And the Journey Begins...
Where in the World was Whit…
Hello Blogger fans! I apologize for my long absence. Things have been a little on the hectic side with school, tending to my root canal, and fighting off invisible enemies (a.k.a. foreign germs). Fortunately, my root canal is complete and my immune system is working its magic. Foreign invaders, you have been warned. You guys have 2 days left to finish your tailgating parties inside my respiratory system. After that, I have been instructed by Dr. Marinopoulos to zap you with antibiotics.
Notable Clinical Experiences
Last Week
Last week, for the first time, I had a patient that didn’t like me. Trust me; it wasn’t my imagination. Maybe she didn’t know I’m a Zeta Tau Alpha, and everyone is supposed to love a Zeta! I’ll give her the benefit of the doubt. In all honesty, I wanted to say,
Feel free to wheel yourself out of here. I’m not going to stop you. Actually, I'll even give you a rolling start to overcome the static friction. Oh and by the way…., don’t forget your oxygen tank!
I know I am eventually going to have to learn to deal with feisty patients, but today was not the day. Instead, I asked for a more compliant patient. She was wonderful, and we had a great time together.
This Week
This week, I followed the wound team around throughout the rehabilitation center. It was fantastic! Specifically, I liked how the wound team never got interrupted while with a patient. They were not responsible for administering medication, taking/giving report, figuring out why IV machines were beeping or any of the other various things that cause frequent interruptions for nurses when they are caring for patients. Each patient got at least 20 minutes of uninterrupted time. That is most unusual in a hospital setting. Of all my clinical experiences thus far (and there haven’t been many), wound care has been my favorite.
Lab
Before concluding, I want to tell you a little bit about my lab experience. My favorite thing is listening to the heart. It amazes me how complex it is. In college, I read a book that only discussed the heart’s rhythms, and after reading the book, the professor said something like “You still know nothing about the heart.” It’s fascinating and unbelievable. God was amazingly creative when He created us. I could listen to your heart all day and be perfectly content.
Weekend Plans
This weekend entails much studying, Fells Point Festival on Saturday, and at least one good long run!
Whit’s Words of Wisdom: Vote and always love people even if they are feisty and don’t like you.