I woke up a little early on Friday to run some errands before my shift. When I left my room I noticed a number of people in the pool. There have been only 3 to 5 other guests each night up to now. As I rounded the corner to go downstairs, I yielded to three people carrying luggage and a cooler up the stairs. The lobby had several people in it, and as I got out to the parking lot it was almost full!
It seems that "Dove Season" opened on Saturday. And the hotel is now almost at capacity! And it will remain so throughout the season.
Since I have been working these past few days, I haven't had the chance to meet any of my new neighbors yet. However, I am sure I will have the opportunity in the coming week.
These guys are serious about there sport though! When I came home Saturday morning, about 4:30am, half the parking lot was already empty, and several other vehicles were started, headlights on, and people loading up.
Things have been busy these past few nights. Almost ever night we have had to create "overflow," or "hallway" beds to accommodate the patient volume. I have heard that in the wintertime, it is constantly that way. In fact, a few years ago, when there was a severe flu season, the hospital actually rented a large outdoor event tent, set it up in the parking lot, and treated all suspected flu cases outside! As the person was telling me about this, I chuckled. They told me it was horrible, and nothing to laugh about. I then showed them some of the pictures of my trips to Haiti, and said to them, "It is all a matter of perspective."
I have started to get into the "groove" here. Already people are recognizing that I seem to know what I am doing and have begun to ask me for help starting IV's, asking me questions/advice about their patients, etc. Last night I took over an assignment for an off-going nurse that had a preceptee, and was asked to continue as the preceptor until they left.
Even some of the doctor's have commented about how they appreciate me dealing with patient issues, rather than coming up to them every time to ask a question. For example, a patient with difficulty breathing, had a mixed issue. Congestive Heart Failure with a component of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Typically, all patients are NPO, or nothing by mouth, until a physician says it's OK to eat or drink. This patient's treatment was geared towards giving breathing treatments (SVNs), steroids, as well as a diuretic to help eliminate excess fluid.
The patient wanted a cup of coffee. I decided that it would be OK, and actually would help the patient's condition, so I gave them one. Coffee actually has two effects. First, it acts like a diuretic, makes one urinate. Second, it has a xanthine effect (like Theophylline), and dilates the bronchioles in the lungs, makes it easier to breath. Another Nurse questioned me about giving the patient the cup of coffee and I explained the above to them. Well...
This Nurse asked the treating Physician if it would be appropriate to allow my patient to have a cup of coffee. His answer...
"Yes, it is OK, in fact it will probably be beneficial to them."
Didn't see that Nurse for the rest of the shift, it almost seemed as if they were avoiding me... weird.
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