This is my first semester in an actual clinical rotation, and I’ve got to say, I am really enjoying it! It’s been so cool to actually start applying things I have learned in the classroom to real-world situations. It’s also been a neat experience to see how things are actually implemented in the hospital setting and how the hospital functions on a day to day basis. It’s like one big puzzle, and each person has their own specific place in order for the hospital to function. I’ve been in hospitals before, but it was always on the family side, so it’s been really cool to see the other side of it.
The biggest challenge that I have had this far is probably to just make sure I keep conversation open with my patients. I have been better about this some weeks compared to others. One week, the patient was a lot more talkative, so I didn’t have to ask as many questions because she volunteered most of the information that I needed. This past week, however, my patient was not quite as talkative. He would say something, but then he wouldn’t expand. So, I would forget to ask questions to expand on what was happening. For example, when my instructor and I went in to do an assessment, he said his legs were hurting, but I forgot to ask some expanding questions about this. My instructor was with me, and she did ask some further questions. After the assessment, she reminded me to do that, and I knew immediately when she started asking questions that I had forgotten.
The part of me that contributes to this, is to really pay attention to what I am hearing the patient say. It is one thing to just listen and make a note, and it is another thing to listen to what they say then further expand on it. It is my job to take what they say, process it, and ask further questions if needed to get to the bottom of things. When I am in the patient’s room I needed to listen and focus more on what the patient is saying, and I need to really think about what they have just said. This way, I don’t miss something. It is also important for me to continue to try and work on my confidence in what I am doing. When I walk in the room if I improve this, then I will be able to better focus on what the patient is saying instead of what my next move will be or how nervous I am. It is important to keep my focus on what I am doing, but also on my patient and what they are feeling or need. Overall, my biggest challenge this far is to make sure I expand on any complaints or concerns the patient might have to try and get to the bottom of a problem.