Mat started his job last Monday. Every Monday morning he has a safety meeting where they get to learn "all about safety." He learned how to walk on ice. Now you may laugh at this as this is an easy thing for Western folk...but I truly believe this was an appropriate learning point for the southerners. You should see them walk on ice...no joke. Mat told me "you slide your feet not pick them up." I would like to tell Roanoke folks "you won't fall through the ice on the concrete, and pick up the pace." He is enjoying his job...as it is not the same as working for Darrell and now he actually has to talk to people. He has "real great" people to work with (I say that with a southern accent) and gets his own van. I call it his molester van, but it truly is nice. He came home on the first day and said "Alissa I couldn't understand the electricians." Now we have heard rumor that some of the accents from down deep in Virginia are so thick you need a translator. We didn't believe it. Mat has confirmed this is true. He met some nice meth head while working at cash and carry, got to save K-mart from a leaky roof, and even spent some time at Motherhood Maternity replacing ceiling tiles. He gets a list in the morning of work orders and then heads out to complete them. They are really liking him as he is fixing things the right away and giving them suggestions on what truly needs to be fixed. Mat thinks he lucked out on getting this job, but I truly think this company lucked out on getting him.
It's so funny that I come home and say "you have to hear about my day" and Mat says "wait till you hear about mine." It's fun sharing our daily stories.
I have been packing my head full of information from lectures for the last two weeks. Between how to calculate anion-gap (so over my head) to reading EKGs (getting better), Chest X-rays (good here), how to deal with penetrating chest wounds, to how to call CPS. Woowh! Every hour each day is a new speaker, new topic. Kind of overwhelming but I am sure it is all important. We spent 8 hours the other day learning how to do a FAST exam. I was just excited to know what FAST finally stood for...Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma. The black and white image looks a little bit more clear now knowing what I am looking at. We also learned how to place lines with ultrasound (way easier then I thought). Everyone looks with everything with bedside ultrasound. I am just pumped when I find a kidney. I spend two weeks in a ultrasound rotation this summer. Thank goodness. Instead of telling you about terrible lectures and good ones I just am going to sum up what I took away the last two weeks. Hear we go.
1) Never, ever, for any reason call a seurgon at 2am and tell him a story of why the patient came in. All he wants to know is the diagnosis and why the patient needs surgery (this was a 1 hour lecture).
2) Never soak a wound in iodione or hibacleanse as the risk for infection greatly increases. Lots of tap water or NS flowing over the wound is best.
3) Never order a D-dimer if you suspect this patient has a PE.
4)CK-CKMB are worthless in diagnosis of Acute Coronary Syndrome or MI. Don't order!
5) Camo is Virginia's State Color
6) If a patient has a high lactate they are septic.
7) Some super sweet splint techniques.
8) The presenter can launch his presentation to your Ipad while he is lecturing and have you participate in question/response.
I got to travel to Christensburg to do a 3 hour shift of shadowing at another Carilion Hospital called NRV. The lobby has waterfalls and the cafeteria has a spiral staircase. Shadowed a PA who saw 3 patients. Not too exciting. Followed a Peds ED MD on monday for 4 hours at Carilion in Roanoke. That was super fun and we saw a lot of sick kids (actually sick). I wish I could describe to all of you how big this ED is. Lets just say it may take a few months before I know my way around. While I was there on monday they were holding 33 to be admitted the next day and it was only 6pm. I thought 7 was bad!!! It was a super busy completely crazy ED...I so wanted to jump in and get my hands dirty.
Miley has been chewing off her fir, so I finally ran her to the vet to find out she has some stressed induced parasite infection that is plugging her hair follicles and making her hair fall out. I guess moving her across the country caused this. So now she is on a parasite fighting medication for the next 28 days!! Poor thing. Otherwise she is doing well and thinks its great fun that we have to go outside with her every time she needs to go pee.
All and all we have been having fun. We have been trying to go for a run each day and enjoy this downtown experience by walking to dinner on the weekends. We had an amazing burger where the crispy cream doughnut was the bun. Best thing ever. Picture to follow. Still looking for a new place to call "church" as the cinnamon rolls down here just aren't nearly as good. Hope all is well with all of you. Had the best time face-timing with the Deaconess gals last week. We miss you all and plan to have better stories after next week. Wish me luck on my helicopter rides. I start monday!!
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