First Day & Cast Off!

Well I SURVIVED!!!! I had 4 patients together with a more senior RN. She further subdivided so I took 2 - with LOADS of supervision because of all the computer stuff. I gave meds & flushed a couple of Central lines. I put some IV fluids up through the pumps & wrote up some charts. The RN was really nice, as were all the staff I met today.

The PCA (patient Controlled Analgesia) drugs are supplied in pre-filled syringes so no messing about with vials & vials of watyer for injection anymore!! Or the Controlled drug book either! it's signed for that patient, supplied by pharmacy for that patient & you sign on the computer that you gave it. Other than some stock items (paracetamol, aspirin etc) all the patients drugs come in single issue packets & are kept in a drawer with their name on on a drug cart. Pharmacy is responsible for filling it up everyday.

One thing that stuck out a mile was how excellent the cleaning was. Each ward has a cleaner plus there are teams that come round & mop & polish floors etc. it was positively sparkling the whole day.

We were kept going but they make sure you get your breaks properly. We have 2 half hour breaks - one for breakfast (I was on an early) & one for lunch. It was busy but not ballistic by any measure.

The other news today is that Sophie got her cast off! We took her to a local clinic to have it done. Her ankle still looks bruised & a tad swollen though so they have requested another X-ray, which we'll have done tomorrow. I think it's fine though, she just needs to be a bit careful