Its Jackie
Diary Dude
Global user
Registered: 01-2005
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 155
Karma: 5 (+5/-0)
|
 | 
|
|
Re: 3rd Year placements!
So I've now completed 2 weeks, already, I can't believe it. On day one I was initially overwhelmed but by the end of the day I felt a bit better. We've been told to relax and enjoy the placement and not worry too much about learning everything. We were informed that it takes around 18 months to fully train an ICU nurse, so I began to realise that we would only be learning a small part of that in 6 weeks.
Both my mentors are lovely, thank goodness, all the other staff are wonderful too.
At first I thought I'd not enjoy it as much since the patients are mainly sedated and ventilated but I've not found that to be the case. We have one at the moment who is up and in a chair and no doubt will be moving to HDU over the weekend. My patient is slow to come round from sedation but was localising to his ETT so I'm sure he'll be gone by Monday too.
It's a 5 bedded unit and over the last two weeks, other than one or two patients, everyone is a substance abuser, although the reasons they find themselves admitted vary from assault to being drunk and falling down the stairs! I started to wonder if drugs and alcohol were no longer a problem in this country would our ICU still be required!??
I've been doing all the obs, which in ICU are immensely confursing at first...also neuro obs, giving oral meds (via NG), checking the monitor alarms and zeroing the lines and of course personal care. I've watched a tracheostomy, a central line insertion, and an intubation. Sometimes I wonder how I fill my day but believe me it goes by so quickly.
I'm not sure critical care is an area I want to pursue when qualified, the staff seem to have such a degree of autonomy (within limits and protocols)that I can't believe I'd ever be proficient at knowing what to do. I have been assured though that they all felt like that when they started, so you never know!
---  |
|
3/Oct/2008, 7:30 pm
|
|
Its Jackie
Diary Dude
Global user
Registered: 01-2005
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 155
Karma: 5 (+5/-0)
|
|
|
|
|
Re: 3rd Year placements!
Well 6 weeks has flown by, I really can't believe it's over.
Again, I did love my placement, I wasn't sure at first but did grow to like it. Learned loads, in fact, I think for me, this was the placement I've learned the most. Maybe that's because it's finally all starting to come together?
I've not had a placement yet I've disliked and apart from one or two "matronly" like SN's I've not met a horrible nurse!!! The hospital I work in is old and has a bit of a bad name at times but unless the staff are being un-naturally nice to me and the patients when I'm around then I think lots of what is said about the place is unjustified.
So, one more placement then it's rostered service, can I go back to 1st yr please???..LOL.
Last edited by Its Jackie, 1/Nov/2008, 9:58 am
--- |
|
1/Nov/2008, 9:57 am
|
|
Midnight Princess
Diary Dude
Global user
Registered: 05-2009
Posts: 18
Karma: 0 (+0/-0)
|
|
|
|
|
Re: 3rd Year placements!
Hi Jackie,
It sounds like tiredness and overwork that's overwhelming you so you can't see the wood for the trees.
You're doing really well and probably in need of some time to yourself to recharge your batteries!
|
|
17/May/2009, 9:25 am
|
|
Its Jackie
Diary Dude
Global user
Registered: 01-2005
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 155
Karma: 5 (+5/-0)
|
|
|
|
|
Re: 3rd Year placements!
Week 7 of final placement and I'm loving it..lol..ok only certain aspects of it! I love love love recovery and would work there in a minute, I think I've found my niche!! I'm ok with anaesthetics, but only spend the odd day in there. As for scrub, I still feel the same, it's really not for me but luckily my mentors are anaesthetic/recovery nurses. I'm spending a week in scrub this week, although only circulating which suits me fine, I've no interest in scrubbing in.
So yes, I thought I'd hate it, and now I quite like it. I can't believe I only have 7 weeks left on placement then 3 weeks holidays, in 10 weeks time it'll all be over...not sure whether to laugh or cry though.  
--- |
|
8/Jul/2009, 9:04 pm
|
|
Powered by AkBBS 0.9.5b - Link to us
- Blogs
- Hall of Honour
- Chat
Click here to get your own free message board
|
You are not logged in (login)
Board's time is: 21/Nov/2009, 2:28 pm
|
|
|
if there was ever a placement I didn't want it was this. I tried for a swap but no one wanted it, most of us feel the same.