Dimple's Discoveries

I went home and worked this weekend for the Thanksgiving break, and what a treat that was to be able to don my scrubs and get going again at something I love. Since finals week is coming soon, I have to keep it short today, but I had to share this story, as it changed my perspective. I was getting report from evening shift as I was coming on to work the grave, and heard a patient's name that sounded familiar. This is pretty common, most of our clients have been to us at least once, and we're honored that they enjoy the experience with us so much that they keep returning when they need that care. Anyway, I asked a couple questions to see if this was actually the patient I was thinking of, and it was, only she had gotten drastically worse since her last time with us, and it isn't looking great for her. After report I slipped quietly into her room to do her vitals. Vitals at night consist of taking pulse and O2, which can all be done with an oximeter, which can be slipp...

I knew from the day I started my clinicals that this was the job for me. I had studied and practiced skills for months, but the day I donned those scrubs and entered that first facility was the day I knew I had found a job doing something I love. After I finished my clinicals and had been bitten by the bug, all I had to do was pass the state tests: one is written and the other is a skills test performed in front of an instructor. The written test went well, I passed with flying colors, and was on to my skills test. This exam includes a test of your ability to take vitals and finishes with a simulation picked from a stack at random with you doing certain cares for a dummy in a bed. I was scared to death doing those vitals. You are sitting next to a woman who has worked in the medical field for years, and you have done your list of 30 required vitals sets, and maybe a few more for practice. She has a two headed stethoscope and hands it to you and tells you to get started. On blood pres...