My First Week

Fri, 20 Apr 2007 16:05:20 +0200

Before I begin writing- I would like everyone to know that at no point in this Blog will I be publishing Paitent's names. If I do use a name it will be a false one to protect paitent's identities.

My first week has been full of mixed emotions. I have just started in my career in the NHS as a Health Care Assistant. Before this I worked in Sainsbury's as a Checkout Supervisor. One day I will be a Paramedic, but for now, (well at least until I turn 21), I've decided to get experience on the wards. The ward I work is MAU (Medical Assessment Unit), which from what I can tell is like the next stage up from A&E.

I'm not sure whether it is a good idea to publish a Blog or not, but if I get told to take it off the web I will.

I started on Monday 16th April 2007. I had a nice start of 9 am. thankfully I wasn't the only new person- Newly qualified nurse, Amy started too.

I was briefly introduced to people and told whom I would be working with.

Not really much to Monday- just a nice short day! Finished at 2.30!

Tuesday I started at 7 am. I have never drunk so much coffee in my life to keep me awake! We started off with breakfast's and getting clean linen ready. I was mainly observing and taking paitents observations. The highlight of my day was an incontinent lady farting in someone's face! However, my silent laughter was short lived as someone did that to me on Thursday!

Wednesday was another early shift with even more coffee! I have problems sleeping at night, which is why there is so much coffee!
I'm now having to start doing thing's myself, including making beds! That is the hardest task I have found doing on my own so far. I also had to completley dress a paitent and give them a bed bath by myself today. I know it sounds easy, but half the time I don't know my own strength and i'm worried that i'll hurt them. this wasn't too bad, but she is what we call a PITA (Pain in the Arse!) We have several of those. My God it's tempting to pour the bed pan over them sometimes!

Thursday is another early start. Today was the most stressful day of them all. 2 nurses had phoned in sick, there were only 2 HCA's in the morning(I was one of them) and no HCA cover in the afternoon. As you can guess we were screwed! The most painful part of my day was a guy called Fred. Fred has Chrones disease, and was having a blood transfusion. The doctor's- (arrogant arses) decided to have me assist them while Fred had blood taken from his neck. However, they kept messing it up and an hour later they still didn't have any! I don't mind needles in other people, but this was just disturbing. I had to get out of there- luckily Fred needed a bed pan, so I finally got a break from it! There was also a woman not much older than my mum who'd had a severe stroke and had lost the movement in the right side of her body, and her speech. I had to assist whilst a nurse inserted her medication through her anus, and I could tell by the look in her eyes she knew exactly what was going on. I just wanted to hug her and say "everything will be alright. I'm so sorry you are having to go through this undignifed humiliation"; and as if she could read my mind, with her left hand she rearranged her gown.

Today- early again. With staff and more coffee! Handover was interesting- we have a schizophrenic paitent recovering from cocaine abuse. Oh dear God! He has a history of violence! YOu can imagine that i'm absolutely petrified! It doesn't help that Terry- another HCA, has been winding me up saying don't go in there on your own and shit like that. I only found out that he was winding me up about 11 am, when I asked Amy to come in with me to get his lunch order. She just smiled at me and explained that he wasn't violent at the moment, and was unlikely to be violent whilst in hospital on his medication. No need to say i felt like a muppet! The only heart breaking paitent's i saw today were a woman with brain damage and a semi conscious woman with dementia. the first lady, Jill is 41. She knows what is going on but that is about it. Poor dear can't speak or anything. Again she communicates with her eyes. She and that other lady (stroke) both had the same look. I guess it's what a rabbit must look like when being chased by a fox. Desperate and sad. I don't quite know how else to explain it. All i know is, that look will stay with me for the rest of my life. I really is chilling. The other lady, Rosie, suffers with dementia, however I would never have guessed. I'm really worried about her. She's 97 and hasn't eaten all day. we can't force feed her, but if she doesn't eat, she'll die. Her catheter is in a mess too. I've reported it as she is in pain with it. THere was an infection around it from what I could tell, and there was a blood clot in the tube. She kept holding her stomach, but she can't tell us what's wrong. When i did a DIP earlier, there was evidence to suggest she was diabetic. I informed a nurse, and she asked me to do her BM! I've never done that in my life! Fortunately it had gone quiet and Amy and Terry taught me how by practicing on Terry! Poor Rosie was my next victim. If it ain't bad enough being really ill, you end up being my Guinea Pig too!

I hope next week is a little more light hearted- I have the weekend off and I plan to sleep. Well try to any way!

Comments

Blood, Vomit and Coffee

My First Week