first time for everything...

After another long 15hr shift in the ER, I got to do my first sutures! - 3 stitches on the occiput - the back of the head. It was pretty nerve wracking - my hands were shaking because I've only worked on synthetic materials and tissue paper, but it was pretty cool, and my preceptor approved. I've finally taken the next step - so goodbye and thank you paper towels for being my practice. Later on, I did another 3 sutures on a gentleman who cut his hand - so a total of 6 sutures in the end! The hardest part I find is actuallly not the suturing part - it's the injection of the anaesthetic into the tissue because that's when the patient flinches and feels pain. I think it just makes me jump because they jerk away on entry with the needle, even though the needle is the smallest one, and...well.....I guess in some ways I feel the pain. It's just not the most comfortable feeling.

My first cast of a broken bone took a long time, but I think it was a good job. I don't think the nurses appreciated the mess I left at the end, but I came back the next day to clean it all up! I also tried a couple of IV's on some older folks, but those tiny veins were like tiny worms and I couldn't start them. I guess practice makes perfect - anyone willing to get poked out there??

Also, I syringed my first ear out - even though it did take...hmm....more than 5 flushes...actually, more than 10........~ to tell you the truth, more like 20-30 flushes.... BUT I did eventually get it out. Man, you really have to apply some serious pressure - after my preceptor came in to assess how I was doing, I realized I was way too gentle with the pressure. Either I need to eat my porridge in the morning, or just be more decisive and assertive with the flushes. Anyone need their ears flushed???