First Day Of Clinicals....
So Friday was my first day on the hospital floor. We teamed up in pairs with a patient care tech and shadowed them for the day. I got to go with my neighbor. She lives across from me here in my complex. It was a great day that left me motivated to complete nursing school and do well.
I am so glad. My biggest fear has always been hating the hospital after my first day.
It seems little old ladies have a way of warming the heart. My was a 80 something year old woman we will call Dee Dee. She was the sweetest thing. We were going to give her a bed bath but she insisted she needed to get into the shower. So we retrieved a walker and got her in the bathroom. We were left to keep an eye on her and after a short while I asked her how she was doing.
She said," Ok, but I need help with my backside."
I was like ok lets see what I can do.
I washed her back and allowed warm water to flow over her back.
I gave her extra firm scrubs for comfort and asked if she planned on washing her hair.
She was so excited at the prospect of having her hair washed I had to do it for her.
I washed her hair and rinsed it well.
Then gathered a PCT to help her back to bed.
I was scared to get her out of the shower because that is such a high risk location especially because of her age and condition.
We dressed her and I fumbled with her robe a bit but managed.
I combed her hair and fluffed it curly like she enjoys.
Later on her daughter asked me to ambulate her down the hall and I felt trust had been established. Her nurse gave me permission to take her for a walk and we did.
I was really happy we made it to the exit sign and back. WHEW!
Dee Dee was my fave patient of the day.
She gave me a hug and a kiss on my cheek before I left.
I left that day so motivated to become a nurse.
It felt good to leave each person a little better than we found them.
A linen change and a wash up makes a huge difference in a day.
I cannot wait till next week when I follow a charge nurse around and see the job from a different perspective.
