Voegle

My least favorite month this year–the cardiovascular intensive care unit. 

Actually, it’s hasn’t been that bad so far.  I’m learning much on a subject I was not very familiar with previously.  Unfortunately, it’s also one of those rotations that are so busy I have little time to read independently which is one of the integral aspects for concrete learning.

Rounds take forever–several hours for only a handful of patients.  The nurses, pharmacists and nutritionists don’t round with us, which is unusual for an ICU. 

The attending is intense, probably a vixen in her younger years and likely a little crazy.  Her empathy for her patients is unmistakable. 

The nurses are as bad as ever.  I thought a hospital with Magnet status would mean a hospital with excellent nurses.  Instead, I think it really means nurses are in enough positions of power so they are able to make sure they never have to do any work or take any responsibility for their mistakes.  Drugs go unadministered.  Orders are missed.  Patient’s complain that they are treated like unwelcome guests.  Weights and I/Os are not done or obviously wrong.

The patients are nicer than on average.  Most of them are living pretty shitty lives confined to wheelchairs due to their lungs and heart failing them.  Many will be dead in less than a year.  One decided to stop coming to the hospital and just be treated symptomatically by hospice.  She wanted a beer.  So I had the privilege of pouring her a cold one in a frosted mug in bed 9 of the CVICU.