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Oh Communication!

Technological advances have greatly assisted in overcoming communication barriers in the health care system. By implementing technology such as electronic charts, it has not only improved communication, but also, it allows more time for the health care professional to be with the patient. By having electronic charts, it ensures that privacy is maintained. As it is most hospitals policy, only health care professionals that are caring for the client will be able to view the chart. Also, by having this information available on an electronic system it makes it much easier to find the required information when a client requests it. Knowing that privacy is maintained and charts are easily assessable, clients will be relieved. Therefore, technology has been a great help in the health care system.

Funny things.

On Halloween I was carving a pumpkin (very last minute). I was home alone and was trying to get it carved quickly as it was already 6 and the children would be coming around soon. While trying to cut out the top of the pumpkin, so I could hollow it, I grabbed the knife and pushed it into the pumpkin. I quickly realized the knife was backwards and was also cutting deep into my thumb. The cut was about an inch long and bleeding like crazy. I immediately threw my hand up into the air and put pressure on it until I could find a band-aid, ointment and waited for the bleeding stopped. After it stopped bleeding and I had applied the necessary dressing, I realized how funny my reaction was. 3 months ago, I wouldn’t have done the same thing. Apparently nursing school has had more of an effect on my mind than I thought. :)

I love Rubix Cubes, and Switchfoot :)

Durham Transit

Yesterday I had the craziest day in a LONG time. My morning was completely outrageous but the hardest part was when I got on the Bond bus (after waiting a half an hour for it). As soon as I sat down, the bus took off and from behind me a man shouted "STOP THE BUS! THERE'S A GIRL HAVING A SEIZURE.”

The day started out in a complete rush: I woke up late and missed the first bus. By the time I got to the bus stop I couldn’t find my cell or my bus pass so I had to run home-in flats. By the time I got home I realized that the bus pass was in my BACK pocket where I never really put anything. Realizing this, I ran back to the bus. On the way a skunk ran in front of me so I had to stop and almost missed the bus. I got to school and made it to my classes thankfully. After,I had to go to the dentist (which I ended up being late for).

After the appointment, I waited in the FREEZING cold for the Bond bus. As soon as I got the bus, a young girl in the back of the bus fell out of her seat and started convulsing. A woman from the front of the bus ran to the back and immediately supported her head. The girl was bleeding from the mouth and foaming as well. She clearly had bitten her tongue. I sat in my seat looking at her for what felt like forever wishing there was something I could do. I was actually physically shaking. It took me a while to realize that I AM a nursing student, I AM CPR qualified and when I did I left everything on my seat and ripped my coat off and ran to the back and put it under her head. By this point she was coming to and I had moved her to her side in case she had re-entered a seizure. When she opened her eyes she was completely unaware of what just happened. I asked her if she had ever had a seizure and she said no and kept trying to get up. Eventually the ambulance arrived and they dealt with the situation but I could not shake it. When I got on the next bus I couldn’t stop shaking- I wanted to cry. The more I thought about it, the more I realized how horrible my reaction time to the situation was. It made me feel sick to know that it took me so long to get up out of my chair and help her.


Since we’ve been doing all those reflective papers, I decided that I should educate myself on what to do when a seizure happens. Epilepsy.com has a video called “You Can Do This! After the seizure” and I strongly encourage us nursing students to take a look at it. Seizures can happen at any time-anywhere. They state that after a seizure they may feel muscle soreness, headache, sore cheek or tongue, memory impaired, depressed, confused. They recommend keeping them on their side, keeping them safe and not try to physically restrain or arm them, talk to them, ask them simple questions, check for injuries, be sensitive, stay with them and be supported.

I guess the moral of my story and my learning I took away from the situation is that anything can happen anywhere and as a nursing student I NEED to be prepared for anything because I CAN help. I can make a difference for this person.

Here's a video that explains ways to help someone having a seizure:


For more information, check out my reference. You never know when you’ll need it.


Epilepsy.com (2008). Responding to seizures. Epilepsy.com. http://www.epilepsy.com/EPILEPSY/responding_seizures

Overwhelmed.

Lately, I've had a heavy load of work for my course. It's really been a lot to handle but I've been staying on top of it. It seems like the intent for the crazy amounts of work is to make sure that the people in the BScN program are able to handle the pressure it puts on us. If we weren't able to handle the pressure of our workload-how would we handle the pressure of patients in hospitals or clinics? So, now that I've concluded this, I'm continuing on with my work in order to become a great nurse (With no social life). :)

So you think you can dance?

I watched So you think you can dance the other day and I absolutely loved this.
Watch it :)