Yesterday I started work as a medical health technician in the Emergency Department at the West Roxbury Veterans Administration Hospital. I went through two days of orientation before I thrown on the ward.
Day one and two were pretty jam packed with information. I sat through hours of training on the VA electronic medical record system, infection prevention and control, ethics, and wound care. I was fit-tested for an N95 respiratior, instructed on how to place a Foley catheter (urinary catheter), and shown in about an how to work:
a vitals monitor,
pelvic scanner,
alternating leg pressure athrombic pump,
feeding pump,
and a knee CPM (continuious passive motion) machine.
Highlights of orientation:1) passing the N95 respirator test and not having to use some funny looking mask. 2) learning about Autonomic Dysreflexia a fascinating but life-threatening condition that affects people with spinal cord injuries.
Autonomic Dysreflexia: life-threatening condition typified by hypertension, increases heart rate and respiratory rate, among other symptoms. AD is caused by a noxious stimuli below the level of the spinal cord injury. The SBP can skyrocket up to 300 mm Hg can damage the eyes, kidneys, lead to intracranial hemmorage and death. Noxious stimuli can be anything from a pen cap pinching the leg of the patient in bed to a full bladder due to a kinked catheter.
I had no idea this kind of thing existed. It sounded pretty wild but I spoke with a nurse who has seen many cases of this. She seemed very comfortable and competent in dealing with this when it arises. I was super impressed!
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