I'll be honest I'm not feeling particularly thoughtful what with the computer problems I've had all day long.
Yesterday was anticlimactic. Quite boring on the surface. Really just went through the motions and asked more of the nurses. Hung out with them to bond and establish rapport. Chatted with the PCTs. I paid attention that I could to the little children. And I began to smell the rankor that is the welfare citizens of America.
Today I became conscious of the friends I have made in the PCTs. The friendly Med Scribes were around and they made my day so much brighter! The nurses thanked me and Elena for my work. I had lunch/dinner with Percy. It was so refreshing to get to know someone new. It's been so long since I've made friends in higher places. I realize even now that though I am but a small person who really knows a lot of nothing, we all know alot of different things. It is only in taking life a stride at a time and surfing wikipedia and gobbling up information that I will be able to learn more about everthing.
Anyway, I was quite busy today and when I wasn't I hung out with PCTs and the new nurse at fast track. There were a fair amount of pelvic exams to take care of. No one was happy about those for we all vented about it. Which lead me to wonder, but not in full detail, of the use and abuse of the ER system. So many utilize the ER as their primary care. I can't help but wonder if the socialized healthcare would aleviate this abuse. I heard a doctor berrate a patient for complaining of waiting for so long for care. He said something along the lines of if you had gone to the primary doctor you wouldnt need to be here waiting when we have REAL cases here. I was held back 15 minutes because I was listening to a patient complain about her lazy nurse and slow care at Trauma. So I paid her attention and a pillow. She verbalized what I was pondering all day: the extremes in the ER. Does the wide spectrum of cases negatively effect patient care? Can health-care be fascilitated with the elimination of such areas as fast track. She proposed primary care work longer hours. Personally, I think she ought to be patient. It's the best we've got right now and there are plenty of other peope dying in the same room. The nerve of people thinking we wait on them only. I watched the PCT draw blood from her. All in all I spent a bit of a good time in Trauma. Even Twanda saw me. I moved my first stretcher today; that was quite a difficult experience.
So that was my deepest thought of the day. Can I really deal with cheap people in a setting where they think waiting for an hour is a travesty? In a world where money is constantly lost and the filth of the world come in for free food expecting to be treated with all benefits. It's a true test of what it means to work for the good of others, being a true servant upholding the purest and most difficult of virtues.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
ER volunteering day quattro
It's been a few days since my shift. I worked what is affectionately known as the graveyard shift. It left me quite exhausted the next day with a neck quite depleted of fluids. In any case my time was well invested as I was able to shadow a Doctor and hang out with scribes as I watched medical care in action.
The advent of a new case is always an exciting one. Broken bodies come in on stretchers as the Doctor rushes over to communicate the causes and state of the patient. In one case we received a witnessed cardiac arrest patient. It was chaotic trying to get him to a pulse. There were actually two cardiac arrest patients. While I'd love to relate every single little thing that happened on my six hour shift, I am tired at the moment.
I need to relate the doctor's kindness in allowing me to follow him around. I was able to see how he approached a case from start to finish. I was able to bond with the scribes and see the relationship between the scribe and the Doctor. The bedside manner was impressive to see as well, as everyone in the room knew the truth but pretended not to know it. He played the role of counsel and informer in a careful and relaxed manner. It was most impressive to see someone take control of such delicate situations with the calm and cool of one sipping tea. He approached the family tending to the cardiac arrest patient no different from the Heroin addict in fast track. He diagnoses them on a biased level, but all judgment is put aside as attention is paid in full. This profession is admirable for these small insights I've made.
I must also relate that the Doctor provided further inspiration to us all as he suffers from ADHD. I can think of no better environment for such a person than the ER.
In future shifts I hope to open my eyes to the roles of other professionals such as the nurses as well as form better relationships with the Doctors running around. I need to be asking more questions as well as anticipating roles I can perform.
The advent of a new case is always an exciting one. Broken bodies come in on stretchers as the Doctor rushes over to communicate the causes and state of the patient. In one case we received a witnessed cardiac arrest patient. It was chaotic trying to get him to a pulse. There were actually two cardiac arrest patients. While I'd love to relate every single little thing that happened on my six hour shift, I am tired at the moment.
I need to relate the doctor's kindness in allowing me to follow him around. I was able to see how he approached a case from start to finish. I was able to bond with the scribes and see the relationship between the scribe and the Doctor. The bedside manner was impressive to see as well, as everyone in the room knew the truth but pretended not to know it. He played the role of counsel and informer in a careful and relaxed manner. It was most impressive to see someone take control of such delicate situations with the calm and cool of one sipping tea. He approached the family tending to the cardiac arrest patient no different from the Heroin addict in fast track. He diagnoses them on a biased level, but all judgment is put aside as attention is paid in full. This profession is admirable for these small insights I've made.
I must also relate that the Doctor provided further inspiration to us all as he suffers from ADHD. I can think of no better environment for such a person than the ER.
In future shifts I hope to open my eyes to the roles of other professionals such as the nurses as well as form better relationships with the Doctors running around. I need to be asking more questions as well as anticipating roles I can perform.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
ER part trois
This ER shift I made for myself lasted from 5:30 until 9:30 or so...actually until 9:45 when I completed the task I set for myself. I love being a volunteer because I can finish my task whenever I want and cater to patients or whatever else needs to be done. In short my multitasking is enhanced and utilized as well as my hearing and memory. True I don't get paid for anything but a $6 meal, but I am at liberty to talk to whomever I want when I want as long as I want. Though most patients have family with them.
Today I was able to see how Doctors interact with patients close up. Almost as if I were shadowing them. I still feel awkward around them, but I flow. The doctor has such compassion and really stays engaged listening to the patients; letting no sign of boredom, dividedness, or annoyance show. I waited with an older woman, whom I discovered is the same age as my dad. She was watching Glee and it interested me to see why she would be watching a younger show. The woman was doted for being patient waiting 5 hours for a room. In reality many patients there in medicine wait an entire day before getting a room. I thought I'd talk to her because she looked like she was expecting something. She asked me about myself and what I wanted to do. I asked her why she was watching Glee. We watched parts of it together. I told her of how I came to fall in love with Ella Fitzgerald. She now knows my goals to sing some of her songs at Scat. She described to me what sort of work she used to do in marketing before she semi-retired to a paraprofessional position at Arlington. I told her I was hiding from the other nurses and PCTs for I would rather wait for her until she got a room. She finally did get a room soon after Glee was over. But before she left Cassy came in to give her her painkillers. Cassy spoke with such compassion making the patient feel as if she had argued on her behalf for a room. Cassy spoke very assuredly in a manner I can only hope for at this point. I am learning though how to speak professionally as possible.
I was proud of myself today for I tended to a patient who apparently had a bit of a diarrhea problem. He could hardly speak, was older, and had only one good eye. I was stupid and thought he wanted to watch the baseball game. Really all he was wanting was another bedpan or something. Some sort of relief. I refused to keep myself out of the room for fear of the smell because I knew anyone no matter what condition deserved attention. Above all we are all to be treated humanely in this wonderful nationally acclaimed ER. So I braved all despite my cautiousness though I failed to provide him any more comfort than I felt. The experience made me wonder whether PCTs do what they do out of forced placement or if they initially had this dream to be helping people meet their immediate needs. I think of how beautiful it is to say I want to serve in a Third World country, yet why feel a need to go so far away from home? Afterall we are just people. I could go a year working in the ER not seeing the same person twice. They are all the same...bodies in need of fixing and upkeeping. Sure it's gross, but it's the basic need. Anyone anywhere on earth is just as needy as someone somewhere else.
I get in this zone once I've been in the ER for a while. I don't focus on what time it is. Merely on choices. I make choices to push myself into that smelly room. To talk with that odd patient. To learn about how to relate to patients best. To manipulate my speech into soothing and doting tones. Like I said before, my multitasking has a place. And my pace is what I want it to be.
Well after all that I took a break in the nurse's breakroom for William had come out with a cup of coffee I had only smelled in his breath and finally seen. He told me he spruced up the drip with cinnamon. I just had to follow him to taste for myself. But it was too hot, so I went to clean beds and restock the rooms--a task which took an extra 20 minutes. My coffee was finally cooled. I drank while watching Tosh.O and listening to the nurses comment about habits they hate their significant others doing. One woman had 2 children and wanted another. The other vowed she never wanted more than one kid and is stopping there. The younger one at 24 announced she could never marry anytime soon because she likes her life by herself. Three completely different women at completely different levels doing the same work. All kinds come together in this mini-city. In the end we are just regular people living our regular annoying lives, but by trade we are super-heroes of a different sort.
Note to self. Megan works as a Trauma nurse. She'll be graduating soon.
Another anecdote. Someone got arrested today for walking away while inebriated.
Today I was able to see how Doctors interact with patients close up. Almost as if I were shadowing them. I still feel awkward around them, but I flow. The doctor has such compassion and really stays engaged listening to the patients; letting no sign of boredom, dividedness, or annoyance show. I waited with an older woman, whom I discovered is the same age as my dad. She was watching Glee and it interested me to see why she would be watching a younger show. The woman was doted for being patient waiting 5 hours for a room. In reality many patients there in medicine wait an entire day before getting a room. I thought I'd talk to her because she looked like she was expecting something. She asked me about myself and what I wanted to do. I asked her why she was watching Glee. We watched parts of it together. I told her of how I came to fall in love with Ella Fitzgerald. She now knows my goals to sing some of her songs at Scat. She described to me what sort of work she used to do in marketing before she semi-retired to a paraprofessional position at Arlington. I told her I was hiding from the other nurses and PCTs for I would rather wait for her until she got a room. She finally did get a room soon after Glee was over. But before she left Cassy came in to give her her painkillers. Cassy spoke with such compassion making the patient feel as if she had argued on her behalf for a room. Cassy spoke very assuredly in a manner I can only hope for at this point. I am learning though how to speak professionally as possible.
I was proud of myself today for I tended to a patient who apparently had a bit of a diarrhea problem. He could hardly speak, was older, and had only one good eye. I was stupid and thought he wanted to watch the baseball game. Really all he was wanting was another bedpan or something. Some sort of relief. I refused to keep myself out of the room for fear of the smell because I knew anyone no matter what condition deserved attention. Above all we are all to be treated humanely in this wonderful nationally acclaimed ER. So I braved all despite my cautiousness though I failed to provide him any more comfort than I felt. The experience made me wonder whether PCTs do what they do out of forced placement or if they initially had this dream to be helping people meet their immediate needs. I think of how beautiful it is to say I want to serve in a Third World country, yet why feel a need to go so far away from home? Afterall we are just people. I could go a year working in the ER not seeing the same person twice. They are all the same...bodies in need of fixing and upkeeping. Sure it's gross, but it's the basic need. Anyone anywhere on earth is just as needy as someone somewhere else.
I get in this zone once I've been in the ER for a while. I don't focus on what time it is. Merely on choices. I make choices to push myself into that smelly room. To talk with that odd patient. To learn about how to relate to patients best. To manipulate my speech into soothing and doting tones. Like I said before, my multitasking has a place. And my pace is what I want it to be.
Well after all that I took a break in the nurse's breakroom for William had come out with a cup of coffee I had only smelled in his breath and finally seen. He told me he spruced up the drip with cinnamon. I just had to follow him to taste for myself. But it was too hot, so I went to clean beds and restock the rooms--a task which took an extra 20 minutes. My coffee was finally cooled. I drank while watching Tosh.O and listening to the nurses comment about habits they hate their significant others doing. One woman had 2 children and wanted another. The other vowed she never wanted more than one kid and is stopping there. The younger one at 24 announced she could never marry anytime soon because she likes her life by herself. Three completely different women at completely different levels doing the same work. All kinds come together in this mini-city. In the end we are just regular people living our regular annoying lives, but by trade we are super-heroes of a different sort.
Note to self. Megan works as a Trauma nurse. She'll be graduating soon.
Another anecdote. Someone got arrested today for walking away while inebriated.
Day Deux at ER
Well to start of simply today Clarissa and I restocked basic items found in all areas of the ER. Bandages, cotton balls, tongue depressors, etc. Along the way we fluffed pillows and waited on patients. I talked with an adorable little boy named Speedy. I gave him crackers and juice.
That day I saw just how much more fun doing work with another person could be. Though I seemed to be a bit of a slacker as I'd spend my time talking to patients. I met one patient because I commented on his boots. He informed me of his and his mothers' health. That's when I found them both in the Trauma section of the ER. Along with a horrific smell that assaulted my nostrils to pain of death. And that's when I realized just how selfless or perhaps desperate or even calloused these nurse's aids are. It's all in a day's work to clean up the defecating patient. The smell was unbearable--like a sign of imminent death. It made my heart sore to see the family near by either embarrassed of their relative's condition or more likely frightened for his life. I wished there was a way to help him. And I wished there was more I could do than to just walk by almost carelessly. But what was I a mere 22 y/o without any life experience with which to offer counsel to do?
I found out more from Clarissa that day about where her heart lies. She spoke of counseling foster children. Dangerous line of work I think, and quite emotional in some cases. It'd be an intriguing experience, but alas.
That day I saw just how much more fun doing work with another person could be. Though I seemed to be a bit of a slacker as I'd spend my time talking to patients. I met one patient because I commented on his boots. He informed me of his and his mothers' health. That's when I found them both in the Trauma section of the ER. Along with a horrific smell that assaulted my nostrils to pain of death. And that's when I realized just how selfless or perhaps desperate or even calloused these nurse's aids are. It's all in a day's work to clean up the defecating patient. The smell was unbearable--like a sign of imminent death. It made my heart sore to see the family near by either embarrassed of their relative's condition or more likely frightened for his life. I wished there was a way to help him. And I wished there was more I could do than to just walk by almost carelessly. But what was I a mere 22 y/o without any life experience with which to offer counsel to do?
I found out more from Clarissa that day about where her heart lies. She spoke of counseling foster children. Dangerous line of work I think, and quite emotional in some cases. It'd be an intriguing experience, but alas.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
ER day one
Wow is the word of the day. I went through so many emotions in a simple 5 hour shift. For the first half hour I spent my time wandering hallways and remembering where everything was. The grand expanse of what would soon be my medical mansion was a maze to me. I felt out of place and unaware of what I should be doing. I didn't know any of the bustling bodies around me. I only knew who they were by profession. I talked with a few patients and remembered to clean the rooms promptly, even though I wasn't being paid for the position. I soon got into a sort of trance.
I met many people, probably some 20 names were run past me. still I only remember the 20 faces. Cassy Cathrine Tamara Billy McCarthy Crissty Ashely Amanda Justin Long...
My frist friend was Long. He showed me the website for aspiring scribes and where trauma was.
I ended up in medicine. An area of the ER I thought would be scary, but I was bored fast at the Fast Track. I felt more people needed my help and there was more real hospital work being done in this area. There was certainly a more diverse type of people seeking treatment. There were several homeless, a few low income, special ed, and old and frail. These people definitely deserved the compassion one could offer. I could only watch and wonder how much longer til they were passed off to another section. Their pains were real, and yet their needs so simple. To know someone was checking in with them, someone who clearly wasn't making any money.
I felt way too rushed to process any one experience fully. It seemed we were dealing with mere events, and not helping keep patients alive. A patient never seemed human to me, but like another specimine, another problem to solve, another puzzle piece to be passed on, another druggie after free drugs, another round of "let's-escape-the-law-suit" or another loss of money.
Healthcare amazes me in that it is the most precise methods of transfering a problematic case through many hands to the final place be it discharge or admittance into ICU. Many nurses keep the place running. Nurses run to and fro as if on a ship. PCTs mosey around for remedial tasks. I as the volunteer run around constantly to show good work ethic. Doctors and their scribes would float around on and off. I still didn't understand what took them so long to treat patients.
There was a lot of joking around. PCTs were the most good natured. Some nurses had surly attitudes. Others dutiful and to themselves. The charge nurses were always the most gregarious and understanding of my difficult position as a volunteer. Let's go back to that...
As a volunteer I ran my own ship. I had my own set of responsibilities if I should wish to take them on. I had to remember how to work so that I wouldn't tire myself out too soon. Reminding myself to look everyone in the eye and offer them all the same care. I reminded myself of the little child I once was. I decided not to be that child. I could not just shy away because I found something so disgusting. Someone throwing up. Someone engorged with blood. Low class who were probably diseased and dirty. Frail old men. Special ed persons. All sorts, require the same amount of care all of them.
The scribes spoke to me about paperwork and liabilities. Finding out the ways to get out of mal-practice suits, keeping up with diagnoses. It's all a fast paced world with dangers at every corner if one is not careful to notice. It really is less about treating patients, but as I said "practical office work." Unlike business it's very selfless. We risk losing money and do lose money in order to keep everyone healthy. It's amazing how much background and legal work is done to treat just one patient. I wish more people realized this.
I was proposed with another option. How to become a scribe. It can definitely give me a big foot in the door. But at the sacrifice of my own independence. I may have finally found something I can do to be immersed.
This is the rosey new side of healthcare. I have found it is beautiful because so many people come together over one cause. And these people are educated and quick witted.
I met many people, probably some 20 names were run past me. still I only remember the 20 faces. Cassy Cathrine Tamara Billy McCarthy Crissty Ashely Amanda Justin Long...
My frist friend was Long. He showed me the website for aspiring scribes and where trauma was.
I ended up in medicine. An area of the ER I thought would be scary, but I was bored fast at the Fast Track. I felt more people needed my help and there was more real hospital work being done in this area. There was certainly a more diverse type of people seeking treatment. There were several homeless, a few low income, special ed, and old and frail. These people definitely deserved the compassion one could offer. I could only watch and wonder how much longer til they were passed off to another section. Their pains were real, and yet their needs so simple. To know someone was checking in with them, someone who clearly wasn't making any money.
I felt way too rushed to process any one experience fully. It seemed we were dealing with mere events, and not helping keep patients alive. A patient never seemed human to me, but like another specimine, another problem to solve, another puzzle piece to be passed on, another druggie after free drugs, another round of "let's-escape-the-law-suit" or another loss of money.
Healthcare amazes me in that it is the most precise methods of transfering a problematic case through many hands to the final place be it discharge or admittance into ICU. Many nurses keep the place running. Nurses run to and fro as if on a ship. PCTs mosey around for remedial tasks. I as the volunteer run around constantly to show good work ethic. Doctors and their scribes would float around on and off. I still didn't understand what took them so long to treat patients.
There was a lot of joking around. PCTs were the most good natured. Some nurses had surly attitudes. Others dutiful and to themselves. The charge nurses were always the most gregarious and understanding of my difficult position as a volunteer. Let's go back to that...
As a volunteer I ran my own ship. I had my own set of responsibilities if I should wish to take them on. I had to remember how to work so that I wouldn't tire myself out too soon. Reminding myself to look everyone in the eye and offer them all the same care. I reminded myself of the little child I once was. I decided not to be that child. I could not just shy away because I found something so disgusting. Someone throwing up. Someone engorged with blood. Low class who were probably diseased and dirty. Frail old men. Special ed persons. All sorts, require the same amount of care all of them.
The scribes spoke to me about paperwork and liabilities. Finding out the ways to get out of mal-practice suits, keeping up with diagnoses. It's all a fast paced world with dangers at every corner if one is not careful to notice. It really is less about treating patients, but as I said "practical office work." Unlike business it's very selfless. We risk losing money and do lose money in order to keep everyone healthy. It's amazing how much background and legal work is done to treat just one patient. I wish more people realized this.
I was proposed with another option. How to become a scribe. It can definitely give me a big foot in the door. But at the sacrifice of my own independence. I may have finally found something I can do to be immersed.
This is the rosey new side of healthcare. I have found it is beautiful because so many people come together over one cause. And these people are educated and quick witted.
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