Med Surg 5th Floor- February 13th

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What were your responsibilities or duties this week? 
   My responsibilities included being professional and observing the nurse I was following. I was to be respectful and considerate to the staff and patients.
What new knowledge or skill did you learn this week?
   I gained new medical terminology while in med surg. I also got a better understanding of what goes into charting.
What was the best thing that happened at the unpaid work-based learning site this week?
   As dumb as it might seem, my favorite part of this rotation was a chart. Med Surg has this little customer service and each time a staff member gets a good report, they get a little gold star. It's like the good noodle chart, but professional and childish (which are probably two words that shouldn't be in the same sentence.
What was the worst thing that happened at the unpaid work-based learning site this week?
   If I had to pick a worst, it was probably the patient's daughter during one of the injections the nurse was doing. She gave me this whole lecture on the importance of hand washing, her mom's past medical history, what I should look forward to as a nurse (which isn't what I want to do) and her opinion of the hospital. I was thoroughly uncomfortable, and just nodded my head and smiled, watching what the nurse was doing.
If the "worst" was a mistake, how was it corrected?
   I could have been nicer about it and actually held a conversation with the daughter. In my defense though, she was being very hard to be conversational with talking about her mom getting hit by bus and how well I should be washing my hands so I could be like the nurse I was following.
This week was FAIR. Why?
    Well aside from the fact it was Med Surg, it was more active than it usually was. I got to see a rectal injection, understand dietary changes, and see complex soft skills. There was still a lot of charting and waiting around, but the nurse was very active in making sure I understood what was going on.

Emergency Room- February 6th, 2015

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What were you're responsibilities or duties this week?

   My responsibilities this week included professionalism, soft skills, and knowing my boundaries. I was to assist the nurses and technicians I followed, without touching the patient and knowing my limit of knowledge in the hospital. I also was required to enforce federal law, even though it went against the nurse's opinion. 

What new knowledge or skill did you learn this week?

   I learned a lot about CPR, including by the third compression the ribs should be broken (if you're doing CPR right) and the depth of the compression will differ from body masses. I also learned medical terminology and new medical documenting.

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

    I got to see a full code! The whole thing! One of the coolest things I've ever seen in my life, along with one of the most real things. It was definitely an eye opener. 

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

   For the first few minutes of the rotation, it was pretty slow, then my instructor came in and kind of got the staff aware that I wanted to learn. From there it was pretty minor stuff, like putting in an IV. It escalated as time went on. 

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

   I probably should have been more prominent with staff. Ask questions to the nurses and have more a voice in the beginning. 

This week was: GOOD. Why?

   The code blue was literally such an eye opener for me. I finally got see why these people do what the do. The rush. The need to help. It was a good change from not seeing much to seeing why medical professionals get that drive and passion to help. 

GRACE- Number 4

Search for additional info on emphysema and bronchitis

    Emphysema is a type of COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) that causes the air sacs to be damaged leading to them swell and eventually burst. It also causes carbon dioxide to build up in the body. In 2005, most of the US population who had Emphysema were male, most to all were people who smoked due to cigarettes being like poison in the lungs. Testing includes CXRs, ABGs, CBCs, and pulmonary function tests, while treatment includes antibiotics and oxygen therapy. This disease is almost completely preventable because it's gotten through smoking. Stop smoking, stop yourself from getting another disease.
   Bronchitis is the inflammation of the bronchus, ranging from acute to chronic(Thanks med terms). This also is a form of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Just like emphysema, it is caused when there is damage to the lungs. For instance, smoking. Who'd of thought? Chronic is usually cause by smoking and involves chest pain, coughing with mucous, and chest pain, yet acute can also be assumed or associated with asthma. The preventives to chronic is stop smoking or stop inhaling harmful gases that could possibly kill your lungs while the acute bronchitis is usually caught early on and can be treated with antibiotics.

Physical Therapy/ Sports Medicine- January 30th, 2015

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What were you're responsibilities or duties this week?

   I was to observe a PT who also worked with sports medicine, and develop an understanding of muscle and bone strengthening. Professionalism, considerate care, and alertness was also part of my duties

What new knowledge or skill did you learn this week?

     A new piece of equipment, goniometer, which is used frequently in physical therapy was introduced to me. Also, different shoulder and arm evaluations were shown to me.

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

    The best part was just kind of feeling like this is where I am supposed to be. I wasn't that awkward, and I understood why and what was going on and was throughly interested. The people, aside from the first lady I was with, were all very open and humorous but understood that they we're there to do a job.

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

   For the first half of the rotation, the person I was following was so inattentive and didn't even acknowledge I was there. The person getting therapy had a cool injury too and I didn't even get to understand what was going on!

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

   I just moved to one of the other PTs who was doing something. The patient looked like an athlete so it seem to fit that I went with them.

This week was: GOOD. Why?

   It felt awesome that I could see myself in their shoes someday. Hopefully, in a more exciting place, but I just felt at home a little. I learned new things and I understood what was going on and how to act.

Record

Technology observed: A goniometer was shown to me. PTs and athletic trainers use it to measure angles on people so they get a better understanding of their range of motion which explains why it looks like a giant protractor. 

Diagnostic procedures observed: Evaluation of a shoulder with resistance testing and feeling the wound was used. The PT then evaluated the injury after to see what treatment should have been done for after the work out.

Therapeutic procedures observed: The athlete weight strengthening with the right arm to build endurance and wall jumps for resistance was shown. The PT would then use physical resistance pushing her hand into his shoulder blocking his range of motion to test and build strength for his shoulder.

Diseases/disorders observed: I saw a man with amputated leg with the first physical therapist I was with. It had to be fairly new because pain could be shown on his face when anyone touched it and the redness hadn't gone completely away. I assume it had to be his first or second therapy visit. 

Medical terminology/abbreviations encountered: Everyone just says PT instead of the whole name and most of them complain about doctor's handwriting (Looking at you 3rd/4th period). Also, ROM (Range of Motion) and ADLs(Activities of Daily Living) were used quite frequently.

Other: The therapists there were all very interested that I wanted PT and/or Psych. They were more shocked that I had an actual plan after leaving high school considering most of the kids who come through, "don't know or say 'I want to be a nurse' like every other person".