Moments Like These . . .

I had a God moment the other day. . .


On Wednesdays I have to go to the hospital to look at my patient assignments for the next two days. This is because I can look up their medications and treatment options to be prepared to provide patient care for them. My patient was a 19 year old girl who was admitted with Cholelithiasis (Gall stones) and had surgery the previous day for a Laproscopic Cholecystectomy (Gall Bladder Removal). She had a care plan full of information about familial issues and anxiety. So going into this, I was a little nervous with who I would meet.

Remembering the "shoes" I would have to wear, I went in her room and met this girl who is about my age. I took her vitals and completed a morning assessment, and I was able to give her anti-anxiety medications along with a warm blanket and some sprite :) So far so good . . .

Then after assessing her again, I noticed dim bases in her lungs posteriorly (very quiet breath sounds on the bases of the lungs on her back side). Her oxygen sats were at 87% (which we want to keep at above 95%). I talked to the nurse and she told me to give 2L oxygen through a nasal cannula. I gave her the oxygen and encouraged her to sit up once in a while and use her Incentive spirometer (a device used to expand your lungs when you breathe in). I was able to get her to use her spirometer three times in the time that I was there :) and none of the nurses got her to use it. Her oxygen levels went back up to the upper 90s and she didn't have to use the oxygen anymore.

The next day before her discharge, I got her to get up and walk the halls of the nursing floor to make sure she wasn't dizzy at all before she went home. I learned a lot from her then, how she went to my school, she wants to study pre-med, and how she feels she doesn't have a lot of friends. At this point, I realized how much I could relate to her. I have been where she was. It was nice to be able to talk to someone who has had similar experiences that I have had. We talked about Grey's Anatomy and House too which made her smile. To know that you can make a patient smile when they are at their worst, just makes me feel so good.

I had a talk with my instructor just after my patient was discharged and she told me the most amazing thing.... She told me that she assigned that patient to me on purpose because she has seen the impact I have made on my patients. She knew that I would be a good nurse to that patient because she knew that I would show the compassion for her no matter what her situation was. She also told me how she has been so "tickled" by my performance during clinicals. And then she said... That I will be a great nurse, no doubt about it. :)

Experiencing a day like this, tells me that I am heading in the right direction. I'm continuing to stay on the right path that will lead me to fulfill my purpose in life. Thank you God for moments like these :)

A Busy Busy Clinical Day

Clinical Day # 3 . . . .

So today was an interesting day. I had a patient assigned to me that was completely dependent on nursing care. My instructor wanted us to take complete care of our patients and give medications with IV care. I was completely overwhelmed. . . .I needed some encouragement at that point. Thank you Jesus for a boost of energy! :D

So to paint a little picture . . . my patient admitted to the medical-surgical floor for wound care and recovery from her surgery in February. She is very obese with multiple wounds (I won't go in detail). She has a wound vac (system used to drain wounds) and has Diabetes. Along with a crazy list of medications, she had a tracheostomy and a central line (IV line which goes straight to the veins near the heart) which I couldn't provide care on because I didn't know how. So here I was with a patient completely dependent on me and I couldn't practice any of my nursing skills. My nurse was overwhelmed as well, even with my help.

Feeling optimistic, I helped out when I could and tried to stay out of my nurse's way. But ohhh my goodness did I get to see a lot!!! This makes me look like a complete nerd but I was so into the wounds. I was constantly asking questions and curious about the care and how she got them. My nurse was nice enough to let me dress some of the wounds . . . Yay! :)

My nurse had another patient who was in isolation with severe wounds. She had previously fired a few nurses and has been as the charge nurse would say "difficult." She disconntected her IV and walked out of isolation in the hall. There was some hostility and scares going on. Luckily, everything came back to normal. We were just worried about her condition and the other patients that could have been involved with her isolation precautions.

Suddenly, a patient's wife came running out to me yelling that her husband couldn't breathe!!! scary!! So my fellow student and I ran to a nurse and they called the Rapid Response Team down from ICU to help with his breathing. He is stable now. . . Yay!! :) Talk about a rush!!

Something on my mind today . . . .

It is really sad for me to see some patients in these conditions. And even worse when they could have prevented their condition from getting worse. When I look at the big picture, that's my job. As a nurse providing patient teaching is a very important factor. Unfortunately, encouragement only goes so far. Some patients don't care to listen, so just taking care of their current condition becomes your priority. So many patients I have come in contact with, including today's, don't care about recovering or about their condition. For patients who don't care about their condition or about getting better, all you can do is tend to their needs and hope for a fast recovery. You become a nurse who gets the patient through life day by day instead of improving the quality of life. We do what's best for the patient and what they ask of us.

If only ALL patients could see that we are here to help them to get out of the hospital; not because we don't care for them while they are here, but because we want them to be out LIVING!!!

Ok now on to Clinical day # 4. . . . .

The Shoes You Wear

You never know who you're going to meet in the hospital. You can have new patients to work with every day. The hospital is full of variety in people; people of different cultures, people with medical histories, people with severe injuries, people with life-long illnesses, people on hospice, people with altered mental statuses, people with addictions, people with family, people who are scared, and people who are in need. Walking through those doors, I don't know who I am going to meet and who I am going to take care of today.

The first thing I learned about patients is that you need to put yourself in their shoes. Nursing is not about a job, getting the tasks done for the day, or passing meds. It's about the patient and caring for their condition in all aspects. If they feel pain, you feel their pain. If they are upset, you feel for them. As you wear their shoes, you become the eyes, ears, and voice for the patient.

God tells us in the bible that we must strive to be like Christ. We often come to the question, "What would Jesus do?" in any situation. If Jesus were in my shoes, what would he do? The same aspect applies to nursing; If I were in the shoes of my patient, what would I do? and also... What would Jesus do to help my patient?

It's important when you get to a patient's room that you apply your values and expect the unexpected. Again, you never know who you are going to meet. Have patience with patients. If you are patient with a patient, most likely they will be patient with you.

So when I get to that patient's room, I put on their shoes, so I can be the eyes, ears, and voice for them........

And So It Begins....

Nursing school, where grades don't matter. You just need to survive. Yes, the studying is constant and the information seems endless, but according to the instructors, 'everything' is need to know information. I now find myself thinking about Pathophysiology in my sleep. I have day dreams of neurotransmitters and Malignant Hyperthermia. If you open my closet, you would be surprised to see that I have more nursing books than shoes. I really know I am a nursing student when I would rather perform physical assessments on my friends than watch basketball on TV (for me that's saying a lot).

But my journey really begins with clinical. I am about to start my first day in the hospital with patients. I am missing lecture at this point because it basically feels like I have to put my newly learned skills to the test on real people; people who are sick, who need attention, who are in pain, and who are just as scared as I am to be in the hospital. Practicing on manikins seemed like no practice at all. Ohhh the nerves!!!

I started this blog to show you my journey of nursing; the things I see, the nurses, the skills, the patients, the compassion. Nursing is a profession of patience, understanding, kindness, respect, and fidelity. I am taking you along on this road to see what I see and experience the profession of nursing as I will be experiencing it.

So here I am.... blue scrubs, stethoscope, clinical passport, and pen in hand. I close my eyes..."God, please give me strength to make it through the day. Help me to be patient and kind. You have chosen this path for me and I have faith that you will help me continue on this path.' ...I take a deep breath, open my eyes....and I walk through the hospital doors to begin my calling of grace. . . . . . .