1st and 2nd night in ER series

[guest042302019, BSN, RN]

So I recently posted a brief description of my volunteer experiences in the hospital and in the ER. What I also do is that when I come home, I write about my experiences I go through. I write everything down, so I don't forget, because it's important to me. I kind of neat, because I can see myself grow in confidence and experience through my writing, some times it's allittle boring and other times, pretty interesting. So I'd like to share will all of you what I seen, felt, and been through. Btw, there might be grammatical and spelling errors, for this, sorry about that, I usually write when I get home in a frenzy. Also, if you get the opportunity, you should try to read the series in order, I can see myself changing through the progressive nights, maybe you'll be able to too?

experience

2/13(1st night)

First night in the ER. Didn't get to do much. Upon arrrival a paramedic showed me the basics, how to clean a room, where the basic supplies were, etc. I got to clean some rooms, that was the extent of my first night. But, I thoruoughly enjoyed my experience.

2/20(2nd night)

My second night in the ER. I walk in and i can already tell it is alot busier than the previous week. I knew my way around so my confidence was alot higher. I didn't feel completely out of my element. But, I still stayed out of the way and learned and listened. Tonight, I got to do ALOT more than the previous week. It seems after the nurses realized that Im not going to be a nusance, they talked to me alittle more and asked about myself.

Then, one of the nurses asked me if i wanted to help lift a patient. SURE! She then said that she has cancer that makes her bones extremely brittle so the lift will be extremely painful for her. I thanked her for the heads up. We walked in, and she couldnt speak any english, so her son translated for the nurse. The nurse then explained to me that we are going to take some blood for the lab. They had a handy attachment that allowed the nurse to take bodily sample without using clamps etc. which made her job alot easier. She took the blood and then went on the other side, and explain to grab the sheets and lift up on the sheet. We did and the women groaned alittle in pain, but not as much as I thought she would. The nurse placed pillows on her right side to relieve some of the pain from her laying there so long. We then walked out of room 7, i believe.

I then sat down and waited. Then a lady came in that was passed out in her hallway so her neighbors called the ambulance. She was 50 years old, and another nurse explained to me that this was her 4th time in this month. LIkely that the woman is a heavy partyer or even more likely trying to kill herself. I was sent in to help the doctor, paramedic (a trainee, he is doing his clinicals there), and the nurse lift her off of the Paramedic's board. I was instructed to lift her legs, and did so. Later that night I was able to assist on an EKG with this woman. It was me and the paramedic trainee. He asked me if exposure bothered me, I waived him off in a not a problem response. I entered the ladies information in but later, I found out I entered the wrong information, but the nurses reassured me no one is going to die from this, jokingly' so I felt better about it. I then left.

Throughout the night I cleaned 10-15 rooms, while going to various rooms and greeting patients. I gave a gentleman that just got done with cataract surgery some food. He was nice. I told him we were out of scoth, so he'll have to do with sierra mist soda. Another thing that semi-freaked me out, was a woman needed a pillow under her lower back because she had lumbar sclerosis, if i recall. Whatever it was, she had extreme discomfort and needed a pillow. I asked the head nurse if that was ok if I did that and she approved. So i walk in not sure what to do, and it was difficult but I managed to get the pillow where she needed it. The older lady's(patient) daughter was nice and considering the circumstance, very calm and collected. Also, I saw an old friend there. We had considerable history so that was a little akward. But, her mom is now in the salvation army shelter apparently homeless. She explained to me about her life now, how her bf is terrible to her and to the kids. I wonder if she was confiding in me because she simply needed to someone or we had history, either way she told me about what was going on. Her son had a respiratory virus. Also, she had to go to the bathroom with her son, so i held her baby that was sick. So the pratically all the ER staff gave me guff over that, I simply told them I needed a personal assistant for the night.

SO needless to say, it was a great experience night. I learned alot that night, even if it was simple tasks. I know this is a place I want to be apart of someday. I know I could be the type that could help the patients and be a light in their dark place. Truly an amazing feeling I have when I walk out of there, I feel like I make a small difference, but a difference none the less.

[blessed_2Bhere]

Reading this experience for you made me smile. :)

Matter of fact I just filled out my volunteer paperwork and will be faxing it in tomorrow and, hopefully, I will be joining them on Sunday mornings.

I feel like, although I am nowhere near being a nurse as of yet, I will be making a bit of a difference in the hospital and also learning some of the ropes to working, hopefully, in the ER.

And writing a journal of your experiences is a great idea also.

[guest042302019, BSN, RN]

Reading this experience for you made me smile. :)

Matter of fact I just filled out my volunteer paperwork and will be faxing it in tomorrow and, hopefully, I will be joining them on Sunday mornings.

I feel like, although I am nowhere near being a nurse as of yet, I will be making a bit of a difference in the hospital and also learning some of the ropes to working, hopefully, in the ER.

And writing a journal of your experiences is a great idea also.

I'm sure you'll get in. The hospital always loves to have people to volunteer. Let's face it, it's a win win for both parties, you get great experience and they get labor for free-legally. I recommend that anyone that does significant volunteering, writes what they feel in a journal. It's neat to see the progression, and growth of one's self. Good luck.

-Andrew