Doing my preceptorship in the ER has been quite an experience, both good and bad. I’m still getting used to 3 consecutive days at the hospital, but I like the 12-hour shift work flow. I spend the remaining 4 days of the week sleeping and studying. Job searching in hospital systems I never did clinicals in kind of sucks, and getting in a new grad program is stressing me out, but I’m trying to be patient with myself. I’m doing my best.
I had my first family get upset behind my back about me working with their loved one, because I’m a student. The nurse manager had to salvage the situation, but I was assured it wasn’t my fault. It’s kind of discouraging but it’s bound to happen. I’m not 100% positive that the ER is for me, but the location I’m at is known for being a bit difficult because of the population we serve. There are also unique challenges that come with taking border calls, and the fact that there are fewer hospitals down here, so it’s been a great learning experience. We pulled a patient smoking meth out of a bathroom, I’ve seen some graphic PVD and edema complications, a lot of seizures, stroke codes, not as many STEMIs yet, and a lot of extremely sick people with poorly managed chronic conditions.
Yesterday, I was asked to be second set of eyes for an intravaginal ultrasound, so I wasn’t familiar with the patient, but expecting patients usually come to the ER for vaginal bleeding or decreased fetal movements, and the results are far from ideal. While setting up, I mentioned that it had been a while since I watched an ultrasound and the patient said “well this isn’t going to be a good one.” “But that’s okay,” I replied to her, and she looked at me and with the saddest smile, “you’re right, it’s okay.”
I really like the ER, but sometimes I don’t.