MED Rotation Narrative #2
These past four weeks at the hospital, have really helped me. I have been learning new skills, communicating with patients, knowing what the patients need, and getting to know the staff. The Progressive Care Unit, also known as the PCU, can be seem kind of quiet. In most cases it can be busy considering discharging patients, incoming patients, or getting the patient's vital signs. The first day I got to the PCU, I was hesitant on going up because of what I heard from others who already experienced this unit. While I was on the second floor, I got lost until I found someone that redirected me to the PCU. I worked with a CNA who I helped do a lot, such as changing briefs and taking vital signs. The last two days I worked …show more content…
I feel as if a CNA doesn't really do anything but, ask if a patient needs something, change their brief, give them ice water and get their vital signs every hour. I also shadowed an RN for about 45 minutes to see what she does in her profession. The requirements in becoming an PCU RN is graduating of an accredited school of professional nursing; preferably a BSN, current licensure as an RN, current certification as a BLS, a minimum of 1 year PCU/ Progressive Care Unit RN experience or 3 years of Med Surg Experience. If I had this job my average salary would be $65,976 per year. In order to become an RN, you have to go to graduate school, then apply to take an exam with the Texas Board of Nursing. I want to be an RN because you experience more things and you can give medications and not just vital signs. The Cost of a Transportable Vital Signs Machine is between $450-$2,500. This machine is very expensive depending on the type you want and also the brand you want. The vital sign machine is the heart of the hospital, because without it no procedures can be done and its more …show more content…
Before we went into the room the nurse told me that the patient was a drug addict. When we arrived I saw that she was contact precautions, so we put on gloves and gowns, then we entered her room. When I walked in I was shocked because there was blood on her blankets, clothes, hands, legs, and her nose. The nurse told me to go get the new blankets, a brief, and a gown from the supply room along with warm wipes. I went back to the room and laid Ms. W blankets and gown away from the her bed. As the nurse changed her brief and cleaned Ms. W up I observed her, because the patient only wanted the nurse to touch her. The nurse left the room and told me to get vital signs on Ms.W, so I did and she let out a loud scream that scared me, because I thought that I hurt her, Ms. W said 'I’m just playing’ and let me take them. The nurse came back within 10 minutes and after that we left her room. I was wondering why her nose was bleeding but I never got to ask, so I am still curious about