The Intensive Care Unit-Personal Narrative

Reaching across the center console of my car, I imagined the commute that I had into school. My 1992 Jeep Cherokee courageously braved the snowstorm of the year, with only one functional windshield wiper and a forlorn four wheel drive system. As I turned onto the Merritt Parkway, a Honda Civic swerved past me and proceeded to weave in and out of the afternoon traffic. Fast-forward sixty seconds and that Honda was now engulfed by the powder white trees which bound the highway. Instinctively, I pulled up behind the crash site, dialing 911 as I ran over to the mangled wreck. I peered into the car, my pupils the size of marbles, and the driver seemed uninjured; regardless, I proceeded to reassure the driver that Emergency Medical Technician’s/Paramedic’s

My second clinical day at Mercy Defiance Hospital, progressive care unit, was overwhelming but rewarding and very educational. Through the 8 hours I was there, I learned a lot. I engaged myself in many self-directing learning practices to futher promote my professional growth. My first time interaccting with my patient,I was joined with my clinical instructor. While in the room, I got to listen to to my patients heart, lungs, and bowel sounds. I was able to see and examine the patients ostomy bag, as well as help them to the bathroom. There were ways that I can improve my professional growth, suchas,having the confidence to not second guess my self about things to do in assessments. For example, I know how to assess the lungs, I should not second guess where to listen for the sounds. One of my goals for next week dealing with professional growth would be to have the confidence to know what I have learned and use it. My second one being to go into the room with a confident attitude and believe in myself.

The aim of the study was to explore family members’ experiences with the use of a diary when a sick relative did not survive the stay in the ICU. The overall study findings revealed that the diary was experienced as a medium for interpersonal communication, where it was perceived as a social medium maintaining communication and the relationship with the patient. But the diary was also a common interest affecting writers and readers in different ways, thus sharing information, emotions and thoughts enabled relationships, which grew. Not only relationships developed but also participants as humans due to the course of events and finally the death of the patient. The experience was compared to taken on a journey but in an existential way by the participants. To understand the unfamiliar in a way different from the way in which it has been understood so far, also include a way to understand him/herself in a new way (Gadamer, 1989).

The following documents chosen were peer-reviewed articles with different methods of study: 1. Measurement of physiologic responses to mobilization in critically ill adults. It is a systematic review article. The purpose of the study is to measure physiologic response to mobilization of critically ill patients. The limitation of the study is that there is only one physiologic variable that was expended (Borg scale) and the criteria for this review are unstated (Crist, McVay, & Marocco, 2013, p. 12). In conclusion, the author recommends a biomarker such as a cytokine level may be utilized to get a more precise measure of the true physiologic response to mobilization (Amidei, 2012, p. 71). 2. Early mobilization in the Intensive Care Unit: A Systematic

I just went in for a cleaning, all I wanted was for my dentist to check for any cavities and tell me everything was in perfect condition. I don’t understand how I managed to wake up in the middle of a siege. The last thing I remember was Dr. Goldstein saying to me “Well Andre, it looks like you have a few cavities, I’m going to use some anaesthesia, just in case you don't respond to the pain medication again. Is that alright?” I did feel unsure about his decision, I couldn't understand why I would need anaesthesia during a cleaning, but I let him do his job. Dizziness soon followed, before I woke up in a gloomy room with the door barricaded. The only light in the room was coming from a TV showing the news. As I got off the dental chair, I asked Mr Goldstein “What happened here? Why is the door barricaded with furniture?”

Well I got my Cpap machine yesterday and I was really excited to have a great nights sleep. I guess it's going to take some getting used to because I don't feel much different. The pressure setting that they have me on is pretty high and it changes throughout the night and that wakes me up. I am really hoping that I can get used to this thing soon.

Alana Keenan and Lynn Joseph’s study on “The Needs of Family Members of Severe Traumatic Brain Injured Patients during Critical and Acute Care: A Qualitative Study” utilizes well known phenomenological research and data analysis methods and presents their findings in a thorough and well thought out manner. The report makes adequate effort to discuss what was done to enhance and evaluate the quality of the data and the overall inquiry with the findings being “part of a larger mixed method study of both qualitative and quantitative data collected over three time periods” (Keenan, 2010, p. 25)

You downed the shot. And another. And another. The alcohol left a burning trail down your throat, and turned your breath to fire. It had started to make you feel light headed. You look around the empty apartment and run a hand through your messy hair, listening to the sounds of the traffic so many floors beneath you. Another tear rolled down your face as you refilled the glass with the whiskey that had been keeping you company. The only company you had now.

Analyzing the journey of a hospitalized patient is imperative in nursing practice in order to produce holistic, strengths based care (Gottlieb, 2014). When examining the patient and his or her journey, it is crucial for the nurse to explore many factors including the patient’s personal history leading up to admission, the unique and individualized care plan, impacting strengths and gaps within the healthcare system, as well as the factors affecting discharge care and planning. For the purpose of this paper, a patient by the name of Anna will be explored in order to highlight essential aspects associated with providing holistic care.

This qualitative research study was performed in acute care setting using an interview approach to guide their study. Participants were asked questions regarding their experiences and perceptions with the implementation of nurse to nurse shift handoff reporting. They were asked to describe positive and negative outcomes related to the face to face interaction with team members and patients. A total of 43 interviews were conducted, all female participants. The study is focused on enhancing nurse surveillance of the patient, increasing the nurse accountability, and increasing patient safety when nurses are participating in bedside reporting.

I am most familiar with the Urgent Medical Center. In my opinion, it is very well-structured place with a diverse staffing. It was always a pleasant environment when I had to visit the center for an illness. The center has at least two physicians and nurses on-site at all time. Also, there are several medical assistants to help provide quality of care as patient wait to be seen by a physician. This organization promotes health and wellness services to all patients. Theirs mission is to provide an affordable, quality healthcare with respect and compassion to all patients. The urgent medical center mainly focuses on treating common illness and non-life-threatening injuries. One thing that they do not have on-site is an equipment for diagnostic,

Intensive care coordination services were provided through a CFT (client family team) meeting. WYP gathered information during the meeting. The client is improving in his independents living skills (waking up for school, going to school, doing his laundry, and other chores). The client is doing well with maintaining a positive relationship with his foster family by engaging in activities. The client needs to work on his communication skills (client is not honest, attempt to manipulate the situation, and wait until the last minute to ask for help). WYP will follow up with assisting the client to decrease manipulation and work on better communication. WYP updated the team that the client is doing well with following the directives. The foster

Today was my first day in the Paramedics department. I shadow EMTs tech today, his name was tom. Everyone in the Department was very welcoming and they were glad to have PFE student over in their department. Tom, showed me the truck and the different kinds of bags they have in the truck for different kinds of patients, he told me that they get 30 calls each day, and about 1400 calls a year. He asked me about what I want to be and we talked a little about the career I want to be pursued in. He told me when they are free, they go to wawa to get coffee, they took to me to the wawa and they were nice enough to ask me if I want anything but I simply said Thanks. We came back to the unit and then waited for call but we did not get any call.While

“Oh, she’s the one who’s always injured.” That's correct, I have the luxurious ‘talent’ of finding myself in urgent care, usually with a little something either a bit broken or in need of stitches. I play a couple sports, so imagine how ecstatic coaches are when almost every year I wind up on the bench unable to play? Whenever I'm confined by a brace or crutches all I hear is "Again?" by my friends and family. Growing up with only ten fractures, some stitches on various parts of my face, and a few sprains, I learned to treat each impairment as a new experience. Rather than feeling down in the dumps because I couldn't do anything while hurt, my inner Black Knight thought "Tis' but a flesh wound" and I channeled my extra energy into finding ways to quicken my recovery. I still recall a time in seventh grade where I attempted to remedy my fractured ulna for

Finally, Stevens finished his telling of our meeting, and passed out onto the marble floor. Knowing that my friend had a high tolerance of alcohol, him passing out meant that he drank enough to kill a mortal, twice. Since the story telling was done, I turned to study Carter's reaction, and was met with a stony mask, but there was a hint of emotion lying just beyond my grasp.