So the written exam is tomorrow. I’m not terribly worried. Why? Well, partially because when I added it up, I had 94% on all of our daily quizzes. Excellent. Still WAY too slow on my practical, but at least I’ve got full spinal packaging down to about 15 minutes… better than the previous time of [...]
Archive for the ‘Trauma Queen’ Category
A serious note before bed.
June 2nd, 2008
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It’s entirely possible that this course is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. Of course, it’s also entirely possible that the only reason I think that is because it’s the hardest thing I’m doing right now, and that’s coloring the rest of it. So, I keep telling myself that I’ll get through it, [...]
My textbook, let me show you it
May 31st, 2008
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I am amused by my textbook. Not only did it give me the excellent slogan “Quadriplegia is forever” (regarding the importance of spinal management)… but it also gave us such gems as “They’re not dead until they’re warm and dead” (because evidently hypothermia is NOT forever.) It’s the little things that make me laugh and [...]
Don’t worry — I know how to treat shock now.
May 30th, 2008
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I’m printing out the study guide for the EMA Licensing board. It’s 46 pages. Ack. My pulse appears to be rapid and weak, my skin is pale, cool & clammy, and my mental status is going sideways… Well. Time to elevate the feet and stay warm. And study. (Note: I’m kidding. No, you don’t get [...]
Must be fate
May 29th, 2008
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Things I learned today: Oh, a whole bunch of stuff, but it’s stupid late and I need to be up in … less than six hours, which is not good. However, the best thing? I swear, this is fate: I fit in the ambulance. Let me say that again: I fit in the ambulance. Here’s [...]
Explosive!
May 26th, 2008
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Today, we learned about nitroglycerin. Sadly, not cool ways to make stuff go boom… sort of the opposite, really. This cures the achy breaky heart. Or at least the achy one. Best part? I get to ask anyone with chest pain if they’ve taken viagra, levitra or cialis recently (all three are contraindications for nitro.) [...]
A good excuse to wear my underwear on the outside
May 23rd, 2008
5 Comments
So in the training video we watched (mostly to help us get our timing down for CPR), the ever so charismatic narrarator refers to healthcare providers as “hero’s”. Since the particular CPR course we were going through was CPR for Health Care Providers, it was aimed at paramedics, nurses, doctors, etc. So I have to [...]
Hi, I’m here to shock you.
May 23rd, 2008
2 Comments
Well, even if I fail everything else, I’ve managed to do one thing right: I got my CPR-C certification today, with a perfect score on the test. (Good thing, too — you can only get 3 wrong…) We learned how to use automated external defibrillator’s as well, which is pretty awesome. Much fun was had [...]
Day Two
May 21st, 2008
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Awesomeness. Observations of Day 2: – Perfect score on the first test. Phew. Was WAY more worried about it than I should have been. – Best Acronym Ever: HEMP BC. Is part of the initial scene assessment. Apparently nobody EVER forgets that one. Ah, Vancouver, you make me proud. For the record (because the more [...]
Observations
May 20th, 2008
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- People are heavy – I need to be stronger. Working on this. – I have blisters on my hands from lifting a variety of stretchers and cots, both loaded & unloaded. – cots are harder to work than they look. stupid cots. – I didn’t drop anybody! I came close at one point, and [...]