Feels Like Starting Over
I’m not sure why, but rotating to a new clinical site always feels like starting over for some reason. New people, different equipment, and a new environment knock the confidence level down just a little probably.
I’m back in a hospital environment after spending the last 8 weeks in the ortho office. The techs that I met today all seem to be top-notch and easy to work with. I think I’ll probably learn a lot here, which is also good.
I got to see a myelogram today for the first time. Interestingly enough, it was a cervical myelogram rather than a lumbar. All I can say for the patient having this procedure done is “thank God for Lidocaine.” The radiologist had to make a second attempt on the injection. I couldn’t tell what was going wrong, but he couldn’t hit his spot on the first try, so he backed out and went in a second time and hit the mark.
I had an Upper GI prior to the myelogram and nothing but chest exams for the rest of the day. At least I know my chest technique is still solid. My technique on the lateral still works to keep rotation to the absolute minimum. I’m going to talk to one of the techs tomorrow about helping me focus on some specific goals I have for the rest of the semester. I have a short list of comps that I want to complete during the next 8 weeks as well…
What’s your technique to minimize rotation on the laterals? I usually put my palm against the patient’s sternum and then position the patient so that my palm is perpendicular to the grid.
Tiffany » I work from the back side usually. I’ll raise my arm and touch the bucky so that my arm is perpendicular and then I’ll make sure that both of my patient’s shoulder blades are touching my arm. It’s also a good idea to have your patient spread their feet about shoulder width to help steady themselves. For some reason, it seems to be natural that they want to put their feet together, which makes them sway a little while they are standing there…