After months of waiting I am finally completing the clinical practicum portion of my program! The pandemic has pushed this portion of the program back so far; I’m so grateful that I am able to complete it now.
I’ve been placed in a medical clinic which has been nice so far, but very hectic!
Below is sort of a diary of my times during the first week at the clinic. These were entries made the day of or the day after the shift!
Note: that because it’s my first week I’ve mostly been shadowing the nurses and my classmate to get the gist of how things work.
Day 1: It was very chill.
The first couple of hours was primarily paperwork (i.e. signing forms) and looking through the clinics Pandemic folder which contained information about the virus as well as their Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) from the pandemic. Afterwards it was a tour of the clinic, meeting some of the people working there, and finally meeting the nurses I would be shadowing during the day. These were some of the things I did and learned how to do:
- disinfect some of the rooms to prepare them for patients
- venipuncture procedures and how to document samples
- how to screen patients at the door
It wasn’t much since it was my first day and I didn’t really know what to do. I was really shy and timid to really do anything or ask if they needed any help, but now I know I should take the initiative to ask!
Day 2: Autoclave
A slow day at the clinic.
My classmate (who’s been doing her placement at this location for 5 weeks) showed me how to use the autoclave, how to prepare the instruments to be sterilized in the autoclave, and how to record autoclave uses. Overall she was so helpful throughout the day! She told me more about what we do to help around the clinic, what to expect, and where to find things.
Since it was a slow day, us lab techs didn’t have much to do. There weren’t any blood draws needed to be done when I came in and throughout the rest of my shift. We did help disinfect rooms and screen patients, so that was nice.
Day 3: Clean Screen Clean
The first hour or so was uneventful, I did help fax things for the clinic manager which honestly was pretty nice mindless work. Then as the shift went on I helped screen patients and disinfect rooms for one particular did for who had a lot of patients. This really helped time pass faster in the clinic.
Again, not many patients coming in for blood work. I watched a total of 2 venipuncture that were done by my friend. It was really encouraging; I’m both excited and nervous to poke my first patient. Really hoping I don’t miss their vein.
The clinic gets so quiet after 5PM
Day 4: Chill day
Learned a couple more things like how to prepare items for the autoclave (ie. leaving the instruments in a reagent before finding them and autoclaving them).
Day 5: Busy busy busy
My first super busy today. There was only one nurse working in the morning, so I came in early to help call-in patients, screen patients, and disinfect rooms. Just constant walking back and forth, from the front door to the rooms.
One thing I learned today is how old the ECG machine is at this clinic. I watched my classmate do an ECG on a patient which was cool since I haven’t seen one be done at the clinic yet.
I came home and went straight to bed. A very tiring day!
Day 6: SUPER SLOW DAY
A Saturday. I assumed it’d be busy but nope. The doctor in for the day only sees people if necessary, other than that he mostly had phone appointments. Overall I just helped handle specimens and package them to send off to Dynacare. I also used the autoclave by myself for the first time!
Overall thoughts so far…
I know this isn’t much, but remember it’s my first week, and COVID plus the second lockdown in Ontario has really affected things as well.
Overall I’m incredibly great full to have been placed at this location. Everyone is so nice and helpful, and I’m sure I’ll be learning and growing a great deal (I’ve already learned so much!).
Noemi’s Corner 