Today I was floated to Intensive Care Unit, a place where every patient looks like a Christmas tree. Tubings were hanging, cardiac monitors and ventilators were beeping non-stop. Everything was alien. And the patients? Well, anyone who weren't used to ICU and who doesn't have any medical background will never imagine their condition and how they look like.
It was the first time I was floated there, no, just a help actually because I never had any ICU background even on my college years, and the moment I stepped inside the unit, I asked myself, what will happen next? What awaits my entire 12-hour shift here? And really, I was puzzled on what's happening with the regular staff buzzing around, very busy with one is to one nurse to patient ratio.
Aside from the monitors at the patients' bedsides, there is also a central monitoring screen at the Nurse's station showing each patient's ECG tracing and vital signs. They are also doing total parenteral nutrition, which I haven't had the chance to experience before.
What I did? I became an instant file porter and errand girl, going to the pharmacy, to the laboratory, to the blood bank, and to the ICU extension, aside from helping them turning the patients to sides. I wanted to ask questions and learn, but I wasn't given the chance. Imagine them very busy and me disturbing them asking questions.
Now that we are allowed to help at ICU, I am looking forward to more days working with the ICU staff. And I am hoping that in the next days to come, I will be able to learn their way.
Crossed fingers.
It was the first time I was floated there, no, just a help actually because I never had any ICU background even on my college years, and the moment I stepped inside the unit, I asked myself, what will happen next? What awaits my entire 12-hour shift here? And really, I was puzzled on what's happening with the regular staff buzzing around, very busy with one is to one nurse to patient ratio.
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| Photo credit to Wikipedia |
What I did? I became an instant file porter and errand girl, going to the pharmacy, to the laboratory, to the blood bank, and to the ICU extension, aside from helping them turning the patients to sides. I wanted to ask questions and learn, but I wasn't given the chance. Imagine them very busy and me disturbing them asking questions.
Now that we are allowed to help at ICU, I am looking forward to more days working with the ICU staff. And I am hoping that in the next days to come, I will be able to learn their way.
Crossed fingers.
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