ER

1. The ER rotation was cool because the EMTs and RNs can see a huge variety of patients every day, and everything is fast paced. While I was there, there was a lot going on and like before, all of the EMTs and RNs were in charge of different rooms.The EMTs and nurses have to be ready for any sudden complication at any time, so they are all very well prepared and fast-paced. However, even though it was a fast paced area, everyone seemed calm no matter what was thrown at them. The atmosphere in the area was hurried, but controlled.
2. The therapists were all very comfortable with each other, and they would crack jokes with each other, but several of them just ignored me and my questions. The man I followed was the same guys that I followed when I first came to the ER, and he was still a bit standoffish. I don't think that he was happy to have a student slowing him down. The environment was a bit on edge, but everyone seemed pretty comfortable communicating and doing there job. 
3. I learned a lot about the consequences of drug overdoses and drug withdrawals. One of the patients was writhing in pain and his blood pressure and pulse were too high. It was interesting to see how the people in the ER treated him. They had seen the same drug addict several days earlier, so they ignored him when he asked for someone, and he was just laying there in pain and discomfort. I don't think that I would like ignoring him to suffer and becoming jaded, because I want to help the patients (though I understand that you just have to wait for the drug withdrawals to end). 
4. The ER was one of my favorite units that I've been to in the hospital. I thought that I would find it interesting because it's such a diverse environment, and I think that I would enjoy working in it, but I don't like being an intern/student in the ER because the "mentors" don't have much time to explain what they are doing and why. However, all in all, I enjoy going to the ER because it's never boring. 

Physical Therapy

Physical Therapy

• "My"Responsibilities: Stretch patients and assign them exercises
• New Knowledge: I learned about scar tissue and how it prevents electrical impulses from going where they need to go
• Best Thing: The best thing was having a conversation with the woman I was following about multiple sclerosis
• Worst Thing: One of the patients nearly cried because the stretches were so painful
• Overall: Okay, because although I am not interested in PT, the woman I shadowed was kind and told me some interesting information about MS

• Finding the physical and occupational therapy unit was somewhat difficult because it's in a corner of the hospital and there are a lot of turns and long hallways.  However, once I got there, I was immediately let into the unit. The room was very open and there were quite a few people there. Eventually, I was assigned to a physical therapist who was working with a woman who had developed a lot of scar tissue after a knee replacement.
• The diagnostic procedures consisted of the physical therapist reading the patient's chart and examining them
• I saw a woman with scar tissue buildup, and the stretches and exercises that were used to break that scar tissue
• Abduction - A movement of a limb away from midline or the center of the body
• Ataxia - Muscular incoordination especially manifested when voluntary muscular movements are attempted
• Genu Valgum - Angling of the knees inward as in “knock kneed”

1. I wasn't particularly impressed with physical therapy because I am interested in working with critical patients. For what I am interested in, the physical and occupational therapists do not get to work with patients who are in dire enough situations. However, I do like that the physical and occupational therapists can see improvements in their patients immediately.  In addition to that, there wasn't a huge variety in the setting. The physical and occupational therapists stay in the same room day in and day out.
2. Everyone in the physical and occupational therapy unit was nice, and they worked well together. They weren't as close or talkative as some of the other units, but they got along together and joked around a little bit. The environment was nice because it was somewhat lively and set up in a very different way than the other areas in the hospital. The woman I shadowed was very patient, and willing to answer my questions; I talked to her about multiple sclerosis, and how I could help my dad with different exercises.  
3. I learned about how the stretches help different parts of the body and why they are useful for different types of patients. I also learned about how scar tissue forms and what surgeons have to do if the scar tissue won't go away with the typical PT treatment. The surgeons will put the patient under anesthesia and manipulate the area with scar tissue by twisting and hitting the area until the scar tissue breaks apart. If that doesn't work, then they open the patient up again and cut out the scar tissue.
4. Physical and Occupational Therapy was not for me. I knew that I wouldn't be interested in a career in it, but it was pleasantly surprised by how much better it was than GC physical and occupational therapy. I don't see myself going into physical or occupational therapy permanently, but it was an interesting rotation. 

Pharmacy

Pharmacy

• "My"Responsibilities: Fill out orders and send them to the respective floor
• New Knowledge: I learned about the shelf life of some medications
• Best Thing: The best thing was having a conversation with a woman about her time working in a mental institution
• Worst Thing: The person I was following left, and I was stranded 
• Overall: Not good, because I am not interested in pharmacy.

• Finding the pharmacy was easy to find, and when I got there, I just rang the doorbell and was let into the unit. The room was very quiet and everyone seemed to keep to themselves. Eventually, I was assigned to a pharmacy technician, who gave me a short tour of the area. I was actually surprised by how small the pharmacy was, and it was a little underwhelming. 
• The diagnostic procedures consisted of the pharmacy technicians checking the patient's previous medication to ensure that they weren't getting multiple doses of the same medication, and to ensure that the patients were getting their medication on a regular schedule. 
• No diseases or disorders observed.
• Diuretic: Any substance that promotes the production of urine. 
• Beta Blockers: a class of drugs that are particularly used for the management of cardiac arrhythmias, protecting the heart from a second heart attack after a first heart attack, and hypertension

1. I did not like the pharmacy because it was far too repetitive for me, and the pharmacists and pharmacy technicians do not get to work directly with the patients. While I was there, there was a lot going on, but it was basically just the filling out of orders from nurses. In addition to that, there wasn't a huge variety in the setting. The pharmacy techs stay in the same room day in and day out, and only leave if they need to deliver medication by hand (which isn't particularly common, because most medication can be sent through the tubes). 
2. Everyone in the pharmacy was nice, but they weren't very talkative. Most of them seemed to just keep to themselves and get their work done. The environment made me uncomfortable because it was so quiet, and very unlike the other areas in the hospital where I had gone. However, one or two of the pharmacy technicians were great; I talked to them about their experience in some other areas of healthcare, and they were very lively and helpful.  
3. I learned about how some of the medications are stored and their shelf life. I also learned about how the computer system works in the pharmacy and how all of the paperwork is processed and authorized. An interesting thing about pharmacy that I didn't know was that they have a station where the remains from surgery are taken and analyzed and cleaned out. One cool thing that I got to do was send off some of the medication in the tube system. 
4. Pharmacy was not for me. I knew that I wouldn't be interested in it, but I did expect to see more. I think that it was a mixture of the very quiet atmosphere and the fact that there was no direct patient interaction. I could never see myself going into pharmacy, but I'm glad that I was able to figure that out now. 

GC 2/9 and 2/12

This week I went to Garden Bridge.

Dementia is always chronic and we never classify acute dementia and chronic dementia. "Acute dementia" is actually delirium. Delerium is also called the acute confused state, and it is a medical condition that results in confusion and other disruptions in thinking and behavior, including changes in perception, attention, mood, and activity level. Delerium can be caused by an acute medical illness, a "brain event," such as stroke or bleeding from an unrecognized head injury, an adverse reaction to a medication, mix of medications or to alcohol, and withdrawal from abruptly stopping a medication, alcohol or nicotine. Chronic dementia may be caused by Alzheimer's disease, brain damage due to reduced or blocked blood flow in blood vessels leading to the brain, abnormal clumps of protein found in the brain, and the degeneration of nerve cells in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. 

Respiratory

Respiratory 

• "My"Responsibilities: Travel around the hospital and help patients with respiratory problems on all floors 
• New Knowledge: I learned about some of the different methods of administering oxygen, why patients need a higher percentage of oxygen, and what happens if they don't get it.
• Best Thing: The best thing was talking to the guy that I was following because he was a great teacher/mentor
• Worst Thing: Seeing someone's dead body be taken out of the hospital room
• Overall: Great because the respiratory therapist was very nice and I find respiratory diseases very interesting.

• Finding the respiratory area was difficult at first, and initially, I went to the cardiopulmonary area for this rotation. Surprisingly, I was luck that this happened, because in order to get into the respiratory room I needed to go up an employee elevator (that needed an employee's ID to work) and a code to enter the room. I was surprised by how much security they had for the room because the only other place with serious security was the NICU/Nursery and Labor and Delivery area. I guess it makes sense though because there are no patients in the respiratory room since all of the respiratory therapists go to different areas of the hospital to see their patients instead of the patients coming to them. I liked that aspect of respiratory because having a change of scenery every day would keep me from getting too bored. 
• The diagnostic procedures consisted of the respiratory therapist checking the patient's oxygen levels and looking for abnormal behavior (like slurring or looking faint). One of the patients was an overweight middle-aged woman, and she was in the hospital because she had sleep apnea. She was also not getting enough oxygen, which was causing her to pass out and act very loopy. 
• No diseases or disorders observed.
• Alveoli- a small air sac in the lungs, where oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged with the blood
• Pleura- a thin lining that surrounds the lung and lines the inside of the chest wall
• Obesity hypoventilation syndrome- Extra weight on the chest and abdomen makes it difficult for the chest to expand. 

1. The respiratory rotation was awesome because the respiratory therapists travel throughout the entire hospital and they can see a huge variety of patients every day. While I was there, there was a lot going on and I learned that the respiratory therapists were in charge of different floors every time they came to work. One day they might be assigned to the ICU and the next they might be in charge of all of the cases in the NICU. The doctors and nurses have to be ready for any sudden complication at any time, so they are all very well prepared and fast-paced. However, even though it was a fast paced area, the respiratory therapists seemed calm no matter what was thrown at them. The atmosphere in the room was also much more relaxed than any other unit that I have visited.
2. The therapists were all very comfortable with each other, and they would crack jokes with each other and with me. The man I followed also seemed to know nearly everyone that we saw in the hospital, which is something that I would like in the future when I'm working. They communicated with each other very well and they were comfortable admitting when they were uneasy about a case. The environment was very casual, and the nurses always seemed to be joking with one another. They seemed like a very fun, experienced, and welcoming community of healthcare professionals. 
3. I learned a lot about how respiratory problems can affect the entire body (because having an excess of carbon dioxide in your body throws of the internal pH, and you fall out of homeostasis) and how pulmonary edema actually kills. I now know that pulmonary edema is often caused by congestive heart failure. The heart has to strain to work properly, then a muscle in the heart dies (which is congestive heart failure) and then the blood in the heart is flushed backward and into the lungs. 
4. Respiratory was by far my favorite unit that I've been to in the hospital. I thought that I would find it interesting because the lungs are fascinating to me, but I didn't expect to like it nearly as much as I did. I think that it was a mixture of being able to travel around the hospital, the great respiratory therapists, and the fact that I could actually see myself going into the respiratory field. I would absolutely love to go back to the respiratory unit. 

GC 2/2 and 2/5

This week I went to physical therapy. Hip replacements are used as a last ditch effort to relieve pain in the hip that is caused by severe arthrtis. The surgeon removes the arthrtic bone and replaces it with a metal joint. After hip replacement surgery, the patient will stay in the hospital for about a week, then they will begin going to physical therapy to regain strength and become more comfortable walking the day after surgery.

Administration

Administration

• "My" Responsibilities: Greeting patients, guiding them to where they need to go, and informing the patients of cost
• New Knowledge: I gained some really awesome and unexpected knowledge about creating my own happiness by following my passion
• Best Thing: The best thing was talking with the woman I followed (Darlene). She was literally one of the most interesting and inspiring people I've ever met.
• Worst Thing: Having to leave Darlene before I could ask her more about self fullfillment
• Overall: Unexpectedly Great because of the wonderful woman that I was able to follow

• Administration was a nice and open place with glass walls. The majority of the work is done in that office, in front of a computer. The computer program was somewhat outdated and frustrating to use because it is not user friendly. However, they have a hand scanner that verifies your identity by taking a picture of the veins in your hand.
• Unfortunately, I wasn't able to see any diagnostic procedures because there are no diagnostic procedures in administration since medicine is not actually being practiced.
• I was not able to see any therapeutic procedures while I was in administration because there are no therapeutic procedures in administration.
• No diseases or disorders observed.
• No new medical terms

1. Obviously administration is a very open place where everyone can come and go, which is in complete contrast to the entire nursing/maternity floor. It's set up likethis so that the patients can see where to go, and the administrators can see how many patients are outside waiting to meet with them. The walls are made up of glass so that everyone can see inside them and the entire area is set up like a business office. When I went into the "back room" area, I saw a lot of cublibles and office supplies, and I couldn't help but think of my dad's job as a computer programmer. 
2. It seemed like eveyone got along well, especially with the woman that I followed. They communicated with each other very well and they seemed very comfortable with each other. The environment was very professional, and it reminded me of what a typical office would look like. It was interesting to see how independent and autonomous each administrator is because they act less like a team than the nurses, but more like a team than the typical administrators that do not work in hospitals. 
3. I learned a lot about following my passion, and pursuing a career that gets me excited. This might seem like an odd thing to learn about in administration, but Darlene was so inspiring. She told me about how her daughter wanted to become a cosmotologist, but she didn't because there wasn't enough money in it. She went to technical school instead and hated it. Now after four years her duaghter is finally going to cosmotology school. Darlene also told me about her own experiences; she has a had a wide variety of jobs in the medical field, but she only recently found her passion, juvenile consulting. After she told me about herself and her life, she gave me several very imprtant pieces of advice: find what define me, follow my passion, and make a connection. 
4. I really thought that I would hate administration, that it would bore me to tears and I wouldn't learn anything from it. However, I was so lucky to talk to this wonderful and inspiring woman. After talking to her, I've made it more of a priority to travel in my life (because that is my passion), to make connections with everyone that I meet, and to try and better understand myself so that I can pursue that will make me happy and help me make a positive contribution to world. I would never work in administration, but I would absolutely love to speak with Darlene again.