Journal Entries

3/10/23    

Grace Helfant

For my senior project I am showing ways for young students or really anybody to work their way up in the healthcare industry. How to get your LNA, how to work up to a nurse. I also wanna add any ways to get scholarships or anything like that. I know for me, I don't have money for college and I needed people to explain to me that there are ways for me to go to college and pursue my career. I think everyone should have a fair opportunity to do what they love. Nobody should be held back from pursuing their career because of money problems. Growing up I never thought I would ever want to go to college so it wasn't a problem. Now that I've put more thought into it, I might want to go. So I am doing a paper on opportunities and helpful resources for anyone struggling getting into college or affording it. Anyway I worked a lot last week and I was really nervous but once I was there I was fine and it wasn't bad at all. I actually really enjoy it. I was really nervous about learning how to chart and all the computer stuff but it's not bad. Now that I know how to do it I'm not stressed. I recently took a two day MOAB training course. I don't remember what it stands for but I do remember that the class was teaching us ways to calm down someone agitated at the hospital or how to defend yourself. It was interesting to learn so much. They started teaching the class I believe because of the rise in violence in hospitals that we have to make sure we know what to do when someone is trying to harm us, others, or themselves. I was surprised to learn that we can defend ourselves. Before I got my LNA I was told that no matter what we were not allowed to put our hands on a patient even if they were hurting us. Anyway this has to be a page so I'm going to ramble. The pay at my job is actually pretty good. I didn't think the pay was going be good. I was also surprised how nice everyone was. Everyone was very kind, helpful, and just supportive. It was very helpful to have so many people to help if I needed it. So this is it. That's all I can think of. 

3-21-23

Today I went into work and there were lots of students. Students being LNAs in training or nurses in training. Meaning they're doing most of the work. Not leaving me and my coworkers a lot to do. That does however mean that I have more time to work on education. Not that i want to but it has to get done. I'm the new girl right now so I'm kinda quiet and I stay in my space. I get very flustered when I'm nervous about something. I stutter or I can't think of what I need to ask. That can't happen when there's something serious going on.  That's something I could work on. I almost feel bad when I have to ask questions. I shouldn't but sometimes being the new person and people calling you the newbie you don't really wanna ask them for help. I did ask if I needed help but I didn't like it.  

4-6-23

Hey guys it's 6:15. I'm at work ready to start my day. I don't feel good but I don't have time to call out so i just sucked it up. It's really cold in the fish bowl. The fish bowl is just where all the nurses and LNAs sit and chart. I have to go get all my patients up and take some of there blood sugar and get them ready for breakfast. Or I might be washing them up I dont know what I'm going to do. I also have to change all the boards and get new water for everyone. Then after all that I have to chart all of it.

4-11-23

Today there was a patient I was taking care of and later that day I found out I knew one of their family members. I was kinda set back because I didn't realize how much their family was going through. It made me sad. I wanted to reach out after I had left my shift but I didn't think that would be professional. I really wanted to just so they knew if they needed anything I was there for them. Our patients and their families are so strong. They go through so much. I guess that's why I want to help people. 

4-22-23

It's 6:53 am in the fish bowl hanging out. It's slow so far, not a lot to do. Watch, I probably just jinxed it and we're going to get a bunch of transports up here and I'm going rip my hair out. But not really just being dramatic. Surprise, I'm cold again today. I put my zip up over my shoulders and I feel like everytime I did I had to get up. Like cmon but moving makes you warmer so i can't complain. I forgot a hair tie so I'm using a rubber band. Love that for me. Its 8:16 little update. I got some stuff done, now I'm just hanging out. I need to get some more information on how the morning schedule works. 10:45 I asked about how the morning works for everyone and I was told to find my one routine and just do my thing. So that's what I do and It works.  

4-25-23

It's 6:19. I'm ready to get my day started. I have a few patients today that I'm sure are going to keep me on my toes today. I'm hoping to be working with Rachel today but I'll find out. It's Rachel YAHHHH. There's some people that you can just tell that they are good at their job and that they care about their patients. That's Rachel, and she's been showing me the ropes which I am very grateful for. You have to have the heart to be in the line of work. 

5-2-23

Hey guys so my schedule was changed and so now i'm working the 3-11. I didn't want to do this but that's what my boss asked me to do so I'm doing it. I'm working with someone that I know so that's nice. I'm still orienting but they're having me do all the work. Okay that sounds bad over text but it's not. When I say that I mean they are having me do everything that I am capable of doing and obviously if I need help I just ask them. They are also obviously doing work as well. I'm doing well getting adjusted to this new shift. Getting to know some new people, and getting to know people better. I'm enjoying it and I'm learning a lot.

5-17-23

I'm actually really enjoying this shift. I got to know people that I was working with. That made it more interesting because I actually had people to talk to and joke around with. Fast forward I'm at work and I have this patient that is very confused and keeps getting up which is dangerous because they are confused and they are not very physically stable to walk around by themselves. It's very sad because they are so sweet they just don't know what's going on and that's not their fault. So in situations like this we put what we call a bed alarm or chair alarm on so that anytime they get up an alarm goes off and somebody can run in and help them or try and get them back to bed or whatever it may be. It's to keep our patient safe.