Reflective journal entry for my iStan day...

              Istan was quite busy today, we started off the day by finding our patient down the hall and was able to use a stretcher to get him back into his room, apparently he needed some vitamin D.  I completed a full head to toe with the assistance of Susie, and was able to find out he was allergic to sulfa antibiotics and Demerol, which was not previously stated in his chart. I attempted a culture swab of his medical aspect of his right forearm, but the label had the incorrect information on it was so it was done again, and wound care was provided. ISBAR was preformed successfully a few times when speaking to the rest of his health care team. 

               What I learned most about the situations I encountered in simulation lab was my ability to adapt. 

I believe I handled newly arriving situations calmly, while able to think ahead. When the patient was not found in his room we were able to work as a well functioning team to find the patient, assess the situation and ensure his bed was ready for his return. The Doctor called and placed new orders for blood work to be drawn and the culture to be done before antibiotic were administered, arise of new culture issues.  I was able to think quickly on my feet and reorganize our plan of care. 

In retrospect of the whole experience, next simulation  I will approach labeling lab work differently. 

I will ensure that I am the one who labels the cultures with first initial, last name, title, location from where the culture was taken, date, and time, all placed on a barcoded patient label. 

While watching our peers’ simulation experience, I learned, to always be mindful of the religion/ culture of the patient. Stop and think before feeding the patient, does this patient usually pray before meals? and its ok to ask. Make sure you are communicating with your team, be a well oiled machine, anticipate what your peer may need.  Remember that just because a patient is in the hospital does not mean they do not have a right to privacy. 

What I have learned in the  classroom has gave me the knowledge to be able to practice in my simulation experience. ISBAR, is an important part of communication, I was successful in ISBAR today because my instructors have giving me this tool of communicating in an educated, facts driven manner. Our head to toe assessments are a key aspect of the nursing practice, in the simulation and clinical setting we are able to practice this, but in lecture we are able to learn the significance of each finding. I was able to complete wound care skills, head to toe, medication administration, IV insertion, and much more today because I have learned how and maybe most importantly WHY this is all done.