Responsibilities: To follow around the RN and observe.

Knowledge learned: I learned that the post anesthesia unit is primarily for pain control coming out of surgery.

Best Thing: My nurse really wanted to teach me. She even let me have some of the OJ they give to the patients.

Worst Thing: The hospital wasn't really busy.

This week was fair because there wasn't really much action.


Tech observed: There were a lot of heart monitors next to all the patients beds. IV pumps were hooked up to all the patients administering pain meds.

Diagnostic Procedures: She had to take vitals every 15 minutes which were automatically updated through all of the machines that were already reading her vitals. She manually took the temperature as well as checked the IVs.

Medical Terms: Hydromorphone-  a pain medication that is stronger than morphine.
Vikadin- A very strong pain med.

At MHKH the pacu wasn't very crowded. The people who were there were moaning in pain. The room smelled nice and it was kind of warm. There were a lot of doctors and RNs in the room caring for the patients. All the patients were hooked up to heart monitors and being heavily medicated.

The nurses and doctors work close together after surgery for the best possible care for the patients.They are able to joke around with each other because most of the patients are drowsy or asleep. While the patient are still there, the nurses keep a close eye  on all the monitoring systems. The nurses are very sympathetic yet have to be strong as most of the people when they wake up are moaning in pain.

I learned how medicated the patients have to be and also that the medical field is a painful place. The nurse put a needle into the IV bag to administer hydromorphone which is like morphine but stronger. They also prescribed a lot of vikadin, vallium, and hydrocodone. I also learned that some people react differently to anesthesia than others.

Overall the pacu was a pretty laid-back place. Most of the time they are either charting or giving medication. I had a good time talking to the nurse whom I was easily able to relate to. The place wasn't too busy so I didn't get to see everything I had hoped for. The pacu seems like a fun place to work.

1/9

Responsibilities: Follow around the RN, and observe.

What new knowledge did you aquire: Comfort care is important. It is almost like being a mother. There are negative pressure rooms for TB.

Best thing: I met some cool nurses!

Worst thing: I wasn't able to go in a droplet precaution room. 

This week was good because I got to see more patients than usual, and got more out of it.

Technology observed: I saw the IV monitor and this handle for obese patients who have trouble getting out of bed. I also got to see the negative pressure room for patients with TB.

 Diagnostic Procedures: I watched her fix an IV monitor. 

Therapeutic Procedures: She put an immobilizer on a patients elbow because the IV was irritating the patients arm as she bent it. I also watched her assist an elderly patient go to the bathroom.

 Diseases: One patient had a nasty case of pharyngitis.The other had an unknown virus and congestive heart failure.

 Medical terminology: Hydrocodone- an intense painkiller. Pharyngitis-The infection and swelling of the pharynx.

1/8 grace care admin.

This week in Grace Care I was in administration with a very professional nice lady. I sat through a progress meeting with a long term resident who chewed out the staff for not doing anything about her complaint, but it was about another resident so if the reacted they would be violating the rights of the other patient. I realize how hard it is for administration workers and have a new found appreciation. I could never do what they do and I even started laughing during the meeting, but not at the resident; I was laughing at how stressful it is for the workers.

1/9 med surg 6 journal

This week I was on the Med-surg 6 unit. I followed around an RN who was not a part of the regular staff at the hospital, but someone who just worked where needed. She had to adjust one patients IV because it irritated her and she continually bent her elbow causing the needle to dig into her. She didn't really use any technology except for the heart monitor on one patient and the blinking lights that were on each room after they hit their call buttons.

The nurse was very compassionate. She didn't enjoy her job as much as she enjoyed helping and developing a trust factor with the patients. She communicated with the dietitian effectively and followed most safety procedures... I wasn't allowed to go into the droplet precaution room, but I did stick my head in at first and was greeted by one of the worst smells ever! One therapeutic procedure was using aloe spray to help comfort a patient with congestive heart failure. A diagnostic procedure she used was putting a splint on a patient so she wouldn't bend her arm and the IV machine would stop beeping.

I learned that that the ratio on med surg floors are much higher at 5:1 patients to nurse care. There was a negative pressure that was especially designed for patient with TB. One patient we visited had pharyngitis and had to take dat good shizz (hydrocodone) because her throat almost was swollen shut, but her doctor didn't want to admit her. I guess he thought it wasn't that severe even though she almost died.

Overall this was a fun week as I actually got to see some cool things. The best part of the rotation was being able to meet and talk with the nurse who was awesome! Really the only bad part was not being allowed in the droplet precaution room. I think I got a good professional value out of it because I now know i want to get my doctorate degree.