I have been having such a good time at my clinical this past couple weeks. The weeks before that were just really bad for me and I felt so inadequate, but I told myself that I need to just exude confidence and just really be quick on my feet and think ahead.
I was assigned to the ICU last Wednesday and I was a bit apprehensive since we haven't started vents, yet. I was so new to that environment and I definitely lost some confidence while there. I felt like I was just following my RT around watching her do vent checks and setting changes. I felt so useless! At the end of each clinical day, we have to ask our RT to fill out our student evaluation form and out of "Excellent," "More Than Satisfactory," "Satisfactory," and "Unsafe" she gave me all "Satisfactories" for Knowledge, Attitude, and Skills. It truly upset me because I did make it clear to her that we haven't started vents, yet, and it pretty much made me feel so dumb.
This past Monday, I was assigned to the ICU again with the same therapist. I didn't know what to think. Really?! AGAIN?! I was dreading getting more "Satisfactories" that day, but I really tried to tell myself to stay on top of things and really be in tune with the therapist.
Well, it was a busy day in the ICU. I bagged four patients for the first time, I did some treatments without the help of my therapist, I jumped and thought ahead to things that needed to get done when I knew other things were on her mind. It was a great feeling. She commended my skills and even went so far as to compare me to second years (not from my program) who were headed for graduation soon. She said that I have great organizational skills when it comes to writing down my assessment findings for my patients and she even told other staff therapists that I would become a great therapist. It really boosted my confidence and I was looking forward to her evaluation.
I received it today and she upped my evaluations and even commented on my strengths. She said that I am smart, a fast learner, and that I pay attention to details. It was a great feeling and I look forward to more awesome (and bad) days at clinical!
Bring it! :)
Oh yes, and I saw an intubation performed today for the first time. I helped by bagging the patient post-intubation, so, I guess I helped!
A little! Does that count? Haha.
At the end of the intubation, as I was about ready to leave the ICU, the PT was trying to work with a different patient who still had an in-line SVN in place. The FIVE health care workers in the patient's room had NO CLUE as to how to take it off. The RT in the unit was still busy with the intubated patient setting up her vent, plus she was all gowned, so I quickly jumped to the opportunity to show the nurses and PT how to take it off, which, of course, was simple. I guess between the t-piece connected to the flex tube and the vent's tubing didn't make sense if you just took out the SVN, right? It would just leave tubing to tubing with no adapter, so I guess that's where they were confused. I was also able to help a nursing student listen to wheezes in a patient's lung. Feels good to be able to teach others while I'm still learning, myself!
Soon after, while I was walking around with my clinical instructor, the ICU RT told her, "Your students are great!"
:)
Hospital, Eden Hospital, and John Muir. I've already been to John Muir, but as a first-year in my first semester, it was definitely uneventful since we didn't really get to experience much in terms of trauma as it is a trauma center. I want to go to Highland because of the experience I can gain there. It's a scary area, but I know that I can see A LOT. Lastly, I like Eden because one of our intructors really inspires me to be part of the Eden team because they really care for their patients. The vibe I get from him is just a good one.
Lastly, I'm a little torn between two hospitals that I want to do my preceptorship at. I would LOVE to do my preceptorship at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital because that is where it all started for my RT career. I loved going to that hospital with a feeling that I'd be helping these kids and babies with what I was doing. It was a great feeling. I'm contacting the clinical specialist that I met last year to find out if I can come in and shadow a few RTs in order to find a good match as my preceptor. I hope she lets me come in because I really want to do it there. If not there, then John Muir because it is a trauma center.
de. But then, I guess my rotations are not ultimately up to me because of supply and demand. We can make our choices, but our clinical coordinator is the one who does her best to try and get us in where we want to go. Our preceptorship, on the other hand, can be up to us. If we find a therapist who is willing to be a preceptor, then it works out!
Today was a really eye-opening day in the ICU. Technically I'm not supposed to even be in the ICU until mid-April, but it's really nice to get that exposure. I finally got to bag a patient after months of waiting to do so. And not even just one...more like FOUR! It wasn't for a code or rapid response, just transport, re-taping, and vent problems. Finally, right? Today was the most action-packed day I've had since my RT career has started. I started at 7AM and didn't even get a break until 1PM. Crazy insane day, I think...
I just finished up my 4th week in my clinical rotation and I've come to a realization. I mean, I've known this already, but I guess it just hit me more now than it did before.
