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.
