Sensory Overload

This semester I am doing my Senior Practicum in the Emergency Department at Prince George's Hospital Center--one of the few hospitals serving the communities across the Anacostia river in DC and the near-eastern suburbs. Because I am a Second-Degree student, I only need to have 84 hours of practicum clinicals (in this case seven 12-hour shifts), so I go every other week.

Last week, I almost did more in 12 hours than I have done in all my clinicals over the last three semesters:

• I started an IV!
• I put in a Foley Catheter!
• I hooked people up to 12-lead EKGs!
• I did in-line suctioning for a patient with a tracheostomy!
• I watched an ABG being done!
• I saw a guy who had OD'd (and was now combative) come in and be put in four-point restraints! (a little on the morbid side, I know)
  

It was a good day.