ER Shadowing

As you know I've been shadowing in the ER for the past few weeks.  Until this week, there wasn't anything to special to talk about.  There isn't a lot to write about this week either, but this week I got to DO something.  It wasn't anything major, but it was still kinda cool to do it, versus watching it.  A patient fell and hit their head on cement.  They had a cut on their forehead that required stitches, but since they came in by ambulance, they were on a stretcher with neck brace.  The staff had to make sure she didn't brake anything before they could remove all the braces, and in order to do that, they have to roll the patient on their side so they can check their spine.  One person is at the head, and two to three people are on each side.  The person on the head counts to three and they roll the patient on their side so the doc and feel along the spine to make sure nothing is sore.  Well I got to be at the head.  :o)  Of course there was nothing wrong with the patient, aside from a gash that needed three stitches, but it was still kinda neat to do.  I also got to watch them stitch up the gash, but that is nothing new really, considering I've had my fair share of stitches! There were some interesting cases - abdominal pain, chest pain, pneumonia,  and some really neat people working that night, so it made it more enjoyable.  Last week was pretty slow and the staff wasn't as interested in showing me around.

I can't believe that it has been 4 weeks since I started shadowing in the ER!