Water Runs

On Mondays I'm in 3 East doing what I call "water runs." A typical monday starts by me gathering materials such as a cart, water pitchers, straws, cups and a diet sheet. Then I highlight which rooms can't have water if they are marked NPO. This may mean that they are having a procedure done and can not have any food or fluid in their bodies. On some occasions I also refill gloves and cubbies. The cubbies usually consist of things such as syringes, wipes, medications which I obtain from the utility closet. Once I've gathered everything I proceed to go from room to room refilling gloves, cubbies and asking the patients if they need anything, morse specifically drink wise. Below are some pictures of what Mondays usually look like for me.

Phone Calls

This week in 3 East I was able to switch it up a bit. Instead of my usual water run I was able to sit at the nurses station and help answer phones. The PBA, Wanda, showed me how to answer the phones and who to call for each patient. Listed on a sheet of paper were the Nurses and Patient Care Associated that were assigned to each room. When a patient called, I picked up the phone and asked what they needed. When they responded I would either call their nurse of PCA to tend to their needs. Sometimes I was unable to hear what they were saying or had trouble getting in contact with some of the nurses as many of them had been on break when I arrived. Overall it was a pretty interesting experience.

A Typical Tuesday

On Tuesdays I'm normally in the Outpatient Lab. Here I receive specimen that are delivered from all over the hospital, scan them through the computer and deliver them to their designated departments within the lab where they are to be tested. Within the lab there are several different departments including Chemistry, Microbiology, Blood Bank, Urine Analysis, Hematology, and Coagulation. The containers in which the specimen come in are color-coded and labeled to specify where they should be delivered. Above are a few photos of me and some equipment I work with in the Outpatient Lab. On the top left corner is the entrance to Lab.  Above in the center is where I send and receive tubes to different departments throughout the hospital. Next is my work space where I scan the specimen into the computer, save them, then separate and deliver them throughout the lab. Finally the last photo is of me getting ready to scan one of the containers holding blood cultures. It is extremely important to always where gloves and a lab coat as well as carry the specimen with caution to prevent them from breaking.

On the Run

Instead of my usual water run this week on Phillips 3 East, I was able to shadow and observe the everyday duties of Chris, a registered nurse. Within the first few minutes of observing him, it was already clear that we'd be doing A LOT of moving around. We went from one patient to the next, checking up on them, calling doctors, receiving medications and making sure each of his patients were comfortable before leaving. Although Chris does not have the same experience or educational background as a physician, he had revealed to me that with time, he was able to learn some of these things on his own. While he may not be able to prescribe a patient the meds they need, he can make suggestions to the doctor based on observations he's made himself. Despite the fact that I was unable to do much physically, I was able to learn so much about the nursing field as well as the cardiovascular system as we were on the Cardiac Nursing floor.