Clinicals have been interesting lately. I spent a few days in the ER. Things get really busy in the evenings! I was able to do an in and out urinary catheter on a woman, and I started 7 IVs. Well, I attempted 9, but only successfully started 7 of them. Considering these were my first attempts on a real person, I’ll take it!
I also got to see an active MI (myocardial infarction)! Seeing someone come while in the middle of a heart attack was very exciting. To see how it was handled, how people responded … I even got to follow it up to the cardiac cath lab and see them place several stents (not shunts) and a pacemaker. I’m still amazed at how fast everything was done.
Our major care plans were due last week. Mine came in at almost 40 pages long. I wrote mine on a patient who had a recent kidney transplant, and developed an infection.
For the most part, my teacher has turned me loose. I’m giving oral medications, injections and hanging IV piggybacks totally on my own. It’s almost like I’m a real nurse!
As for lecture, I’m doing okay. Not great, but not too horrible, either. Things are still a bit touch-and-go, but I’m trying to turn it around.
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Back in my student days, I really enjoyed being assigned in the ER as well! Once, a patient was brought in for MI and it was the time that I saw so many nurses and doctors trying to revive an old woman. She didn’t make it though. It was really sad.
Comment by Zee — April 3, 2008 @ 2:24 am
I always feel terrible when I think about new nurses. When I was 17, I got in a terrible collision and needed to be started on an IV. I have “difficult” veins, and when the poor nurse finally located a tap-worthy spot, he fumbled, the hep-lock fell out and my blood sprayed on the wall, then a spurt on the curtain, and then a splat on his face.
Now, I do not suffer from Hep C, HIV, or any other blood borne pathogens, but he had no way of knowing that, and he went deathly white.
To his credit, he grabbed someone else as he hurriedly left the room to, I presume, boil his head.
ALWAYS POINT THE ARM AWAY!
Comment by geoff — April 9, 2008 @ 7:20 pm
wow, thats great. Keep up the good work. Im in school full time right now going through the LPN program. I enjoyed reading about your experience, good luck the rest of the way.
Jessica
Comment by Jessica — April 24, 2008 @ 3:25 pm
The MI patient had stents placed in the Cath Lab not shunts. Just thought you would value knowing what really happened. I think it’s awesome that you get to start IVs as a nursing student, the hospitals that worked with my program wouldn’t allow such a thing.
Comment by NR RN — April 24, 2008 @ 5:23 pm
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Comment by atlas — April 24, 2008 @ 11:33 pm
Cool im also going through the LPN program and loved to read about your experience. Keep up the good work.
Comment by John Carson — April 27, 2008 @ 6:33 am
hi there, i’m a nursing student in florida. just graduated out of first semester. was interested in your 40-page care plan for second semester? holy batman! i wonder if you could post it so i could read it.. i’m having trouble with careplans.. our clinical instructor for first semester was not very sharp with the paperwork end of things, tho she was a great nurse. i have all the careplan books, but i’m still a bit troubled with details. thanks for taking the time to write, really enjoy knowing others are going thru this same hell, hah, hah.
Comment by danielle — May 2, 2008 @ 2:24 pm
J, it sounds like you are one of those dream nursing students the hospitals love! Good for you. That’s a great success rate for a first time IV starter!
Comment by SchoolNurseJack — May 10, 2008 @ 6:14 pm
Hi,
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TITLE: NurseReview.Org - Nursing Blog
URL: http://NurseReview.Org
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NurseReview.Org
Comment by NurseReview.Org Nursing Blog — May 27, 2008 @ 9:52 am
Wow, good work on the IVs. I’m a new nursing student. Just found your blog. I’m going to add a link to your blog on my blog. Was hoping you could return the favor?
Comment by Damon — May 30, 2008 @ 12:07 pm