Feeling like a nurse!
Today at Clinical (medical/surgical inpatient care at Metro Health Hospital ) I had a couple things happen that made me feel really good. The first happened in the morning. I was discontinuing a PVAD (peripheral venous access device, also called a saline lock, kind of like an IV with the long tubing disconnected) on my patient. While I was removing the catheter, the anesthesiologist came in to see the patient. After removing the catheter I had to hold pressure on the site for a few minutes to keep it from bleeding. The doctor wanted to inspect the patient’s surgical site (on her back) and he asked me, “Can you hold pressure if I have her roll to her left side?” I said I could, so the doctor had the patient roll to her side, finished his assessment, and left. No big deal, right? It didn’t hit me until afterward that the doctor had, in effect, asked me if his assessment was going to interfere with the care I was giving. Holy crap, the stuff I’m doing is important, and recognized as such! *dancedancedance*
The second thing was also not a big deal, but it made me smile. I knocked on my patient’s door and she said, “come in,” then went back to her phone conversation. While I was washing my hands, she said into the phone, “it’s the nurse, can I call you right back?” Okay, so I’m NOT the nurse, I’m the practical nursing student, but it was nice to be called ‘the nurse’.
If only I could feel this good about my current class…the cardiovascular system is really complex and I’m getting way too much information to process at one time. I’m reading and re-reading the chapters and my lecture notes, but it’s just not sinking in. Yeesh.
on September 25, 2008 on 11:22 pm
WOO HOO!! You go girl! And if you are acting like a “real nurse” than that is how the patients and the doctors will perceive you. They are not going to pay attention to what your name badge says. And, you acted in a manner that led them to respect you and treat you as a NURSE!! So that is bonus points!
And Cardiovascular is a pain, but I know that you are going to do great. It will all sink in, even if we have to pound it in with a bottle of Tequila, a lime and a hammer!
on October 2, 2008 on 7:29 pm
yes, your work is very important. YOU are very important!
on February 3, 2009 on 6:32 am
I iz nawt a nurse but has 2 nurse-nieces n has luvd Medical field fr yrs.
Keep Up Teh Gr8 Wurk. We all needz teh wuns (such as you) who care abt teh art n science ov yr chosen feeld but as it balances wif what dey/you need in teh way ov resourcez tew survive ADEQUATWLY.(Although U deserve much better!!!!!)