While it's awesome to experience modern medicine in action, it is also a little discomforting to realize how unattached I can be. I do want my patients to get better, but I find it even more imperative in this environment to detach and to find humor in the little things, such as reasons for admission --my last patient ran his car into a 300 pound hog. Yep, that's right. No lie. He was pretty banged up because of it too, yet I couldn't help but giggle at his tattoo choices. I'm starting to realize how twisted I am. But that's ok.
I love working for a facility with the capabilities to be aggressive with treatment. I love having a doctor in the unit at all times, so I don't have to sit and wait for someone to call me back when my patient is crumping. I'm excited (and, at times, a little scared) about the level of autonomy I've just been handed through nursing protocols and procedures. For instance, I can now initiate electrolyte replacement without a doctor's order, and I'm allowed to draw my own arterial blood gases. All of it is really overwhelming right now, but I believe this career move was definitely a good change. This job rocks!
