END OF FIRST ROTATION - Emerge

The first rotation was a big leap. It felt like I dove into the deep end and had to either sink or swim. There were moments of splashing about and close calls. Overall I think I still have my head or at least my nose above water managing to breathe. Here are a few things that I was able to do, see and diagnose. 

PROCEDURES

• Sutured including injecting local anesthetic – sutured a few times on the fingers and the face :S It went well :)

• Observed incision and drainage of an abscess

• Observed code blues – including CPR and epinephrine administration

• Observed cardioversion – when a shock is given to a patient with fast arrhythmia of the heart in atrial fib/flutter and ventricular tachycardia. 

• Observed thoracentesis – removing fluid in the lung

• Observed lumbar puncture – collecting spinal fluid from the spine

• Assisted in intubation – the doctor inserted a guide wire with the laryngoscope and I inserted the endotracheal tube. Also used a bag-valve-mask to help with a patients breathing.

• Observed a central line being inserted 

• Assisted in reductions of different broken or dislocated bones such as the shoulder and wrist  with conscious sedation and assisted in casting

• Assisted in removal of a foreign body in the ear

• Observed packing of epistaxis (nosebleed) 
  
  

DIAGNOSIS I SAW/DIAGNOSED


Diverticulitis

Radiculopathy
Pulmonary Embolism
Hernia
Prostatitis

Fractures – Coles, ankle, hip, hand

Lacerations – fingers, chin, eyebrow

Seizures

Chicken pox

Kidney Stones

UTI

Mono

Strep throat

Vertigo

Muscle strain

Impetigo

Eye ulcer

MI (myocardial infarction – heart attack)

TIA (transient ischemic attack – “mini strokes”)

COMMON COMPLAINTS

Abdominal pain

Back pain

Sore throat

Chest pain

Shortness of Breath

General weakness

Minor complaints-       unspecified

There are more things I’ve seen and done but these are the first things that come to mind. I did take a picture of my first prescription for diverticulitis. I just wrote down what the doctor told me to :) 

My First time writing a prescription dictated from the doctor :P

  

Last shift in emerge is on Tuesday then off to our first academic day. My next rotation in Orthopedics starts on Thursday!