Emergency Room Observation / Dining Hall- GC Nursing Home

Responsibilities:

• Observation

New knowledge or skills:

• Emergency Room workers have to work as a team in a crisis situation
• The emergency room nurses need and use a lot of supplies
• Attitude is important in dealing with situations in the emergency room

Best thing that happened:

• I observed an EKG performed on a patient
• Lots of blood drawn

Worst thing that happened

• The employees unprofessional behavior

This week was: Fair

The emergency room was not busy.

Technology Experience Record:

The technology I observed in the emergency room was the EKG machine. I also observed patient charting on the computer at the nurse's station.

Diagnostic Procedures Observed:

Although I observed the use of the EKG machine, no diagnosis was given. The technician sent the results to the doctor. 

Therapudic Procedures Observed:

One patient was having trouble breathing and was given Albuterol breathing treatment.

Medical Terminology Abbreviations Encountered:

EKG- electrocardiogram

ABG- aterial blood gas air

ER Journal:

This past week I was able to visit the emergency room. I observed the emergency room technician. This technician was responsible mainly for drawing blood and operating the EKG machine. The EKG machine measures how the heart is working. I learned that the emergency room uses a large amount of supplies.  the nurses are always replenishing and ordering supplies due to the urgent nature of the patient's situations.

A patient was having respiratory issues and the technician ran an EKG. This was my first time to see this test. I found it very intereting. The tecnician also replaced the patient's IV and did some blood work.  I saw many IV's replaced and blood drawn from many patients. The blood was sent to the lab for testing.

The only thing I found shocking was how some of the staff behaved unprofessionally because the emergency room was not busy.  Some of this behavior included gossip about patients and shooting rubber bands at other staff members.  I did not participate since I would not want to be treated at an emergency room where the staff did not take their jobs seriously.  I learned that this behavior is an example of what not to do in any medical profession.  Overall my experience was fair. The emergency room was not busy.

I think that emergency room nurses have a tough job. They have to be able to think on their feet and adapt to any situation based on a patient's condition.  The emergency room staff has to work as a team even in a crisis.

GC Journal:

Last week at GC I was assigned to help in the dining hall.  I have done this before so the tasks were familiar to me.  I know that it is very important to wash my hands often.  Our main assignment was to set up the dining hall for lunch. I folded napkins and placed menus on the tables. I also set the tables with silverware and glasses.  I delivered food and drinks to the nurses stations.  After everything was done my partner and I were offered to have some ice cream.  I could not say no.  It was very good.