This week in clinical, I was able to leave the med-surg floor and go to the PACU (post-anesthesia care unit) to observe the different responsibilities of the nurses. The nurse I shadowed explained to me the different paper work involved with each patient. The PACU nurses are primarily responsible for making sure the patient is coming out of the anesthesia okay, and their vital signs remain stable. The nurse that I followed only ever had one patient at a time that night, but she said she could have up to two or three. The surgeries on the floor that night ranged from a skin graph to a hernia repair to a replacement of an infected knee replacement.

I was also able to look in on a triple A (abdominal aortic aneurism) surgery in the OR (operating room). I had to put on the gown, cap, and shoe covers, and that puffy blue hair cap is definitly not a good look for me. ;) It was hard to see what was going on because I am not a very tall girl, and there are a lot of people standing around an operating table, but I could see there was A LOT of blood!! The nurse explained to me what everyone’s job was, and he also took me into the empty OR and explained what all the equipment was and how it was used. Although it does not sound that exciting, it actually was a really interesting night. I think I would like being a PACU nurse.

until next time =)
bre knapic

Posted by Bre Knapic at 10:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I’ve made it half way through the semester! It’s fall break!!! Who doesn’t love a break? I decided that for my fall break I was going to take a little trip to Niagara Falls with my fiancé, Ryan. I’ve been there maybe a dozen times in my life and it is still amazing every time. We left early Saturday morning and drove to Boston, NY to see my cousins, Debbie and Joe. Then it was off to the falls. We spent the day at the falls taking pictures and going on the Maid of the Mist. We ate dinner at the incredible Rainforest Café, and then went to my cousin Mike’s for a fire and some chill time. I love my family!! We spent the night at my cousin Jake’s (yes I have A LOT of cousins) in Buffalo.
Sunday, we went out for breakfast, and then back to the falls. We spent all of Sunday in Canada, touring and buying souvenirs. We went to the movie star wax museum and walked all around Clifton Hill.
It was a fabulous weekend! It’s so great to have such a colossal vacation spot so close to us. I spent Monday and Tuesday of fall break sleeping in and relaxing. I may have done a little bit of studying, but not much. Then it was back to the classes, clinicals, and exams.

until next time...
bre knapic =)

Posted by Bre Knapic at 10:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Today, the Nursing division is hosting an open house to show the new educational technology. They are going to have the simulated mannequin "Noelle" deliver a sim-baby, and everyone is allowed to watch! Everything will be happening like it is the real thing; gowns, gloves, masks, the whole deal! The department recently got a mannequin that is the newest thing in sim-technology. Robots are always fun to use in on-campus clinical. There are adult females, adult males, children and infants. They talk, breathe, make bowel sounds, and lots of other things. They are really helpful for listening to abnormalities in breathing sounds like crackles, rhonchi, and wheezes. I'm excited for the growing technology in the Nursing division that will help me prepare for my clinical and work experiences.

This week in my nursing classes we took a Cardio exam, and learned about endocrine diseases. That was a really difficult exam and I am soooo glad it's over!

until next time...
bre knapic =)

Posted by Bre Knapic at 3:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

“There are in this world blessed souls, whose sorrows all spring up into joys for others; whose earthly hopes, laid in the grave with many tears, are the seed from which spring healing flowers and balm for the desolate and the distressed.” Uncle Tom’s Cabin
Some days you wonder why you wake up in the morning because it seems that you are doing nothing to contribute anything to anyone at all, but then there are those special moments that once in a while you are lucky enough to slow down to notice. As a future nurse, I am trying to learn to put my energy into what really matters. You never know who or what you are going to encounter at the hospital, and I am learning to make every day a new adventure. On Tuesday, I helped another student in my clinical group with a patient who had gangrene on her left foot to soak the foot and change the bandage. It made me really appreciate my consistent blood flow. On Wednesday, I watched another student do wound care for a patient with a decubitous ulcer on his coccyx the size of my palm and lots of other fun hospital stuff. On Thursday, I woke up with a swollen face and spreading hives. On Friday, I was the patient!! I ended up in the ER from an allergic reaction to medication. It was different seeing everything from the view of the patient instead of the student nurse. It was really important to me in my short time as a patient to know that someone was taking care of me, and doing their best to put my needs first. I am excited to see what adventures I will be getting into this week, and I am even more excited for fall break!! Although I am learning to love these crazy adventures I need a break!
until next time...
bre knapic =)

Posted by Bre Knapic at 10:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)