Last MedSurg Clinical

Today we went to our last day of clinical on 4C, which was kind of sad because it was a really great floor with really good nurses who were both caring for the patients and helpful to us students. Not a whole lot happened, but I did get to go down to the OR with my client and see a ureter scope (not the real name of the procedure...that really left my mind right now) where they put a scope through the man's ilieal conduit, which is a stoma that lets the ureters empty into a colostomy bag instead of the bladder. Anyway the doctor let me look, and I could see where they made the ilial conduit and the left ureter above and the right one underneath (the openings for them) It looked just like the picture I saw the night before. I also got to prime my own line by myself (although Debbie checked it) and Michelle helped me hook it up. Anyway I have some pictures of clinical today. Keep in mind that every one of us got up at five this morning.

Okay so we have Angela, Mary and Jennifer bright and fuzzy in the morning before our shift on 4C...How many hours left? The girls waiting in the conference room for report to start, Evelyn, Clare and Clare's partner in crime, Kim...in the caf. Mary showing us how to gown, glove and mask up before going into an MRSA isolation room, followed by Mary trying to show us how to take everythign off again..."Debbie what did you do braid the back of this?" And Anne Frances, Isabelle, Jeanie and Chrissy very must more awake than we were coming on for their three to eleven shift in Obs. And at the very top is my whole 4C medsurg clinical group: Me, Mary, Kelly, Lydia, Angela, Jennifer, Charlene and Debbie.

Yuk Yuks And Harry Potter

Amanda, Chrissy, Lydia, Angela, Crystal and I went to the yuk yuk's at the membertou trade and convention center. Mary and Morley met us there, they came with Val and her dad. And when we got there we found shae and crew as well. It was an okay night, although there were only two comedians and they didn't stay on long. It was X rated as well, but not too bad anyway.

And two weeks ago Heather, Sherri, Jenn and I went to see Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. That was amazing. It went away from the book quite a bit, but still stayed close enough that it wasn't horribly different. Below is a picture of heather before we left. She discovered a "firebolt" in our kitchen and just had to try it out. I think she missed the snitch.

On other news meds went really well two weeks ago, and I mentored this past week. Basically you float around the floor and pray that something exciting will happen or a skill will come up for grabs...and help out the girls on meds by taking vitals and helping with am care. I was lucky. I got to do a catheter (my first one) and could have done two dressing changes if we had time. I was allowed to pick from a picc line or a jelonet change, and since I've never done one or seen one I picked the picc line. It wasn't hard at all and I got to prime another TPN to go in the picc. the scary part was changing the caps. You have to get the person to hold their breath or else they could get an air embolus that leads to the heart! Scary stuff. When I was doing the catheter I was trying to put on my sterile gloves, but they were a little different than the ones we practiced with and I couldn't find the thumb to know where to put it. Anyway long story short I pulled down the cuff and the thumb was actually on the back of my hand. Debbie laughed. I turned beet red. She said I did a good job though, both with my skills and my charting. Tuesday is our last day and then it's time to get into exams.

And It's Ewen

After consideration, John and Dana picked Ewen Frances MacKenzie Whyte as the name of the new baby. I think that's a good name. I was looking through pictures of him and he looked a little jaundice in some of them, then in a few more he had this neat blanket that seemed to light up by itself. Jaundice, of course, is caused by an elevated billiruben which is usually caused because the liver is not breaking down the blood cells quick enough. Very common in babies. Anyway light helps it break down faster. Sunlight is best, but here in Cape Breton they take the baby in the NICU until the billi is down to a happy level (<250 in babys 48hrs, and <300 in those 72hrs) This blanket, apparently called a billiblanket (my friends sister is taking her LPN's in PEI and they have these blankets too) allows the baby to move around, be with the family and still get that needed light to help break down the billi. It's amazing the things we can do. Anyway I digress. This picture is absolutely beautiful...Angus holding Ewen and looking so happy to have his little brother with him. I hope as they grow that they will be close and always be there for each other.

Welcome Baby Ewen...or Alastor...

Meet the new addition to the Whyte family, I think now they're thinking of calling him Alastor, which would be a cute name. Ewen is another pick though. That's not bad either. Anyway he's nine lbs and twenty inches and was born at one if I read all that properly (it came out weird in the file). His apgar score is about a nine right here which is good. I'm going to post a picture of Angus too because I really like it. I think this was taken at the wildlife park in the part where the horses were, but it could have been taken in Ottawa too I'm not sure. Angus loves horses. I can't wait to see them again.

Med Surg Clinical

I thought I'd finally post a quick update of my nursing life. I started my med surg clinical rotation two weeks ago on Four C. This floor is very familiar to me, and it's also a lot like intersession (4B). I have Debbie for a clinical instructor which is awesome...she's an amazing nurse. They all are. I am amazed that Debbie can go into a room and within ten minutes find out loads of information from a client. Just from making one comment "I hear a bit of accent..sounds like highlands" How did she even know that? I sometimes find I'm spending too much time on skills and not enough on communication skills. Through that ten minute conversation we were able to find out that the lady was indeed from the highlands and was allergic to shellfish. It was just amazing.

Anyway next week I'm on meds so that'll be interesting. For now I have to go study more med surg for the morning. ABG's! Yey!

Oh and I'll have some clinical pictures soon too....one of the girls had her camera with her today.