Gritman Clinicals are in full swing, and I am loving it! We get at least one patient to ourselves for every shift, but quite often we will get more than 2! We take full responsibility of our patient throughout the shift, we give all of their meds (by mouth, IV, or other various routes....) do any procedures the patients need done, and do all of the charting involved. We get post-operation patients, mainly, but every once in a while we get some comfort care (end of life) patients, or acute illness patients.
I had a stint in ICU where I cared for some very sick patients, and even got to assist the doctor in inserting a CVC- or central line! It's an IV that goes in through the neck (internal jugular vein) and is strung down into the vessel that leads to the heart ( Superior vena cava). To top that off, I got to put in an IV last night for the first time on a patient. It went very smoothly!
Overall I really am enjoying clinicals, and have many stories to tell. I get more assurance every day that I am on this earth to be a nurse! The patient interaction is one of my favorite parts of the job, its very fulfilling, and I truly enjoy taking care of people.
I am headed off to clinical again, but I will be back to post some of my interesting, and awkward stories..
