Week 13 as a Level 1 Nursing Student

This week blew by because we didn't have class on Easter Monday, so it was a 4 day week. With clinical being twice a week, I really only had classes for 2 days, life's swell! This week we started with two patients! On Tuesday, we started in the mornings so we did all the morning care like bedbaths, oral care, linen changes, all that fun stuff.

One of my patients was getting discharged ON Tuesday, so he was really excited - he was also very independent and refused a shower and help with anything, which made it easier for me because he was on contact precaution. I just had to go in and check up on him every so often, but he was really chipper and friendly and he had a lot of stories to share, so it was really cool.

My second patient was really tired and slept throughout most of my shift. I had to feed her and had to make sure that she was conscious enough to take each bite so that she didn't choke on her food. It made it really hard to give her her meds, but the nurse crushed them and just mixed it in with her pureed prunes. When I was giving her a bedbath, she started talking to me more, but all the while keeping her eyes shut. She was a retired RN herself and was kind of confused, she kept on talking about going on duty.

The second day, she was much more awake and talkative. We were on afternoons on Wednesday and she was up in her chair when I went in. She was telling me about her husband and it was so heart warming. She was telling me that they'd been married for over 60 years and how he was such a gentleman and how she wouldn't change a single thing if she were given the chance to. I was really worried, though, because she said that he always came on Sunday, and because it was Wednesday, I wasn't sure if I should orient her to the day. The good news is that he came along with two of their daughters. It was so cute how they went for a walk and in one hand, he was holding his cane and with his other, he held my patient's hand. I was behind them for a little stretch of the hallway and it seriously made me tear up because it was so....peaceful and happy. The way they were tottering in the hallway, her in her hospital gown and pink robe.... I was really sad, though, when I saw the husband and one of the daughters outside the room crying about the condition of my patient...but sometimes, there isn't anything you can do, because the reality of the situation is that the outcome isn't ideal.

I also got to help with an admissions form for a new patient. A friend of mine from high school is Greek and through the years, I have picked up on a few words here and there. Once I read the patient's name, I was pretty sure he was Greek, but of course, still asked about his ethnic background. So once I determined that he was Greek, I asked if it was ok for me to call him "Theo __________" and he kind of giggled and repeated Theo. The word theo is kind of analagous to Chinese ppl saying "Auntie/Uncle" out of respect. So I could tell that he appreciated that I was trying and it helped build rapport.