What do they expect?

Something caught my eye in the newspaper the other day.

An article pinpointing the consistently high number of student nurses dropping out of their courses mid way through the training.
All because they begin with the impression that ward life is exactly like Holby City or Casualty; sexy, glamorous, non-stop action, blood, guts, and hot doctors.

What do they expect exactly?

TV shows like Holby or Casualty are incredibly entertaining (and as Casualty is one of my fave programmes, I wouldn't change much about it) but they are quite often unrealistic.
Indeed, there are elements which mimic that of real life; many procedures are close to accurate, and I even found one episode of Casualty which came into play the next day in A&E.
So yes, such shows have to hold some realism to be believable, but surely people realise there is a boundary to them?
After all, hot, young doctors are rarely seen on the wards. At least where I've been anyway.

In case anyone is wondering, or hasn't realised this so far, nursing is very hard work.
People may complain about "lazy" nurses hanging around their stations chatting or drinking coffee, but seriously, this is normally during visiting hours when staff give patients and relatives some time together.
For the other 8 hours of the day, they dish out meds and wash patients, feed patients, wash and change beds, assist doctors if need be, transfer patients to other wards, change dressings, fill in bountiful piles of paperwork, and if the ward is full, will grab cups of tea when and where they can.
Being a student, I understand that behind what media and TV depicts is very different, and a slight shock to the system - especially when your expectations are fuelled by fictitious programmes on the telly.
Thanks to my previous care assistant job, I had some cynicism built up already.

So far in A&E, I have found that there are few cute junior doctors or nurses, there is little time for emotional bonds with patients where you share a moment of realisation for your current predicaments, and (in DGH at least) the paramedics don't come bashing in through swing doors announcing patient details at the tops of their voices.

I'll agree with the statement given by some knowledgeable nursing wifie in the paper; students must be given realistic views of nursing to ensure they will continue. People can't enter into the student nurse world with expectations of love, glamour and continual excitement. And that there will be attractive, sexy doctors to swoon over.

Here's an example; I catheterised two patients today, both of which were successful but, let's face it, it's not a very fine job to do.
You don't see anything like that on the telly now, do you?

In A&E today...

I have good shifts this week. I've already worked one set of 12 hours today, and now I'm off until the weekend. Bonus.

All day in A&E on a Saturday and Sunday... imagine the thrills and spills...

Anyway, today was a good day. I think I'm beginning to find my feet within the department now.
At least I can actually find things for people now, although saying that, a few things went missing today which I had to undertake epic journeys to find.
When relatives ask for a cup of tea, they don't expect it to take 20 minutes, right? Well, as the ward had run out of cups, I had to go in search for more. After ransacking the kitchen, I realised I would have to look further afield for the bloomin' things.
Onwards to the canteen!
A rather miffed cafeteria lady met me at the canteen doors, and after explaining my predicament to her, she somewhat reluctantly led me into the main kitchen.
Tea cups galore!
But she had to ask the head cafeteria wifie if I could nick them first, whilst giving me a lecture on why we shouldn't be taking the kitchen items from them; it wasn't their job to hand them out, blah blah blah.
When in truth they'll only end up back on the wards anyway.
However, being a student (with some charm) has its advantages. Playing the "pity me, I'm a poor student sent on an errand I don't want to be on" role usually works in getting what the ward wants and needs.
I suspect that's why the nurses will send the students on errands; so other wards feel sorry for them and give them what they ask for.
However, other staff members just shoot the messenger. That's when the "I'm a student and I'm assertive" role kicks in. Well, generally. Either that or you just take the verbal beating and give them the finger as the ward doors swing shut behind you.
Not that I've ever done that, you understand.

Our second missing item - which was thankfully recovered - was one of the controlled drugs' (CDs) monitoring books. It actually cropped up in the most obvious place; on the receptionist's desk, yet everyone was too busy looking high and low to actually notice it.

So apart from this, I can now find the items which the nurses and doctors ask for.

Patient wise, we had a few varieties during the day, including two swine flu cases (one of which ended up being tonsillitis... how hard can it be to confuse the two?)

We also had a fractured clavicle (collar bone in non-medically-boney terms) and chest pains, an OD on paracetamol, a phantom pregnancy (yep, they do happen) and a little old lady who had fallen and hit her head, causing a lovely big bruise over her eye and a very bloody wound. The cut itself was relatively small and not exceptionally deep, yet the blood had poured from it; you could tell by her red, matted hair (I always find it strange that head/face wounds will bleed as though the injury is serious, when it can actually be a tiny cut.) Yet she was in good spirits and very sweet.
I always love how elderly people who really need help are immensely apologetic to you, every time you walk into the cubicle, even when you've just nipped in to get something out of the cupboards.
"I'm sorry to be such an inconvenience," or "I'm sorry for being such a nuisance," or "I'm sorry for taking up your time," and so forth.

When, on the other end of the scale, you have the time wasters sitting outside the door.

I triaged my first patient today, and for being so simple it was actually quite difficult.
His GP had referred him to A&E with fevers and sweats. Someone tell me which one it is, 'cos I honestly think it's neither an accident, nor an emergency.
And neither did the rest of the A&E staff.
With no other problems other than this presenting complaint, there really wasn't that much to ask or talk about. Hence why it was awkward.
Obs were all fine (no high temperature there then) and the patient appeared to be in good form.
Could the diagnosis be a case of the lazy GP?
The patient denied any recent colds/coughs/infections, as had the GP in the referral letter.
So what was the problem?
Well, we dipped his urine, and we found the answer. The guy had a urinary tract infection (UTI).
The doctor prescribed him antibiotics, and away he went - another happy customer.
Only he needn't have come to A&E and taken up our time.
He needn't have waited the hour he did to be triaged and treated.
The GP could have referred him to a practice nurse in the surgery, who would have tested the urine there and then. Hell, the GP could have even done it themselves. They could then have prescribed him the medication.
Standard procedure. Quick and easy. No fussing about with A&E waiting times.
It was inconvenient for the patient, and for the emergency staff.
Still, at least we got the guy sorted.

Aside from the emergency department, I also made a return trip to Ward 9 to visit my last mentor.
I don't think I'll get the chance to bond with another mentor like I did with her. Our constant excursions to every ward in the hospital brought us closer together, I think. Two nurses for the price of one, so to speak.
Now she's more of a friend, someone who I can still go to for advice and help in the nursing realms, and for a reference when it comes to getting a job - an added perk.
It was great to see her again, and I think she was pleased to see me too! I know now that if I ever have any issues whilst at DGH, I can always talk to her about them.
I'm sure we'll catch up again at some point, maybe before I head back to uni. But it would be nice to be able to keep in touch from time to time.

So overall? An interesting and varied day.
I just can't wait until my next few shifts, when I can see what the weekend will have in store for me.

Like Casualty off the telly...

Week 1 in A&E, and things have been going smoothly for the student nurses...

Yes, I have finished my first week's worth of shifts for placement - 3 consecutive stints in Dr Gray's A&E department.

Dr G's; it's like I can't get enough. I've even been back on ward 7 twice, just to say hello and to transfer a patient. I'll never get away now. I guess it's good to know I'm still remembered. Whether those memories are of a fond nature, well, that's yet to be said...

But A&E - that's right where I want to be!
In the midst of the quiet corridors, empty cubicles, abandoned resus rooms...
Not quite right, is it?
Yet that's what my three days have been like (for the mornings at least) until things pick up slightly towards the evening time. The time when, having already been on for almost 10 hours, you can't quite be bothered to deal with drunken patients, screeching kids, and what ever other trivial condition walks through the doors.

Saying that, A&E has not been entirely uneventful. In my opinion it's still better than a ward, because of the great variety that comes with the job.
In the past 3 shifts I have learnt quite a lot, and any confidence with some procedures or equipment is partly thanks to the RC experience. Already I have had to put someone in an arm sling and elevation sling, and help log roll someone off a spinal board and onto the bed. Surprisingly, you don't learn these basics in Uni.

Anyway, this is what I've witnessed/been involved in so far (not in any precise order of events as my memory isn't that good - patient confidentiality taken into account):

• An elderly lady who had fallen and hurt her shoulder, ?fracture.
• A paediatric resus alert, where a baby had lost consciousness - this turned out to be a false alarm, as when the baby arrived from the ambo it was crying its lungs out and fully awake and alert, and had apparently been this way since the call out. Phew...
  
• A burnt penis.
• A Myocardial Infarction (MI, or a.k.a. heart attack) and the protocol which comes with it - the patient was still alert and conscious by the way (prior to RC/nursing, I always used to think of MIs as collapsed/unconscious/dead, but obviously this isn't always true).
  
• A construction site worker whose circular saw thing (the spinny one with a serrated edge) had bounced off the metal he had been cutting, and had sliced back into him, cutting through his chest. Thankfully it hadn't quite reached the bone, and being rather stocky his thick fleshy layers had taken the blow. A very nice, deep laceration.
• Suspected CVA (a.k.a. stroke)
• A man who had jacked his van up to check on a tyre. The jack gave way, and the van fell, crushing the man underneath. He entered A&E with a ?spinal and a very sore ?broken shoulder. Apparently this incident is also classed as an RTC.
• A fractured femur.
• A variety of old breaks and torn ligaments/tendons, which were all plaster-casted. Myself and my fellow student even got the chance to practice plastering thanks to the very nice Orthopedic technicians of the A&E dept. Very good fun, and very funny.
• A patient with a head injury who was choking on his own saliva (very briefly, before he was whisked away to get a CT scan).

So far, so good!
Now one of the nurses has organised a day out for me and my friend with the ambulance crews, to observe the emergency work from a paramedic's point of view.
Obviously I am ecstatic over this, and can't wait until November when I get to join a crew for the day. I might try and pursuade my mentor for another day out. Thankfully she's very cool, hip and trendy, and if I ask nice enough she might just sort that out for me.

So yes, from the list it doesn't sound like a quiet stint, but it's very slow for Elgin A&E and even the nurses agree with me on that point!
Of course I have another 8 weeks to spend in the company of the emergency care workers, so there's plenty of time for things to pick up to full speed.
As one nurse commented on our first day, "it's just like Casualty off the telly."

Kitten games...

If you'd gone into Red Cross that night, you were sure of a big surprise...

For a little grey kitten was padding around causing a little bit of havoc.
India Sophie Mischief Rainbow Walker - or just India for short - is the newest edition to our first aiding team. While there is a dog in the swiftie team, we thought a cat would complete the circle.
India even has an ID badge in the making, with a very well captured photograph (that's the best pic my photography skills have ever mounted to).

India, not only being very photogenic, can also turn biker's hearts to mush with a single flick of a whisker. Ronnie pretty much melted like butter over a flame the moment he set eyes on the little fluff ball.
And Steve's "I don't like cats" charade soon changed when India meowed at him from her crate midway through the evening. I think she spoiled the softie moment though when she proceeded to dig her claws into his arm and attach herself to his tie...
And big ol' weegie Rob fell to pieces over the beastie too.
In fact, a lot of words that came from the men that night ended in -ooo and -eee, like "you little cutieee, aren't you? Yes you are, you're gorgeous, awww, you little sweetieee kitteee..."
You get the idea.

So where did India come from?
Long story short, Lol and me rescued her (shall we say) and brought her home to Caitlind to become a beloved pet. So far she has been good as gold - litter trained and all that jazz - but India never fails to create some mischievous entertainment.
That does include scratching you to claw-marked death.

I guess India will be making a few more appearances in the RC office. I'm sure she's already worked out where the best hiding places are, after the Boss let her scamper around the corridors and offices for half the night.
Once she receives her ID badge, she'll be an official member. But until then, me thinks she'll be welcomed with open paws every time.

My 100th Post!

Yes loyal readers, I have indeed reached my 100th post! Took long enough as well, but every story was worth it =]

So to celebrate, I thought I would do a list... I'll be impressed if I can reach 100, but here goes...

All the things I've learned since finding myself involved with a very big organisation...

1. The BRC is not just about old ladies in charity shops.
2. It's possible to find family in the people who aren't your blood relatives.
3. It's ok for your best mate to back hand you from time to time.
   
4. You can be a biker and still care about people.
5. You can be a biker and still fall apart over fluffy baby animals.
   
6. Booze is an asset in life, especially when you're stressed.
7. It's not appropriate to speak to the big, big, big Boss in a high pitched, drunken manner, but it sure is feckin' funny.
   
8. Micras make great mini ambulances.
9. Most first aiders are crazy and are up for any banter.
10. Some first aiders are stuck up.
11. People think you're a paramedic, despite not having a uniform which depicts this.
12. You can still have an acting hobby in the Red Cross, just one with loads of fake blood.
13. Blues and twos are cool.
14. Casualties will appear during lunch and/or dinner times, or generally when you've just started eating something.
    
15. Meeting random people and quickly becoming allies with them (like security guards, firefighters, nurses...) is just one part of the first aider's job.
16. Bandages are the most confusing things to use and are not my forte.
17. Oxygen is explosive when in contact with things like Vaseline.
18. Casualty terminology becomes a lot clearer when you do first aid.
19. Micras make brilliant mini 4x4s.
    
20. Cleaning out ambulances is more fun than you first think.
21. Boiler suits are sexy.
22. First aid is not an exact science.
23. Red Cross will take over your life.
24. Many people won't understand the reasoning behind the previous statement, and will give you funny looks when you try to explain.
25. Films/tv shows/songs quickly become related to the people you work with.
26. 12-18 hour shifts are a walk in the park.
27. Energy drink is a life saver.
28. There are different sizes of portaloos - some are nicer than others, and some even have lights.
29. The RC logo can often lead to free or discount food (duties only, folks. Don't go trying it in your local Tesco).
30. Once you've seen one pair of sweaty feet, you've seen (and smelt) them all.
31. There is something oddly therapeutic in blister bursting.
32. Paramedics are quite nice to you when they realise you have a vague idea of what's going on.
    
33. Paramedics can also be arrogant jerks.
34. The 999 call centre people can be equally arrogant, annoying jerks. You can't blame them really.
35. "Water faeries" is an apt name for firefighters.
36. Some medics think they're green-clad Gods. Maybe that's quite right, as long as they don't go over-board.
37. Micras can be used to jump start ambulances.
38. Walking through town in a blue boiler suit/hi-vis jacket and heavy boots generally attracts attention.
39. Wearing uniform can give you a "cool" walk.
    
40. Men will nearly always find a way to flirt with you on duty, e.g. "if I collapse right now, would you give me the kiss of life?"
41. You can be asked anything when on duty, from "where are the toilets?" to enquiries over your sexuality.
42. Defibs have automated voices which talk you through everything; thus idiot proof.
43. Defibs do not look like the ones on Casualty - they have sticky pads, not things resembling wall staplers.
44. 6 hour-long bus journeys can be fun.
45. All forms of sport competitors - like cyclists or marathon runners - are total nutters. Even if they are doing it for a good cause... why put yourself through the strain???
46. Motorbikes are very cool.
47. Casualty cas sim isn't always anatomically accurate.
48. There are some really cool names for body parts, like phalanges.
49. Anything first aid related will instantly become cool or interesting the moment you join.
50. Never use the term "over and out" on the radio - it's contradictory and doesn't make sense. Film writers clearly don't do their research if it's in the script.
51. Joining such an organisation can change your life, usually for the good.
52. Quad bikes are amazing fun to ride.
53. Standing in the pit of the stage when a rave is going on is absolutely fantastic, and sometimes quite dangerous (thanks to beer bottles).
54. Very few people truly understand the concept of the Red Cross, and therefore don't get why you give up your free time to do it.
55. It feels good to say that you save lives in your spare time.
56. It's actually better to first aid at a festival rather than be a punter, for the simple reason that fights, drugs and excessive alcohol are things you treat, rather than things you get involved in.
57. In relation to above comment, a RC status will get you in the back stage and VIP zones for free.
58. High vis gets you authority.
59. You go places with the BRC (should be a second logo?)
60. Crisis' don't just happen in foreign countries or far away from home.
61. Medical stuff might make for a very interesting career.
62. Your Youtube account fills up very quickly with dedicated/patriotic/emotional fan vids of the RC, whether they're favourites you've found or ones you've tried to make yourself.
63. Driving an ambulance at least once becomes an aspiration.
64. People who have saved a life or helped someone to overcome a hardship through the RC instantly become inspirational role models.
65. "Turn Robert" and "Turn Alan" are alternatives for "turn right" and "turn left" when giving someone directions.
66. Football/badminton/frisbee are great games for killing time (or for making idiots out of your mates).
67. A&E becomes an amazingly interesting place.
68. Sneaking into A&E to steal back spinal boards and collars is not a bad thing.
69. Thanks to events and casualties, you suddenly have great stories to tell when at the pub.
70. Anatomical/medical questions in pub quizzes allow for easy points.
71. You develop a second side, known as "First Aid Mode." It's relatively easy to flick between this and "Casual Mode", as proven by finding a casualty whilst trying to get lunch up town (see, there's the food theory again...)
72. Carrying latex gloves in your bag is a good idea.
73. First aid kits in cars are no longer forgotten.
74. Eating before or after witnessing gore is no longer an issue.
75. All-weather clothing becomes a must have accessory in the wardrobe.
76. Bargains can be found in charity shops.
77. Drunk people either admire people in uniform, or have no respect for them what-so-ever.
78. Big cities have first aid bases the size of mansions.
    
79. The floor can be a comfy place to sleep when you're tired enough.
80. Ambo trolley beds are very comfy for sleeping on. Just remember to strap yourself in when mobile.
    
81. Most stretchers aren't comfy for sleeping on.
82. Sleep can be rejected for hours when Red Bull is continually pumped into your body.
83. Your own bed has never been more appreciated once you've been on the go for a whole weekend, the weather has been particularly shit, and sleep deprivation is starting to gnaw away at your good soul...
84. The phonetic alphabet becomes second nature.
85. Mag-lite torches are very useful, despite their size.
86. The definition of a weekend night out soon entails first aid kits and ambulances.
87. In relation to above, cans of red bull will be the way to get kicks out of a beverage on a Saturday night.
88. Also, your weekend outfit often changes from dressy to boiler-suity...
89. You are obliged by the law of the good Samaritan to stop and help anyone in a crisis, even if you are just trying to drive home after a busy day, or longing for a quiet drink in the pub.
90. The word "quiet" is a taboo - never, ever, ever say it when your day is 'steady'. Unspeakable evil falls upon you when you casually state the day is quiet...
91. You are out so often that your own family won't let you in the door 'cos they hardly recognise you...
    
92. The thought of charging moody/irritating/annoyingly pissed individuals for treatment becomes a tempting one after a while... especially when it's 2 o'clock in the morning.
93. Hobbies are whittled down to just one - first aid.
94. A sense of fear sparks inside you when a pregnant woman comes to ask you for help when on duty.
95. A greatest fear in first aid involves a pregnant woman yelling "it's coming!"
96. Acronyms are amazing for remembering medical things, until you forget what one letter stands for. Then it just niggles you.
97. Knowledge of first aid helps a lot when you are training for a further medical profession... like a nurse.
98. The words "on call" are two exciting words to hear.
99. Text messages at 8 in the morning saying "shout out, office, asap" are the best types of wake up calls ever. It really gets you going.
    
100. You may get miserable people, who snap at you or are uncooperative, who are so drunk they swear at you and throw punches in the air, and sometimes you may get tarred with the same sticky brush of negativity and uselessness, but at the end of the day, the one thing that can make you feel good despite all other shite is for a person you've helped to turn round, give you a small smile, and simply say "thank you." Just so you know you've made some sort of difference.

There, 100 memoirs for 100 posts. Good stuff =]

Biking for a good cause

The highlight behind last Sunday's duty in good old Elgin was having a fellow colleague enter a 22mile cycle race to raise funds for the BRC.
Apart from that, not much else happened with it.

While some of the gang got to play about with feet at the Loch Ness Marathon, myself and a three other volunteers got to watch bikes all day.
And jumpstart RE6 everytime it stalled. Yes, I think my micra is officially its defib now.

But the duty was quite fine; the four of us had a good bit of banter with the nutter, eh, I mean Christine, who had decided to enter the Moray Bike Ride for our good cause.
It became apparent that Dr Gray's very own Wave Radio station (who had also come along to commentate on the day's events) were equally as supportive of the pair as we were. They played Fontella Bass' Rescue Me - a classic tune, and incredibly apt when it comes down to RC - especially for our fund-raising bike riders. The song sparked a few smiles and giggles amongst the crowd too, especially when the DJ suggested there was a hidden meaning within the music.
Well, obviously.

After the riders had crossed the start line, we had little else to do. Fiona and Nikki crewed the base with RE6, while Charles and me drove off into the Morayshire wilderness in RE2, keeping our eyes peeled for any casualties.
While no one was injured during the day (thankfully) there were several cyclists who got lost.
Fair enough; the event route was poorly sign posted (although the wind helped with that, blowing away every arrow which pointed the competitors down the right track).
So while some got confused in the depths of Roseisle forrest, others cut corners off the route by unsuspectingly taking short cuts down parallel roads, and some even managed to find their way onto the main road, in between Alves and Forres.
This made things slightly more interesting, especially when it came to checking up on them.
But at the end of the day, it seemed that everybody who had started the race had been accounted for.
I say that, when there might actually be one or two poor lost souls, still wondering where they are and how to get back onto the right route again...

Anyhoo, the event, although small, was good fun all the same.
Fiona even treated us to ice cream when Charles and me returned to base, in time to see our pair of nutters celebrating their completion of the bike ride.
22 miles and Christine was still finding strength in her legs to dance to the music.
Once again, the DJ found a comment to accompany this - far too much energy.
I bet she hurt the next day though.

So that was that; a fun, simple duty which killed the boredom of a regular Sunday morning/afternoon.
Although, it was only meant to be afternoon - we went down to the park too early (10am - I dunno where that time came from, but I could have had an extra hour in bed people!)
So once we had parked up the vehicles, we decided to mosey on down to Tesco to grab a cup of tea, and for me a sausage and egg bap =]
A proper Sunday breakfast.