Update

Can you tell I'm not very creative right now? I don't have time for it. Really.

Just a quick post to say I think I know where I'd like to work when I finish....ER or Critical Care.

One of my patients tried to die on me yesterday...I was in her room while she was getting a bath because she just didn't look quite right to me. Wouldn't you know she crashed right there. We're talking called the CERT team (rapid response group), ran down the hall to grab the crash cart (because I can't do much in that situation right now, other than perform CPR), pushed a Code Blue (all the alarms go off...when there is no pulse or or breathing)....CRASHED. Of course I don't hope my patients are in that situation (I work on a pretty low-key unit right now), but it feels FANTASTIC to know how to help someone in that situation and I would LOVE to spend my working days in a fast paced environment like that. I'm also pretty happy with myself for going with my gut and staying with the patient because I FELT something was up. Not only did I enjoy the action, but once we got her stabilized a little bit, I enjoyed talking with the husband (because the nurses and NPs were still working on her a little bit) and letting him know that she was talking and responding to us. I didn't give him false hope, but I kept him apprised of the situation (part of what we've learned in school).

The patient was in ICU recovering from emergency surgery when I left, and so far is much better than she was. Back to studying, learning, insanity. In the next three weeks I have 14 exams...not a typo, 14. Updates for sure after that!

One Sixth of the Way

One down, five to go! I'm officially 1/6 of the way through the Bacc2 program at UTHSC. WOW! Every single day has been a huge learning experience. I'm working at The Methodist Hospital in Houston and LOVE it! I'm on an ortho floor, so it is fun to have patients that typically enter the hospital "healthy." Methodist is really awesome because they allow students to learn very hands on. I've already pulled 2 foley catheters (both patients thanked me and said it was painless), been involved when the CERT team was called for a patient that dropped their sats (O2 saturation - not enough oxygen in the blood), administered medications (with supervision of course), and had my very own patient to work-up and take care of. It is crazy how fast things are happening and I can only hope I'm retaining what I will need in the future. The biggest thing I've learned is that it is ALL ABOUT SAFETY...and a close 2nd is WASH YOUR HANDS! Anyhow....I hope to document a few interesting things that have happened (in the future) without disclosing any identifying info. If this post is a little incoherent, it is due to lack of sleep and dimatap consumption due to a pesky cold (likely resulting from lack of sleep....vicious cycle). Hope all is well for y'all. I'll post some pics from the last little while when I can find my camera cord! Until then.......