(Tyler and I before entering my patient's room for her assessment)
These last few weeks have a been a bit hectic between trying to move into a new apartment, packing to go home, studying for finals, and clinical profiles. It's been go, go, go. I finally have a chance to write a few things about my last two clinical experiences so here it goes.
1. I believe that my professor thought I looked good in yellow, hence why every shift spent at the hospital included a patient on "Contact precautions" which meant I spent the evening putting on and shedding a lovely yellow gown each time I entered and left the room!
2. Miss Hopkins taught me the importance of knowing your patients FULL NAME. I was completely embarrassed when she asked me what her full name was. I knew the initial but I realized that was NOT enough. The person sitting in the bed has not only a story and history but has a name and I should always know it! I would want the person taking care of me to know my name so I should take the extra 30 seconds to make sure I know theirs.
3. Miss Hopkins also taught me that a "nasty" patient with just the right amount of care and listening ear can be a "pleasant" patient. I was not thrilled to find out that once again I had a "nasty" patient. The student on the first shift said "ooo you have room ###, good luck (sarcastically)." I was determined to break her down, ha. Sure enough after responding quickly to her bed pan request, comfortably positioning her ever so often, and just taking five minutes out of my schedule to listen to her hospital experiences I realized she was mean because she had been treated poorly in the past. Not seen as an individual patient with specific needs but rather just room ###. Well lesson learned, everybody is somebody's person and they should be treated accordingly, not seen as just another task in the day. And yes, I did break her down. By the end of the shift she was laughing and calling me "honey."
4. My last patient, Mrs. R, taught me that I should be grateful for a working body that does not suffer pain except for the occasional bumps bruises and cramp. Poor thing was in constant pain and no position was comfortable for her. All I could do was hold her hand and push her hair back (and pray of course!).
(Here is my clinical group on our last day - its hard to believe sophomore year is over, we're half a nurse as many say!)
(These girls are great)
