Tomorrow we have 3 cases scheduled, I believe all craniectomies. I have been doing half recovering pt.s in the PACU and in the ICU where the staff was overwhelmed going from 3 patients to 12. All their available staff working round the clock. So I stayed there and helped as much as i could. They seemed very appreciative and a large plate of pastries will be coming their way.
There was a PALS binder on their desk. I gave the lead RN the pocket folder of PALS meds and logarithms when I left. Part of my involvement in the team is being out of the OR to see how this all comes together for the pt. Like every where, you can do a brilliant case but if you have poor follow up your results may fail. We called the hospital administrator to try to get more staff, transfer 2 pt's to the wards, and I begged an anesthesia resident to stay in the ICU to watch the kids, Dr. Ali, more pastries. We will see how the night went in a few hours.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Waiting for ambian to take over
Front of Rafidia Hospital
Notice it is not raining, first dry day but we still have our coats on.
The Brain
I have taken my ambian, so this post will probably be filled with type o's. Sorry
Monday we had 3 cases scheduled, 1 VP shunt and 2 craniectomies. This is where the skull sutures have closed prematurely causing malformed head shapes. So, basically the surgeon peels the scalp down over the patients face, cuts the skull apart, gives the brain more room to grow, "greenstick" fractures the affected skull suture line, puts in a drain and closes it up. Pretty freakin amazing.
Early in nursing school I thought I wanted to be an OR nurse, I have lost all that desire after the time I have been in the OR with these trips. Surgery is not for the faint at heart. No disrespect to the surgeon and the professionals in the room, it amazes me the human body can with stand it.
Warning, this is a bloody picture.
8 month old, scalp peeled forward, cut bone flaps....don't try this at home.
Monday we had 3 cases scheduled, 1 VP shunt and 2 craniectomies. This is where the skull sutures have closed prematurely causing malformed head shapes. So, basically the surgeon peels the scalp down over the patients face, cuts the skull apart, gives the brain more room to grow, "greenstick" fractures the affected skull suture line, puts in a drain and closes it up. Pretty freakin amazing.
Early in nursing school I thought I wanted to be an OR nurse, I have lost all that desire after the time I have been in the OR with these trips. Surgery is not for the faint at heart. No disrespect to the surgeon and the professionals in the room, it amazes me the human body can with stand it.
Warning, this is a bloody picture.
8 month old, scalp peeled forward, cut bone flaps....don't try this at home.
Rafidia Hospital
It is 2 am. I wake up each night at 2am. I take an ambian, then next thing I know it is 7am.
Our Internet access has been spotty, but for some reason it's good at 2am.
Dr. Samar and Kevin, our anesthesiologist arrived Sat. after noon. We went to the hospital to round on a few patients there. A child in ICU who had a brain tumor removed some time ago, was basically in a coma because of severe hydrocephalus. He got an emergency drain that night and a VP shunt the next day. He was awake and walking and got discharged from the ICU yesterday.
Sunday was crazy clinic day, typical loud, fast paced day in a small office with multiple languages flying around. A lot of cerebral palsy, and some spina bifida, but mostly misshaped heads. Here are a couple of rare syndromes we saw;
Apert syndrome and possible Dandy walker syndrome.
Our Internet access has been spotty, but for some reason it's good at 2am.
Dr. Samar and Kevin, our anesthesiologist arrived Sat. after noon. We went to the hospital to round on a few patients there. A child in ICU who had a brain tumor removed some time ago, was basically in a coma because of severe hydrocephalus. He got an emergency drain that night and a VP shunt the next day. He was awake and walking and got discharged from the ICU yesterday.
Sunday was crazy clinic day, typical loud, fast paced day in a small office with multiple languages flying around. A lot of cerebral palsy, and some spina bifida, but mostly misshaped heads. Here are a couple of rare syndromes we saw;
Apert syndrome and possible Dandy walker syndrome.
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Shopping
I had to take a break from shopping due to the rain/hail/sleet/cold. My new mohair gloves from Turkey, the complimentray coffee only helped for few hours.
Pictures from Nablus...
Hail in Nablus
Buying spices in the old city with covered streets.
Sifting corriander seeds.
Hotel Yasmeen kitchen cooks up more than hummus.
Pictures from Nablus...
Hail in Nablus
Buying spices in the old city with covered streets.
Sifting corriander seeds.
Hotel Yasmeen kitchen cooks up more than hummus.
Friday, February 17, 2012
Nablus, West Bank round 2
After 3 canceled medical trips since September, I finally made it out of town. I am with PCRF (http://www.pcrf.net ) again in Nablus, West Bank area of Palestine. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nablus
We are staying at Hotel Al Yasmeen http://www.alyasmeen.com/.
Working at Rafidia Hospital. This is a you tube video that shows the hospital with the area I will be working (PACU/ OR) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHjNtLNbFDM
Our group will work on pediatric neuosurgical patients, V-P shunts, tethered cords, canioplasties (for you medical folk). I sure I will learn a lot.
I am in the hotel lobby with 3 layers of clothing, wishing I had more, the wind is howling but at least the downpour from yesterday has stopped. Breakfast of hummus, fresh yogurt, pita, boiled eggs, brewed coffee!!! It's all good. The rooms are fine but the ceiling mounted heater never gets the space from my head to the floor warm.
I am waiting for my co worker,Amal to wake up, we have today to shop.
We are staying at Hotel Al Yasmeen http://www.alyasmeen.com/.
Working at Rafidia Hospital. This is a you tube video that shows the hospital with the area I will be working (PACU/ OR) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHjNtLNbFDM
Our group will work on pediatric neuosurgical patients, V-P shunts, tethered cords, canioplasties (for you medical folk). I sure I will learn a lot.
I am in the hotel lobby with 3 layers of clothing, wishing I had more, the wind is howling but at least the downpour from yesterday has stopped. Breakfast of hummus, fresh yogurt, pita, boiled eggs, brewed coffee!!! It's all good. The rooms are fine but the ceiling mounted heater never gets the space from my head to the floor warm.
I am waiting for my co worker,Amal to wake up, we have today to shop.
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