- Respiratory Therapy

Report

What were your responsibilities or duties this week?

  My responsibilities were more professional, than medical. I was to be in proper dress code and present myself in the most professional way possible. Soft skills like respecting people's wishes, understanding the other side of conflict, and handling hard situations were tested this week.

What new knowledge or skill did you learn this week?

   I learned a lot about what respiratory therapists do, where they work, and what equipment they use in a normal day, which gave me a realistic idea of the job rather than a textbook definition. I gained how awkward being in the room with the dead is... It just feels like your trespassing a sentimental moment in someone's life. That's someone family member, friend, coworker, etc, and you're just a high school student with a close to none, vague relation to this person who just took their last breath.

What was the best thing that happened at the unpaid work-based learning site this week?

   Obviously, I got see someone pass away. Not something you get to see every day. I'm glad I got to experience it, even though it was a depressing event. I think it's something everyone needs to learn how to handle if they're going to be in the medical field.

What was the worst thing that happened at the unpaid work learning site this week?

   After the 30 minutes of being with the deceased, I spent the rest of the time listening to one of the therapists gossip about her marriage and family life. I couldn't really ask questions either because they were pretty dead set on ranting for as long as they did.

If the "worst" was a mistake, how was it corrected?

  The situation could have been handled by asking questions, but I felt it was kind of rude and inappropriate for me to interrupt  randomly to ask a question. 

This week was GOOD

   I got to see something most don't get to see in the clinicals for KatyISD. The events that happened made me value my life a little more and give me ideas on what to do in a professional setting. 

Record

Technology: I viewed two breathing machines, one used with a tube which goes through the mouth and the other with a mask, for those who are uncomfortable with the tube. The mask forces the patient to take a big breath while the tube is more steady.
Diagnostic Procedures: No diagnostic procedures were viewed. I was told about the patient's condition with LifeSupport but that's really it.
Therapeutic Procedures: The respiratory therapist I was with was very respectful towards the fact that the patient had just died. She mentioned about not being in there for long and just having a moment of silence each time she had to go clean up on one of those sites. She also disinfected the breathing machines with what seemed to be like a clorox wipe, but probably something stronger. Gloves and hand sanitizer was also used.
Diseases/Disorders: The man was said to have had some sort of fatal accident that put him where he was. She wasn't really direct on it.
Medical Terminology/Abbreviations: If there was, I can't remember any of it. She went into detail about the morgue and the process of dying, along with as a health care professional, how to deal with it.
Other: She did a really good job at explaining the respiratory therapists job. She talked about how you change a floor everyday so you get to move around a lot and work with all age groups. The morgue also was explained to me, how it was small with only about four to five beds in it and how security or the funeral home moves them.

GRACE- January 8th, 2015

   Slowly figuring out that the elderly population is not one of the age groups I want to work. It may be the experience I'm getting from the facility but most of the residents seem just to be depressed or mad they're there... In rehab for this week, we did what we always do; Ice. After, my peer and I went to Activities which was in the area for residents who were not mentally capable to be alone where I was then very uncomfortable. We used this parachute game, and bless their hearts, most were not that into it. One lady, when I was asked to wheel her in for the game, looked at me and asked, "What's your problem?" She seemed like she was not having me that day. When I told her I didn't have a problem in the most respectful way possible, she goes, "I don't believe it," going on with her business. I was then informed she does that to about everyone and my nerves calmed a little but for that moment I was just really self conscious. Some of the patients are so sweet, like the man who reminds me a lot of my grandfather that I met right before the break ended with his southern roots and love for fishing and of course the class favorite resident who almost everyone adores. This week just wasn't my week; but I learned that working with all age groups is really what I would like, not just a specific one.