MSU Rotation Week

Learning Report

What were your responsibilities or duties this week?
My duties this week were to observe the department and learn the responsibilities of the employees and how they provide services to the patients. I observed a nurse and a nurse technician I learned of their responsibilities and the various tasks they perform. I was to ask questions to learn about the department and the different things that the MSU does for the patients. 

What new knowledge or skill did you learn this week?
This week in MSU I learned a vast amount of knowledge. While following a nurse technician I was able to see a variety of task she performs and the responsibilities that her job entitles. I saw hands on patient care as well as other behind the scene tasks.I assisted in making a patient bed and learned that each hospital has their own way in making beds. I learned how to make a patient bed correctly and asked about the different techniques. I was able to witness a dialysis machine and asked questions regarding the procedure and disease. I learned more about safety precautions and PPE. In several rooms I wore PPE all for different reasons and learned the many reasons why the staff is required to wear different levels of PPE. I was also able to see a NG tube and learned about the procedure and the surgery the patient had. Through my observation and the questions I asked this week I learned a lot of new knowledge. 

What was the best thing that happened at the unpaid work-based learning site this week?
The best thing that happened this week was being able to follow a tech from room to room and being able to interact with the patients. I got to learn about the various reasons patients were there and the different services they needed. I was able to assist various times in this department and learned a lot by going room to room.

What was the worst thing that happened at the unpaid work-based learning site this week?
The worst thing that happened this week was when I had to observe a nurse chart. She had a lot of charting to do and it took up the majority of the time. The next day I ensured that it did not happen again and followed a tech who seemed to have more responsibilities and hands on tasks to perform.

This week was: Good

Why? This week was good because I was able to assist and was able to go room to room and learn a lot about various things in the department. I enjoyed interacting with patients and learning about why they were in the hospital. I enjoyed this week as the tech I followed was busy and informative. 

Experience Record 

Technology observed:

• Blood Pressure Monitor
• Medicine dispenser
• Vital Sign Monitor
• Patient files on computer
• Dialysis Machine
• NG Tube

Diagnostic procedures observed:

• Vital Signs
• Blood test
• Urine test
• Lab test
• Kidney Testing

Therapeutic procedures observed:

• Nasogastric tube
• Gastric intubation
• Dialysis
• Delivery of medication
• IV
• Nasogastric aspiration

Disease/disorders observed:

• Gastrointestinal obstruction
• Flu
• Contamination
• Kidney failure

Medical terminology/abbreviations encountered:

• Fowler's position
• Dialysis
• Gastric 
• Nasogastric
• Abstructions
• Contamination

Other Observed:

• Safety precautions
• PPE
• Isolation
• Bed making procedure

Experience Journal

1. Med Surg is divided into wings and nurses are allocated to each area. The department is large with a vast amount of patient rooms and two nurses stations at either side. There are three supply closets and medicine rooms, all allocated to one area. MSU is very organized and neat. The area seemed very clean as well as each patient room. Each patient seems to be admitted for different reasons as there were several patients all with different problems. The employees provide medication and monitor the patients. The patients are in the department to help them recover and become healthy.
2. The staff seemed friendly and worked well together. They used team work and had strong communication skills.They all used appropriate safety precautions when dealing with patients such as washing hands, gloves and the allocated level of PPE. The employees were helpful and kind to their patient and tried their best to help each patient while respecting each persons wishes.
3. This week in MSU I learned a lot of information. By following a nurse technician, I was able to see many of the tasks she performs and the responsibilities of her job. I saw hands on patient care as well as other behind the scene tasks. I also saw the employees teamwork and communication skills. I learned the hospitals procedure for making a bed and I learned about the different techniques. I was able to witness a dialysis machine and asked questions regarding the procedure and disease. I learned a lot about safety precautions and PPE and their inportance. I saw a NG tube and learned about the procedure and the surgery the patient had. Through my observation and the questions I asked this week I learned a lot of new knowledge.
4. This week I felt I did a good job within each situation. I took advantage of my time a learned a lot. I feel as though I ask important questions that will help me in my future. I learned how the MSU functions and why it is such an important department for a hospital. I learned about the different jobs that are within the department a found some that interested me and some that did not. I learned more about where I see myself in the future. This week I learned a lot by just observing and realized the vast amount of jobs the nurses have and the importance they play in patient recovery.

Pharmacy Rotation Week

Learning Report

What were your responsibilities or duties this week?

My responsibilities this week were to learn how the Pharmacy functions and the duties the employees have regarding the hospital. I observed several employees including pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and an IV technician. I was to observe how drugs are calculated and delivered to patients. I watched a technician create IV's and other drugs for the hospital and observed the how and where the drugs are stored. This week I was to understand the importance of the pharmacy and how the pharmacists and technicians help to keep the department functioning.

What new knowledge or skill did you learn this week?

This week I learned about how the pharmacy functions and the importance it plays for the hospital. I was able to observe and assist in creating various IVs in which I learned a lot about the procedure and about the calculations and the ordering process for the medicine. I learned how the pharmacist calculates dosages and the certain factors of a patient to consider when administering drugs. I learned about the process of ordering, calculating and delivering patient medicine within the hospital and how the pharmacist is just as responsible of the patient as the doctor. I learned a lot about drugs and medicine and was able to ask many questions. I learned about the educational requirements for several positions as well as their necessary qualifications.

What was the best thing that happened at the unpaid work-based learning site this week?

The best thing that happened this week was I was able to go into the IV room and observe and assist with making several types of IV. I learned a lot about the process and how the bags are used throughout the hospital. The technician was very kind and informative and made the time more interesting than I expected. I found it very interesting watching her create different types of fluid bags and learned about the various forms the drugs can come in. I also found it interesting how technology has changed the procedure as she explained to me how the process used to be and how simpler it is today and I enjoyed learning about the evolution of the technology.

What was the worst thing that happened at the unpaid work-based learning site this week?

Nothing bad really happened this week as the employees were very busy and I was able to learn a lot from them. The only bad thing that happened is when I finished my task sheet and had nothing else to do and the employees were busy and I felt awkward interrupting them to ask questions, however it was only a couple of minutes as it was time for me to leave. 

This week was: Good

Why?
This week I found very interesting and the employees were very informative and friendly. I learned a lot about the pharmacy and medicine and enjoyed this week. I did not expect to find the department interesting and I shocked myself. 

Experience Record 

Technology observed:

• Medicine dispenser
• IV Hood (horizontal and vertical)
• Crash Cart
• Computer Software

Diagnostic procedures observed:

• Age, Gender
• Weight
• Kidney Lab Results
• Blood Test
• Past medical history
• Family history

Therapeutic procedures observed:

• Medicine/Drugs
• Various IV

Disease/disorders observed:

• None

Medical terminology/abbreviations encountered:

• Venous
• Oral
• Parentreral
• Dosage
• Kidney 
• Stat, o.s., ss

Other Observed:

• Pharmacist education and qualifications
• Pharmacy Technician education and qualifications
• Crash Cart 

Experience Journal

1. The pharmacy is a large room with different areas including the rotating medicine dispenser, refrigerator and freezer, and the IV room. There are computers the employees use often to receive orders and contact different department. The dispenser has the majority of their medicine and is very important for the department. The IV room is sterile and is used to make various drugs for patients. Throughout the room there is medicine being stored and the area is very well organized.
2. The employees that I observed were all very friendly and informative. They worked well together and seemed to enjoy there jobs. They were very nice to me and helped me learn a lot. They worked together to delivery the appropriate medicine and communicated well to ensure the correct medicine was processed. The pharmacists were very qualified and skilled and knew what to look for on patient reports and knew the correct calculations. The employees were very good and are very important to the patients.
3. I learned a lot about the function of the pharmacy and the responsibilities the employees have. I was able to learn a lot through observation and through asking questions. I watched a technician create several IVs and learned a lot on that day. I also saw the delivery and appropriate placement of medicine. Through conversation, I learned a lot about the education and qualifications of the positions within pharmacy and learned about the employees experiences. 
4. I surprised myself with how much I found interesting this week. I still do not think I will end up being in a pharmaceutical career, however I learned a lot about the department and was interested the whole time. I learned about the importance of the pharmacists job and the department as a whole. I learned about the communication necessary between each department that is sure to help me in the future. I enjoyed this week and have a more clear understanding of the pharmacy.