Life flight ride along... well almost

I was given the opportunity to sign up for a ride along with the Vanderbilt life flight team based out of Tullahoma. I was so excited for this opportunity to experience a day in the life of a life flight nurse and learn about this aspect of nursing! Unfortunately I was not able to actually ride on the helicopter due to not getting any calls that day but I did get to learn about what these nurses and paramedics do. Getting to see in the helicopter and ask questions was so eye opening. The amount of medical procedures and life saving measures that are able to be done in flight is amazing! I have always been drawn to trauma nursing, and life flight is as traumatic as it gets. I also got to see what a down day looks like for them. They are responsible for a lot of paper work and had to check the helicopter at the start of the shift. This is to make sure everything is in its place and ready should an emergency call come in. They have to be able to think fast and decide what medications or procedures are needed without a doctor calling out orders to them.

I never thought about doing life flight nursing until this day! The process of being hired is intense and requires 3 years in the critical care setting and numerous certifications but oh so worth it, at least it seems that way to me!

Thank you again to the Tullahoma Life Flight Crew for letting me spend the day at the base and answer all my questions about your amazing job!

Taste of Clinical

This month we started our first round of clincials. In the first semester they give us a taste of what clinical is like. This way we don't show up to clinicals the first day of Adult Health and look completely terrified and confused.  I am so thankful I have experience in the hospital and have had clinical before, so for me this round has been a breeze. We have been working with a local nursing home where we are partnered with the Techs for our 6 hour shift. I can't lie, nursing homes are not for me nor are they for the faint of heart. I have been so lucky to work with some great techs at this nursing home. It truly takes a special person to work at a nursing home. The tech I was assigned to really changed my perspective of the nursing home staff and environment last week. This particular tech really knew his residents. He knew how the women liked their hair, and how they preferred to be moved and changed. He knew their routines and knew each one of them by name. He knew their morning and night routine and took the time to make sure each resident he was assigned was taken care of just how they like.

Now a here's a thought. How many of you techs or nurses take the time to really know your patients. Do you find your self referring to them as the hip replacement or the stroke in room 105? I know I know- A hospital is different than a nursing home. Trust me I get that. But there is a disconnect at the hospital. What if we took 5 minutes, just a few, to learn our patients names and maybe how they like their blankets or what their nightly routine is. If we took this short time to ask them how we can make them comfortable maybe less patients would be cranky, yell, cry, or complain. Something as simple as making sure the patient can follow their nightly routine (to the best of our ability in the hospital) can do wonders for their sleep- which we all know is important with healing. This can ease anxiety, fear, and can make their stay a tiny bit better. You are the one with your patient for the most time, not the doctor. You know their illness, their medications, their treatment plan, and prognosis. Patients are people. They are more their their illness and diagnosis and They are more than a hospital room number. Treat them that way and I know you will have less patients yelling and complaining which we all know would make a much better 12 hour shift. 

Lastly- Nurses thank your techs. So many times they are ragged on and felt to be so much smaller and insignificant then they are. They are more than willing to help and take care of patients but should not be dumped on with only the tasks you do not want. 

Techs- respect and thank your nurses. They are the advocates for their patients and are many times behind on meds and struggling to keep up in the shift. Nurses have one of the hardest jobs and many times could not get it all done without you! 

Until next time! 

Kelsie