cheekysharon.
(Photo from google.com)
I. Love. Critical. Care.
Today I was in the ICU unit and my patient had come in last night because he had a heart attack. He’s been hospitalized 5 times this year. Heart problems run in the family. It was his wife’s birthday today. They’ve been in love for 42 years. She was his first girlfriend in high school. He likes drinking Coke. He used to like drinking Martini’s with his wife every night at 5pm. He loves cooking. He loves teaching. He’s more than a Mr. Heart Attack.
The craziest thing about critical care is the fact that the patients are truly in need of critical care. They are absolutely dependent on the health care team to keep them alive. A majority of them can’t breathe on their own, can’t move on their own. Most aren’t even aware of where they are and what happened to them. Every medication we give can save them or kill them. It’s a rush in the face, but I love it. However, this poses the challenge that I feel like alot of nurses can fall into when patients are so ‘high-risk’. Mr. L becomes nothing but the patient with the acute renal failure. Mrs. T becomes nothing but an isolation patient with Pneumonia. Mr. J becomes nothing but another heart attack patient.
I’m trying to start now in learning to see the patients past their medical history, drug allergies and room numbers. I’m learning to call them by their names and remember their likes and dislikes, hobbies and pet peeves. Being in critical care, you’re only given 1-2 patients opposed to the Medsurg 4-5 patients. You learn them. You grow to love them as people and not just diseases. My patient has an unhealthy heart— but along with that he has a memorable childhood, a dating history, a love story, a lifetime full of wise tales and lessons to share with me. the least I can do is listen..and care.
My clinical instructor always brings us healthy snacks to eat during our post conference. Last week was grapefruit slices, today we got apples.
and here I am now.
After a long 12 hour shift of critical care, I have to change hats and put my Peds cap on! Pediatrics test tomorrow morning, and I feel like there are oceans of information to remember by tomorrow. Feels impossible in more ways than one, but in the end of it all I’m just gonna do what I can do and get some sleep..I’m so sleeeeeeepy.
Good sleep = Good health = Better anyway (right?)
Tomorrow is my last test, HOORAY! and here are a few things I want to do after tomorrow:
read a book
replenish my school supplies (especially my highlighters…jee whiz)
cook something besides chicken and eggs..
take a walk.
……..that’s all I ask!
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. - 1 Corinthians 15:58-
Give thanks- a fun day at critical care, time to read in the mornings, energy to study after, the peace You give me in the midst of busyness, the comfort of prayer, the fact that I can see Eugene tomorrow, long lunches with Miko, the sleep I will get tonight, anticipation for freedom after tomorrow’s tessssst :o)
