At my new workplace, there are three Julies, three Jennifers, two Connies, two Sarahs, two Johns -- and I haven't even learned everyone else's names yet. Needless to say, communication with and about one of these name Doppelgangers gets confusing, especially when it occurs over our walkie-talkies.
To help distinguish me from the other Julies, one of the techs suggested, tongue-in-cheek, that I be referred to as "Asian Julie". That prompted me to start calling him "Caucasian Craig", even though he's the only Craig in the department. My inspiration for this is the following clip from Sealab 2021 (a Cartoon Network series that aired on Adult Swim from 2000-2005).
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Improving the Patient Experience
Occasionally, I'll have to start an IV on a patient who confesses, "I'm really bad with needles." That got me thinking, what can I do to make the IV stick less scary?
1) I could point out that it could be much worse.
2) I could arrange for a distraction.
3) Hmm maybe a more positive distraction...
4) I've heard that animals are therapeutic for hospitalized patients.
As you can see, I believe health care professionals should find innovative ways to improve the patient experience.
That's why next week, I'm going to dress up as Hannibal Lecter when I go to work. A lot of people like that movie, and I'm sure that identifying their nurse with the well-known and revered American icon that is Anthony Hopkins will help them feel like they are at home in their living rooms, watching movies on TV. What could be more comforting than that?
1) I could point out that it could be much worse.
2) I could arrange for a distraction.
3) Hmm maybe a more positive distraction...
4) I've heard that animals are therapeutic for hospitalized patients.
As you can see, I believe health care professionals should find innovative ways to improve the patient experience.
That's why next week, I'm going to dress up as Hannibal Lecter when I go to work. A lot of people like that movie, and I'm sure that identifying their nurse with the well-known and revered American icon that is Anthony Hopkins will help them feel like they are at home in their living rooms, watching movies on TV. What could be more comforting than that?
Methylene Blue
For some types of surgery, patients may receive local injections of a dye called methylene blue to highlight various body tissues. When concentrated at the injection site, the dye is obvious as a deep blue stain. However, a bluish tint may spread to other areas of the body (such as the face), imparting a pale, grayish appearance to the skin.
Immediately after surgery, the patient will recover under close monitoring of the PACU nurse (that's me). Often, my patients prefer to sleep through this period, which is perfectly fine and encouraged. Patients dyed gray by methylene blue may, however, look as if they are very sick and unresponsive when they are just resting. This has occasionally elicited concern in passing surgeons and comments from coworkers in the PACU setting.
As you can see, our PACU patients are well-monitored by everyone, not just their primary nurse.
Immediately after surgery, the patient will recover under close monitoring of the PACU nurse (that's me). Often, my patients prefer to sleep through this period, which is perfectly fine and encouraged. Patients dyed gray by methylene blue may, however, look as if they are very sick and unresponsive when they are just resting. This has occasionally elicited concern in passing surgeons and comments from coworkers in the PACU setting.
As you can see, our PACU patients are well-monitored by everyone, not just their primary nurse.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Tips for Shorties
As the shortest nurse on my unit, I occasionally endure good-natured teasing and practical jokes about being unable to reach things, and about items having to be stored down low or at eye-level.
My unit lacks a step-stool to remedy the plight of the vertically challenged, which has forced me to think of creative ways to reach the things I need, such as:
Using an IV Pole To Reach Objects and Pull Them Toward Me
Climbing Onto Countertops and Other Mid-Level Structures To Reach Things Higher Up
And, my personal favorite:
Running Up and Springing Off an Opposite Wall, Just Like Jackie Chan
Well...maybe not so much on that last one. Not yet, anyway.
Lest you think that I am a victim here, don't worry. I have devised my own practical jokes that favor the small:
My unit lacks a step-stool to remedy the plight of the vertically challenged, which has forced me to think of creative ways to reach the things I need, such as:
Using an IV Pole To Reach Objects and Pull Them Toward Me
Climbing Onto Countertops and Other Mid-Level Structures To Reach Things Higher Up
And, my personal favorite:Running Up and Springing Off an Opposite Wall, Just Like Jackie Chan
Well...maybe not so much on that last one. Not yet, anyway.
Lest you think that I am a victim here, don't worry. I have devised my own practical jokes that favor the small:
Practicing Spanish
When I moved to Texas, I realized that in order to provide the best possible care to my patients, I needed to learn Spanish. I studied two semesters of medical Spanish before a family situation caused me to put the pursuit of Spanish fluency on hold. Nevertheless, I vowed to practice speaking Spanish whenever I could, in order not to lose what I had learned.
The other day at the clinic where I work part-time, a patient was lying on his stretcher waiting for the physician. Passing by, I cheerfully called out, "Buenas dias!" The patient greeted me in turn, and seemed pleased that I had said good morning to him. Growing bolder, I stopped to make conversation, asking "Donde esta su hijo?" I felt extremely proud that I had remembered how to ask, "Where is your son?" (his son normally accompanied him to appointments).
The following loosely illustrates how the conversation went:
E for effort, F for fail.
The other day at the clinic where I work part-time, a patient was lying on his stretcher waiting for the physician. Passing by, I cheerfully called out, "Buenas dias!" The patient greeted me in turn, and seemed pleased that I had said good morning to him. Growing bolder, I stopped to make conversation, asking "Donde esta su hijo?" I felt extremely proud that I had remembered how to ask, "Where is your son?" (his son normally accompanied him to appointments).
The following loosely illustrates how the conversation went:
E for effort, F for fail.
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