Mile High Catheter Crazies
I have a dirty little secret.
Without the rigors of nursing classes to hose off my new car smell…I've gotten soft this summer.
My shoulders aren't tense, I chew my food before swallowing it, and I sleep 7 plus hours a night. I almost feel guilty.
Almost.
And what is it that's been filling my dog days of summer?
Buckets and buckets O goodness.
I'm fortunate to be in a grand place (Denver) doing great work (at University of Colorado Hospital's surgery unit) having good fun (hiking, biking, feeding) with fantastic folks.
My official title at work is referred to as Advanced Care Partner (as opposed to the Primitive Care Partner I suppose?). But make no mistake about it; Custodial Engineer is to janitor as Advanced Care Partner is to nurse intern. Dare I say, a spade is a spade. Apparently the Colorado Board of Nursing thought having the word 'nurse' in the Nurse Intern title was confusing to patients and gave them too much street cred. So walla…they birthed the title of Advanced Care Partner and I've been explaining my role to patients ever since.
Patient: So what is an Advanced Care Partner?
Me: I'm in the middle of nursing school. Basically I'm a nurse intern.
Patient: Oh, then why don't they call you a nurse intern?
Me: Because they thought it would be confusing.
Somewhere in that exchange is a lesson on the beauty of simplicity.
The patient population we see on our floor is quite eclectic ranging from Thyroidectomy’s to Pancreatic Cancer to Cellulites to Kidney Donations to MRSA to VRE to Prostatectomy’s to Pelvic Exonerations to Bowel Obstructions to you name it we get it. Apparently we are the busiest unit in the hospital. The work I do is CNA in role (i.e. taking vitals, giving baths, checking blood glucose levels, cleaning code browns) with a few exceptions. For example we perform phlebotomy, insert IV’s and catheters, and change wound dressings. Stuff you’d like to write home about but can’t cause daddy gets squeamish.
As this has been my first hospital work experience, everything is new and shiny to me. So the other day when a patient pulled his fully inflated Foley catheter out, Murphy’s Law says I’m the one who walks in to find it. Great for no one, bad for all…that’s the lesson learned.
With 2 months completed and 1 month till my Advanced Care Partnership ends, I hope to sponge up as much as I can before headed back to 525 North Wolfe Street!