Whoopsies, I haven't been updating very well. My B. I am almost done with week 3! My friend Joy ends tomorrow, I'm going to be sad to not see her after this week. We joke and giggle all day, and it makes time go by really quickly. I admire her so much, she is timely, efficient, and has great repertoire with patients. Also, she's very organized and I feel as if I learn from her. Though, she is always telling me she is learning from me. I hope we still get together after she ends. She'll be starting school and being busy though, so we shall see!
I have become SO much more comfortable with walking in to see patients, doing evals, and treatments. I feel as if my chart review time could definitely use some decreasing, though I am efficient. I'm also constantly kicking myself for forgetting certain things (like checking handedness... stupid). All in due time... I do have 7 weeks left after this one.
High of my week: having a patient's mother get so happy when I told her her son responded to a command and squeezed my finger. Seeing some of the things I have seen--- I am so GRATEFUL. Ridiculously grateful. I have my limbs, my organs, my health all intact... I can't even imagine being in a scenario where hearing that my grown child was able to squeeze a finger is a milestone.
Low of my week: a patient I evaled presented EXACTLY how my grandfather did when he became very sick and passed away... it made me get a bit misty eyed, but I soldiered on. I hoped that she could at least receive care that my grandfather didn't... and would recover fully.
As far as hanging out, I've been doing some fun things. Last weekend, I went to the Millenia mall with my roommate,went by the pool, went on walks (I NEED to work out more) and just relaxed. Saw "The Help" last night-- it actually compared to the book, I thought... rarely happens where the book and movie are parallel. Highly recommended. Tonight, I made delicious parmesan crusted zucchini sticks and guinness glazed chicken breast. DE-LIC-IOUS. Point scoring meal. I'm not happy, content, drinking a beer, and watching tv.
Early to bed tonight, tomorrow I'm going out after clinical with Joy to celebrate her ending clinical ! Yay fun things.
Missin' RI, stay safe from Irene :) <3
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Friday, August 19, 2011
3 day weekends rock!
Finished week 2! Onto another 3 day weekend. Nothing planned for this one, so we'll see what happens. Today I slept in ridiculously late.... well, slept/laid in bed not sleeping/reading/sleeping again. I couldn't motivate myself to move. At the same time, I felt guilty for wasting daylight hours. Whackadoodle. I finally got motivated and went for a walk, while talking on the phone of course :). Showered up, ran some errands. Highlight of my day was when the cute boy at Starbucks gave me my latte for free since I let a girl go in front of me... and she had 8 drink orders. Pays to be nice :) ! He also gave me a coupon for another free drink: aka, I will go back in and see him :)
This week, all in all, went really well. I got my feet wet by doing a lot of evals/screens/treats on other floors. When I was back in ICU yesterday (my CI was over his pneumonia... mostly) I was more comfortable doing them in there. I think the weirdest part for me right now is learning how to do an assessment on someone who is non-responsive. To me, I automatically think "What information could I possibly get from this person?" However, my CI can go in, cranial nerve test, estimate a GCS, assess vitals, and range/MMT. It's definitely a strange process and new way of doing things to learn. I am enjoying it though.
I miss all of my friends from home terribly, and I can't wait to see my family again... people, get on skype! I'm 100% always willing to Skype chat :)
This week, all in all, went really well. I got my feet wet by doing a lot of evals/screens/treats on other floors. When I was back in ICU yesterday (my CI was over his pneumonia... mostly) I was more comfortable doing them in there. I think the weirdest part for me right now is learning how to do an assessment on someone who is non-responsive. To me, I automatically think "What information could I possibly get from this person?" However, my CI can go in, cranial nerve test, estimate a GCS, assess vitals, and range/MMT. It's definitely a strange process and new way of doing things to learn. I am enjoying it though.
I miss all of my friends from home terribly, and I can't wait to see my family again... people, get on skype! I'm 100% always willing to Skype chat :)
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Week 2 Day 2
Sooooo yesterday started with a whole new batch butterflies, of course. Week 2. Have to be on my game. Be ready. Review cardiac rhythms. I'm feeling alright as I go in yesterday. Literally 20 minutes into my morning, my CI becomes seriously ill, and leaves. Wooooo... curveball. Ashley gets assigned to a new PT.. different floors, different cases, different type of education style. Cue n/v...
It ended up working out. The PT I was assigned to was a difficult woman to read at first, and I was highly intimidated. Eventually we got into a groove and I ended up doing evals, screening patients, treating patients, seeing all kinds of people, and actually getting used to documentation. Not to say it is better than being in the ICU--- it's just different. I felt way more comfortable being around patients with less complications, less lines, and less scary beeping noises (that I legitimately hear in my sleep).
In the past 2 days I have actually gotten to see some interesting things. Gun shot wounds, infections, de conditioning, cancer...learning about all if these conditions and different patients and different presentations was really helpful. I do feel prepared to return to the ICU and *HOPEFULLY* be prepared to handle some more complex things on my own.
In other news, I walked/jogged/full sprinted to my car from the hospital in the pouring rain/thunderstorm. Which is like... 4 streets away. SWEEEET. OH, and I wore my new glasses today to break them in... genius idea. I also had to be legitimately fearful of getting struck by lightening because that HAPPENS here. In fact.. when I got home the news was on, showing how 6 people @ Sea World were struck in that storm.... OY. AND my car was on the 7th level parking garage.
It worked out well. I made it, changed out of SOPPING wet scrubs. Ate bread and chicken and beer. I'm on movie #2.
I am spending lots of time with my two roommates... I hope they don't get sick of me/think I'm annoying. I don't get that impression but I still feel like I'm walking on some eggshells. EEK. My own way of thinking though because I'm craycrayyy. Anyyyyyyywho. I'm outta here. Day 3 week 2 tomorrow. LITERALLY have no idea if I'm going to be with my CI or not. Who knows. Weeeeeee!
It ended up working out. The PT I was assigned to was a difficult woman to read at first, and I was highly intimidated. Eventually we got into a groove and I ended up doing evals, screening patients, treating patients, seeing all kinds of people, and actually getting used to documentation. Not to say it is better than being in the ICU--- it's just different. I felt way more comfortable being around patients with less complications, less lines, and less scary beeping noises (that I legitimately hear in my sleep).
In the past 2 days I have actually gotten to see some interesting things. Gun shot wounds, infections, de conditioning, cancer...learning about all if these conditions and different patients and different presentations was really helpful. I do feel prepared to return to the ICU and *HOPEFULLY* be prepared to handle some more complex things on my own.
In other news, I walked/jogged/full sprinted to my car from the hospital in the pouring rain/thunderstorm. Which is like... 4 streets away. SWEEEET. OH, and I wore my new glasses today to break them in... genius idea. I also had to be legitimately fearful of getting struck by lightening because that HAPPENS here. In fact.. when I got home the news was on, showing how 6 people @ Sea World were struck in that storm.... OY. AND my car was on the 7th level parking garage.
It worked out well. I made it, changed out of SOPPING wet scrubs. Ate bread and chicken and beer. I'm on movie #2.
I am spending lots of time with my two roommates... I hope they don't get sick of me/think I'm annoying. I don't get that impression but I still feel like I'm walking on some eggshells. EEK. My own way of thinking though because I'm craycrayyy. Anyyyyyyywho. I'm outta here. Day 3 week 2 tomorrow. LITERALLY have no idea if I'm going to be with my CI or not. Who knows. Weeeeeee!
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Sunday 8/14/2011
Today marks my first full week of living down in Fl. This week has been an absolute whirlwind.
I moved into a condo with a PT from the hospital I'm doing my clinical at, and her roommate. I have to say- I am extremely lucky they're so accepting and easy going. I am really starting to feel comfortable living here. at first, it was a strange feeling to be moving into someone else's home, when I have been living in the same house in CT with people moving in and out. The condo is gorgeous-- high ceilings, beautiful colors... a pool in walking distance (still haven't made it there).
The hospital is... HUGE. Let's put it in perspective: I am from RHODE ISLAND.. smallest state. No big deal, whatever. The main hospital there is decent sized, it is a trauma center, it's a great hospital. This hospital in Orlando is... huge. I haven't figured out my way around, but I'm sure I will (eventually). They have Dunkin coffee in the cafeteria (win!) as well as these delicious M&M cookies (which may prove to be a really bad thing).
I am working in the ICU, seeing a massive variety of diagnoses and complications. Things I have never seen before, nor thought I would ever see before. I feel completely overwhelmed by the equipment in the room and the lines, tubes, apparatuses that I never imagined seeing... it's scary. However... I also feel like I can do it. It will be a matter of diligently reviewing information and constantly seeking answers, but I feel like I can do this.
Being away from home is hard, of course. Many times, I feel like I am in CT for school and can travel home for a weekend if I wanted to.. then it will hit me how much further away I am. I am the type of person who needs to be careful not to slip into thinking too negatively about things, or else I get overly upset. If I can remain focused on the positive times and not focus so much on being far from home and missing my family, friends and life in Rhode Island, I will be okay. Key word: distract! I plan on trying to distract myself in many different ways, by hopefully experiencing many different things.
I hope this will be a way for me to vent out my feelings, and "talk" to a larger portion of people I am not always able to speak with on a daily basis. I hope to share anecdotes and little stories about my day, vent frustrations with learning, and maybe share a laugh or two.
I moved into a condo with a PT from the hospital I'm doing my clinical at, and her roommate. I have to say- I am extremely lucky they're so accepting and easy going. I am really starting to feel comfortable living here. at first, it was a strange feeling to be moving into someone else's home, when I have been living in the same house in CT with people moving in and out. The condo is gorgeous-- high ceilings, beautiful colors... a pool in walking distance (still haven't made it there).
The hospital is... HUGE. Let's put it in perspective: I am from RHODE ISLAND.. smallest state. No big deal, whatever. The main hospital there is decent sized, it is a trauma center, it's a great hospital. This hospital in Orlando is... huge. I haven't figured out my way around, but I'm sure I will (eventually). They have Dunkin coffee in the cafeteria (win!) as well as these delicious M&M cookies (which may prove to be a really bad thing).
I am working in the ICU, seeing a massive variety of diagnoses and complications. Things I have never seen before, nor thought I would ever see before. I feel completely overwhelmed by the equipment in the room and the lines, tubes, apparatuses that I never imagined seeing... it's scary. However... I also feel like I can do it. It will be a matter of diligently reviewing information and constantly seeking answers, but I feel like I can do this.
Being away from home is hard, of course. Many times, I feel like I am in CT for school and can travel home for a weekend if I wanted to.. then it will hit me how much further away I am. I am the type of person who needs to be careful not to slip into thinking too negatively about things, or else I get overly upset. If I can remain focused on the positive times and not focus so much on being far from home and missing my family, friends and life in Rhode Island, I will be okay. Key word: distract! I plan on trying to distract myself in many different ways, by hopefully experiencing many different things.
I hope this will be a way for me to vent out my feelings, and "talk" to a larger portion of people I am not always able to speak with on a daily basis. I hope to share anecdotes and little stories about my day, vent frustrations with learning, and maybe share a laugh or two.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)