Today was my first hospital shift/experience of my senior year. This clinical was for my Preceptorship class on the Cardiovascular Recovery Unit. Patients come to this floor after they have open heart surgery to recover before they are transferred to another unit. And boy, what a day! There were only two patients on the floor (the floor has only 6 beds, but surgeries are done only on weekdays), who were transferred to another area, meaning that our floor could closed down for the weekend (again, because there are no surgeries on the weekends to have to stay open for). My patient had a CABG (pronounced like "cabbage"), or Coronary Artery Bypass Graft. In this surgery, a vein, usually the saphenous vein from the leg, is taken to form a "bridge" over a damaged area of the heart in order to restore bloodflow. My patient was so sweet and recovering well.
I realized today that I was still in CNE/Neonatal mode. For example, yesterday in our critical care lab, I was asked how many mL's of air to put into a patients NG tube (the tube that goes in their nose, down to their stomach. You push in air, and if the tube is correctly placed in the stomach, you can hear a burping noise over the stomach through your stethoscope) and I was close to saying 2 cc's, when I realized that that was the NICU in me talking. The adult answer is 30. THIRTY?! Gee whiz, that's a ton! So anyway, today on the floor I got slapped with a giant brick wall of reality with flashing lights that said, "now you're a nurse, not a CNE".
But I learned a few new things, and was even able to do my very first central line dressing change on a real human. If you remember back when I did my IV lab, a central line goes directly to the heart. My patient had the kind that went into the jugular vein on the neck. Changing the dressing, and doing so in a sterile manner, is important for infection control.
I also learned how quickly I can forget about the noises adults make when they cough up phlegm and mucous from their lungs.
Now, today was a "slow" day since both patients were a few days out of surgery. If I'm there when a patient comes directly from a procedure, I will be able to see and do a lot more. Not only will I be able to see a 4-6 hour open heart surgery, but I will be able to care for the patients afterwards, when they have breathing tubes, chest tubes, drains, catheters that go in their neck and run half-way through their heart.... lots of learning opportunities to come, I'm sure.
But raise your hand if you think spit is more cute on a baby.
7 comments:
Spit is cuter on a baby
Throw up is cuter on a baby
Burping sounds are cuter on a baby
Pee-pee is cuter in a baby's diaper
Stinkers are cuter in a baby's diaper (at least until solids are introduced)
Yes, something about a baby's teeny tiny body makes most all bodily functions cute.
However, the nurse who can render these services to an adult while preserving their dignity is truly a nurse worthy of praise.
OH MY! how amazing it is for me to see where my "little bunny" is now in her life!!! I'm so proud of you, April!!!! I know that you are going to be one special nurse for all those in your care. Can't get over all that you are NOW doing. Have to keep telling myself that you have totally grown up, and will certainly be,(as aunt Candy says ) "a nurse worthy of praise". A special gift to all of us who love you.
Please keep the updates coming. Love going through all this "with"
you!
much love,
Grandmom
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