I'll see you in the ICU!

How it's going so far

Meh.
As predicted, I'm not loving bedside care. On the one hand, it's very challenging and here's all sorts of cool stuff to learn. On the other, the patients are for the most part, sedated, and will never know you are there (it's a bit thankless in that sense.)

I went in this morning to my assigned patient's room, and closed the blinds as the sun was just coming up over the horizon. I noticed a dead sparrow on the ledge outside the giant picture windows. Poor thing must have flown into it and it was over quickly.

The irony was not lost on me. Dead sparrow on the ledge, half dead people inside. "Good morning Ms. S, I'm Lisa...I'll be your nurse today. It's October 22nd, Monday morning, and it looks like it's going to be a beautiful day outside today..."

I look at the sedated figure before me, breathing on a ventilator, a minimum of half a dozen IV drips going.

Yes, indeed...a beautiful day, Ms. S.

I'm counting the days until I can go back to school and get out of bedside care. it's alright, when they're awake. I guess if I had my choice, I'd go back to the CCU where at least some, if not most, of the patients are awake.

The biggest lesson I've learned: Stay out of hospitals.
And get your advanced directives in order.

posted by sketchmonkey @ 6:05 PM