I thought I'd post since I haven't said anything in awhile, but life's been fairly uneventful. I'm still studying math for my placement test and am a bit behind where I'd like to be, but I'm making fairly good progress. I'll have to pick up the intensity of that a bit, but I'm confident I'll be ready.
I've taken some time off from working at the hospital for jury duty, and should get back to working there towards the end of this week.
No news is good news, I suppose, as long as things keep going well.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Friday, April 3, 2009
The C3
As I expected, the Critical Care Center (ER) wasn't like the neurology office at all.
Most pointedly, I felt like a total fifth wheel. That'll probably ameliorate itself somewhat as I get to know the place/people a bit better, but I don't think it's going to change too much. In the neurology office I can put myself to good use working on real office projects that - while not strikingly important - have to get done. Here I don't do much at all.
Talking to visitors is one thing I should be doing. Unfortunately for me, asking strangers how I can help them when I only sort of know the place is something I'm very bad at. My key card doesn't open the ER door either. It's not a big deal for me, since I can get back there another way, but when visitors come in and ask to get through.... I can only point them to the desk or security guard right next to me. Or nearest nurse, depending on who is busy.
Basically, this will /not/ be the fun half of my volunteering work.
There was some really neat stuff though. It's quite an experience to be able to go back in the ER, and see how everything works. It's a bit overwhelming at first. It's really busy, even when it's not. Everything is charted down, and the hospital gets to take care of issues ranging from the common cold to serious psychological disorders to airborne infectious strains of disease that are highly contagious and don't respond to drugs.
Seeing patients go through the steps of registration/tech work/triage/etc is neat as well. And it's amazing how many different types of patients come in. I can't talk about any of them because of privacy issues, but the ER is a neat little microcosm of the world. Some patients are belligerent.... some complain. Apparently the less serious someones problem, the more likely they are to complain.
So it is good for me to be here.
Most pointedly, I felt like a total fifth wheel. That'll probably ameliorate itself somewhat as I get to know the place/people a bit better, but I don't think it's going to change too much. In the neurology office I can put myself to good use working on real office projects that - while not strikingly important - have to get done. Here I don't do much at all.
Talking to visitors is one thing I should be doing. Unfortunately for me, asking strangers how I can help them when I only sort of know the place is something I'm very bad at. My key card doesn't open the ER door either. It's not a big deal for me, since I can get back there another way, but when visitors come in and ask to get through.... I can only point them to the desk or security guard right next to me. Or nearest nurse, depending on who is busy.
Basically, this will /not/ be the fun half of my volunteering work.
There was some really neat stuff though. It's quite an experience to be able to go back in the ER, and see how everything works. It's a bit overwhelming at first. It's really busy, even when it's not. Everything is charted down, and the hospital gets to take care of issues ranging from the common cold to serious psychological disorders to airborne infectious strains of disease that are highly contagious and don't respond to drugs.
Seeing patients go through the steps of registration/tech work/triage/etc is neat as well. And it's amazing how many different types of patients come in. I can't talk about any of them because of privacy issues, but the ER is a neat little microcosm of the world. Some patients are belligerent.... some complain. Apparently the less serious someones problem, the more likely they are to complain.
So it is good for me to be here.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
First Day On The Job
Yesterday was my first day at the hospital, working in the office of neurosurgery. All in all it was fairly regular stuff - the type of bureaucratic filing, sorting, and creating - I've done in internships with NOAA and other groups, but with a medical spin. I don't mind that. In fact, I fairly enjoyed it. I'm good with getting that sort of work done fast and well, even if it's not particularly involved. I was scared I'd be stuck answering phones instead, which would not have been as good for me.
Tomorrow is my second day, but it's going to be with another department. I'll be working in the ER, and I suspect my duties there will be pretty different. It's also a different time shift - I work evening in the ER, which I think is kind of neat. I've never been much of a morning person anyways, so it suits me perfectly.
Tomorrow is my second day, but it's going to be with another department. I'll be working in the ER, and I suspect my duties there will be pretty different. It's also a different time shift - I work evening in the ER, which I think is kind of neat. I've never been much of a morning person anyways, so it suits me perfectly.
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