WEEK 4: MSU/PEDIATRICS

This week I did my clinical observations under a nurse and her student nurse. She was in charge of a certain number of patients that she checked on regularly and periodically updated the doctor on. She was the one actually administering the drugs and IVs to the patients, giving them shots, drawing blood, taking vitals, and checking up on them. She stayed in her wing of MSU where all her patients are.

Things I learned this week-

• general patient care
• safety standards 
• daily job of a nurse

The BEST thing that happened this week was actually being able to assist the nurse. I got to help move the patient and replace the linens. It was cool because I actually got to be hands on in the process.

The WORST thing that happened this week was not having a lot to do on the second day. Most of the patients didn't need a lot of help because the nurse just finished her rounds. I was able to ask her question, but I didn't get a lot of experience.

Overall this week was:                          GOOD

What I Observed

Portable Computer Station

Technology

•   portable computer station

• IV pump

•   urinary catheter bag

   

  
  

  

  Urinary Catheter Bag

  

  IV Pump

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Diagnostic Procedures

• Vital signs
• patient claims of what is wrong/ how they are feeling
• ultrasound
• x-ray

Therapeutic Procedures

• capsules
• IVs
• shots

Diseases/Disorder

• inflammation
• postpartum
• gastrointestinal disorder

Medical Terminology

• Postpartum- recently had a baby

Other

• After assessing the needs of all patients the nurse goes back and asks them to rate there pain. If it is high she assess the problem if it is lower she waits until her next rounds through the patients.
• The patient may lie about what procedures they have done and what medicine they have taken so the nurse must double check with their online reports.

I. I worked in the MSU wing which has a check-in desk at the front. Along the east and west ends there where patient rooms each housing one patient and a couch and table for visitors. There was also a station for the doctors and nurses to look up any information necessary for patient care. When the nurses went to each room rather than using a paper file they lugged around a computer that had all the patients information and had a drawer to store supplies. Each patient room had an IV pump that distributed the fluids individualized to each patient. Connected to the catheter (if the patient had one in place) was a urinary catheter bag that collected all the patients urinary waste that was expelled from their bladder. I remained in this area of the hospital the entire period.

II. The majority of workers were nurses although I did see a handful of doctors who were also there and that would inform and access the patient's condition. Each nurse was in charge of a set of patients and worked together with a doctor to treat patients. Some nurses helped each other with getting all the necessary medicines and information ,but they never walked in together to treat a patient. The doctor's would make the initial assessment and informing of the patient but the nurse was the one doing all the patient care. Patients aren't allowed to leave the hospital until they are discharged and it is the responsibility of the nurse to keep track of the patients. To ensure patient safety the nurse informs the patient of all the medication and diagnostic as well as therapeutic procedures that they will undergo.

III. I learned a lot about nurse to patient care and a little about doctor to patient care. Nurses do all of the hands on work with the patient and also all of the filing for the patient information. There are also some nurses that specialize in patient discharge and admittance. The doctors prescribe the next steps for the nurses to take. I assisted with moving a patient and replacing the linens when dealing with a postpartum patient who had just delivered a preemie. 

IV.This week I had a good week. It was the most patient interaction I have gotten so far. Monday a lot of people had just checked in so I got to see a few interesting cases. Wednesday my nurse was only in charge of one patient because she had just finished her rounds and the patient just needed an antibiotic and antacid, but I did get to talk to the nurse about daily patient care.

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