What happened this week? 2/20/2017

This week, I worked at the hospital Monday and Friday. On Monday, I carried out my normal routine in 2B Surgical. On Friday in Cardiac Pulmonary Rehab, I decided to go in a little earlier so I could observe a Cardiac class. I was fortunate enough to watch these patients and their personal workouts. Unlike the Pulmonary classes, the Cardiac patients wear heart monitors for obvious reasons. Their workout plans are designed to improve their heart function, rather than the Pulmonary patients that workout in order to improve their function in normal, daily activities. I was able to watch their arrhythmias while they did their exercises and saw if it was strenuous or not for them. Also another difference for the Cardiac class is the testing that goes on between exercises. For Pulmonary patients, we test their oxygen saturation and heart rate. However, for Cardiac patients, their blood pressure is checked. Hopefully in the future I will be able to observe another class so that I will be able to fully understand. I would like to be able to follow their workouts and recognize the affect on their diagnosis like I do with the Pulmonary patients.

What happened this week? 2/13/2017

On Tuesday, I worked in Cardiac Pulmonary Rehab. In this department, which is a "doctor's office" type setting, patients come in to work out while being monitored. Many patients in the Cardiac classes are recovering from heart attacks, blockages, have irregular arrhythmias, etc.. When they come into their scheduled class, they are hooked up to heart monitors and they begin their workouts. Most of the Pulmonary patients are suffering from COPD, Emphysema, etc.. These patients workout in order to make their home lives and daily activities easier. Both classes are monitored by a nurse and a Respiratory Therapist.  During their workouts, the staff constantly checks the patient's blood pressure, sugar, breathing, oxygen saturation and heart rate. Luckily for myself, I am able to assist monitoring the class. During the class, I am able to check patients' oxygen saturation and heart rate. I also ask them about their breathing and their physical response to the different exercises. The program is a wonderful opportunity for me to see a patient's diagnosis be treated from start to finish. I am able to see the same patients, a variety of ages, every week, which allows me to fully understand their health issues. This department has definitely sparked my interest in this specialty and I look forward to learning more about it.

What happened this week? 2/6/2017

Today, I did not have much to do in Cardiac Pulmonary Rehab. Instead, I went back to the Volunteer Office. While in the office, I sewed labels onto hats that many people donate for the NICU and Mother/Baby. It truly is incredible the amount of people that donate to the hospital. Currently, there are hundreds of volunteers of all ages. There are many teenagers, adults, senior citizens, and of course, lots of clowns. Not only do they give their time, many bring in physical donations, such as handmade hats, scarves, blankets, toys, coloring books, etc.. The infant hats are beautifully knitted and are all different. Each infant is given one upon birth. I think this is such a simple gesture that goes a long way. The hats prove how much The Valley Hospital values the care of each individual patient. They strive to provide care and comfort for patients and their families. Small gestures like this make me even more excited to become a nurse. Being able to have a career that also gives back is going to be truly gratifying.

What happened this week? 1/30/2017

Today I worked in Surgical. Usually, I go about my daily routine of charting, stocking patient kitchens and filling nurses' stations. However, today I was invited to attend a Reiki session. According to reiki.org, "Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. It is administered by "laying on hands" and is based on the idea that an unseen "life force energy" flows through us and is what causes us to be alive." A volunteer Reiki specialist comes into the Surgical Department every week and offers short sessions for employees, patients and their families. When I went to the session, I was told to lay down on a table, then she felt all around my head and hovered her hands over my body. As she did so, she revealed what colors "appeared" to her and what they meant in comparison to my life. It was extremely interesting because it was an escape from medicine, however, it was still a form of healing.

http://www.reiki.org/faq/whatisreiki.html 

What happened this week? 1/23/2017

This week, I did my normal routine. However, I want to touch on the events that took place last week. Last Monday, I was invited to a seminar with a few other junior volunteers. When we had first sat down, we were introduced to a Pre-Med student who spoke to us on his experiences as a Valley Hospital volunteer and the direction he was heading to next. We also heard from an employee of the Emergency Management Department, the Vice-President of the hospital and a Pediatric surgeon who taught us meditation. All spoke to us on their roles in Valley Hospital and gave us advice as we start our own journeys into similar professions. In between speakers, we were able to visit some departments in which we usually do not have the chance to see. We visited the Laboratory, where we were able to see a colon just removed from a patient. We were also able to see samples of a kidney filled with cancer. Next, we went to the Morgue. There, we saw a leg that had just been removed. The patient was a diabetic and an ulcer had started to eat away at the patient's heel. After that, we visited the PICU (Pediatric Intensive Care Unit) and CICU (Cardiac Intensive Care Unit). I was able to learn more about the hospital, as well as network. It truly was a fantastic experience and hope that I can attend more seminars.

What is the NCLEX?

According to Kaplan's website...

"The National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN exam) has one purpose: To determine if it's safe for you to begin practice as an entry-level nurse...While nursing school exams are knowledge-based, the NCLEX-RN tests application and analysis using the nursing knowledge you learned in school. You will be tested on how you can use critical thinking skills to make nursing judgements."

https://www.kaptest.com/nursing/nclex-prep/nclex-rn/about-the-nclex-rn