Saturday, 22 December 2012
GP Referral Week and Conquering Horizontal Beam Knees!
This was quite a good week as I got to consolidate things I've already been doing but also have a go at new projections which I knew about but hadn't had chance to do yet as the work wasn't there. Not a lot else to say about this week really. I was sent to another site again for this week so it was also about getting used to another way of working and also using different equipment. The radiographer seemed quite pleased with my work although I did have a bit of a disaster they helped me carry on when it really shook my confidence. It was a schoolboy error that I've never made before but it was all to do with a different way of working and forgetting to do something important because in my mind I was doing things "out of order." Needless to say I've never made the mistake again! Managed to get lots signed off this week and am getting there with those horizontal beam knees :-)
Big Highs and Big Lows - A Week of Cath Lab & Barium Enema Experience
I spent this week at another hospital where I got to spend a bit of time in the catheterisation lab and also see my fair share of barium swallows and barium enemas. This week threw up all kinds of surprises: some good and bad! I was really looking forward to going back since I had such good experience last time I went but for some reason I was at a loss and just didn't feel like I was (or could) fit in no matter how hard I tried which was tough.
The week started off well and I spent my first day in the cath lab. I didn't really know what to expect so didn't go I went in there with an open mind and I absolutely loved it. It was the most enjoyable part of the week because I was so amazed at what can be done. I saw several cardiac angiograms and it was amazing to see the heart and the coronary arteries in real time. It was nice to get to spend some time with a nurse, an echocardiographer and a nursing student as well and be working together. The radiographers and other professionals seemed to really appreciate me asking questions and showing an interest. The doctor carrying out the procedures was also fabulous and didn't seem to mind taking the time to explain things to me after each examination and going through some of the images and pathologies we could see which was fantastic.
I have a much better knowledge know of the coronary arteries, the heart and the blood vessels. It truly was amazing to see. Besides cardiac angios I also got to see several pacemakers fitted which at first seemed strange because not having any knowledge of them really or ow they are fitted I thought the patient would be anaesthetised but they are not. It's just a local anaesthetic so you can talk to them during the procedure. I had no idea that radiographers were involved with this and again I was fascinated by it all. I think this kind of work may be something that I would be interested in doing in the future once qualified if the opportunity ever came about, although ultrasound is still top of the list. So cath lab was the real high of the week :-)
Later on in the week I got to see lots of barium studies and it was good to spend some time with the radiographer going over the anatomy of the digestive system and it's appearance on x-ray as part of a barium study. We also went over some of the pathologies you encounter such a polyps, diverticula and tumours etc and I actually learned a hell of a lot and quite liked looking at the images. Not so sure about the exam itself though. I'd been having a pretty bad day up until I went and observed the Barium studies so it was a bit of a relief.
My other days that week were spent in general x-ray where there were quite a lot of orthopaedic clinics running and as I was the only student there on those days it was good to get some quality mentoring and get to grips with some adapted technique. As I say, the week had it's ups and down and I did shed my fair share of tears but it all came good in the end I'm glad to say.
The week started off well and I spent my first day in the cath lab. I didn't really know what to expect so didn't go I went in there with an open mind and I absolutely loved it. It was the most enjoyable part of the week because I was so amazed at what can be done. I saw several cardiac angiograms and it was amazing to see the heart and the coronary arteries in real time. It was nice to get to spend some time with a nurse, an echocardiographer and a nursing student as well and be working together. The radiographers and other professionals seemed to really appreciate me asking questions and showing an interest. The doctor carrying out the procedures was also fabulous and didn't seem to mind taking the time to explain things to me after each examination and going through some of the images and pathologies we could see which was fantastic.
I have a much better knowledge know of the coronary arteries, the heart and the blood vessels. It truly was amazing to see. Besides cardiac angios I also got to see several pacemakers fitted which at first seemed strange because not having any knowledge of them really or ow they are fitted I thought the patient would be anaesthetised but they are not. It's just a local anaesthetic so you can talk to them during the procedure. I had no idea that radiographers were involved with this and again I was fascinated by it all. I think this kind of work may be something that I would be interested in doing in the future once qualified if the opportunity ever came about, although ultrasound is still top of the list. So cath lab was the real high of the week :-)
Later on in the week I got to see lots of barium studies and it was good to spend some time with the radiographer going over the anatomy of the digestive system and it's appearance on x-ray as part of a barium study. We also went over some of the pathologies you encounter such a polyps, diverticula and tumours etc and I actually learned a hell of a lot and quite liked looking at the images. Not so sure about the exam itself though. I'd been having a pretty bad day up until I went and observed the Barium studies so it was a bit of a relief.
My other days that week were spent in general x-ray where there were quite a lot of orthopaedic clinics running and as I was the only student there on those days it was good to get some quality mentoring and get to grips with some adapted technique. As I say, the week had it's ups and down and I did shed my fair share of tears but it all came good in the end I'm glad to say.
Theatre Week - Part 1
This was during my second week of
placement and given the difficulties I've had with theatre in the past it went
really well. I surprised myself and I think I might actually like it
now! On one of the days it was quiet so absolutely nothing was booked in
but the rest of the week was nice and steady. I managed to stay for the
whole duration of the procedures I was involved with and not only that
but I actually got involved!! Me!! The first time was
positioning/imaging for steroid injections, which they were a few of.
The radiographer let me watch the first one and then asked me if I
wanted to have a go so I said yes and it helped my confidence in theatre
so much. I was so proud of myself and the way they explained how to
manoeuvre the intensifier made more sense so I pretty much got it after
that. They were in charge of the control panel and manipulating the
images as I wasn't familiar enough with those but it felt great. So I
got to do a few of those that afternoon.
I also saw my first DHS which I was dreading because I didn't know what to expect and thought the mask and gown etc would get to me but to my relief we weren't required to wear a mask which I didn't know. I don't think this is always the case but as we were on the other side of the plastic sheet and away from the sterile area and where they were operating etc it was okay. So I could have jumped for joy. I also managed to get involved with this one but as it's quite a tricky op and it image intensifier is awkward to move to get lateral views of the hip the radiographer did that bit and I focussed on listening o the surgeon and taking images as requested. It really helped keep my mind occupied and I think that's what stopped me from panicking and having a funny turn this time on theatre.
There were quite a few urology cases as well these week involving placement of stents and the removal of kidney stones so that was good although quite tricky having to move the heavy equipment up and down the length of the urinary system AND take images and check everyone is gowned up etc without keeping the surgeon waiting. Thankfully the surgeon was lovely and to my surprise they were all fantastic and patient with students and they could obviously see I was learning so they helped me as best they could which I really appreciated.
Other things I was involed with this time was DNP plating of the wrist and a shoulder MUA which was a learning curve for both me and the radiographer on this occasion! So basically this was a good week and I learned a lot. I'm on theatre again first week back next placement so I'll look forward to it.
I also saw my first DHS which I was dreading because I didn't know what to expect and thought the mask and gown etc would get to me but to my relief we weren't required to wear a mask which I didn't know. I don't think this is always the case but as we were on the other side of the plastic sheet and away from the sterile area and where they were operating etc it was okay. So I could have jumped for joy. I also managed to get involved with this one but as it's quite a tricky op and it image intensifier is awkward to move to get lateral views of the hip the radiographer did that bit and I focussed on listening o the surgeon and taking images as requested. It really helped keep my mind occupied and I think that's what stopped me from panicking and having a funny turn this time on theatre.
There were quite a few urology cases as well these week involving placement of stents and the removal of kidney stones so that was good although quite tricky having to move the heavy equipment up and down the length of the urinary system AND take images and check everyone is gowned up etc without keeping the surgeon waiting. Thankfully the surgeon was lovely and to my surprise they were all fantastic and patient with students and they could obviously see I was learning so they helped me as best they could which I really appreciated.
Other things I was involed with this time was DNP plating of the wrist and a shoulder MUA which was a learning curve for both me and the radiographer on this occasion! So basically this was a good week and I learned a lot. I'm on theatre again first week back next placement so I'll look forward to it.
End of Placement 2, Year 2 - Loved it :-)
Sorry I've not posted for a few weeks. Every weekend I mean to but I've been so busy with placement and everything I never actually got chance. Basically I've had a brilliant placement and to top it off got lots of good feedback from my clinical tutor which I'm pleased about because I was a little worried (although I don't know why?!). So I think I'm just going to make separate posts of what I got up to each week, how it went and so on and then if anyone is reading and you want to ask questions or a bit more info then I can reply or add it here in another post.
To summarise I think this was my best placement yet looking back. There were obviously some hard times as well but I got through it and I guess it's all a learning curve. See my other posts to see what I got up to each week.
To summarise I think this was my best placement yet looking back. There were obviously some hard times as well but I got through it and I guess it's all a learning curve. See my other posts to see what I got up to each week.
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