Mentor Days was a two day introduction to the clinical setting we are going to be performing a majority of our work at next semester. We follow a nurse and get to practice our nursing skills.

 

My first day started at an early 4:30. I unfortunately, live about an hour away from Memorial Medical Center, the hospital I’m assigned at. I was really excited to finally get to interact with real patients. I had the opportunity to learn how to use a new thermometer that measures the temperature of the temporal artery. I took plenty of vitals and got to assist patients with activities of daily living.

 

The nurse was showing me a little about the computer charting system. Memorial Med Center is a hospital that has gone fully computerized. When a medication is being administered, the nurse must scan the patient’s wrist band and medication.

 

The most exciting part of my day was when I had the opportunity of pulling out an IV. We are not allowed to insert IVs until second semester.

 

When observing my nurse, I assisted in providing a health assessment to the patients. I observed how she implemented patient teachings during discharge. I got to practice my teaching skills after that by teaching a patient how to use an incentive spirometer. An incentive spirometer is a device in which a patient inhales to promote full deep breaths, this prevents lung collapse and is for post surgery patients.

 

That concluded day one.