Summer Practise

I was located in the Gerontology and Metabolism ICU with the other 3 for 5 days in our faculty hospital.

If you wonder what is gerontology it's something to do with healthcare for the elderly.

When the other 3 boys were playing with babies, we, 3 girls and 1 boy were taking great care of the elderly.

Basically babies and old people are the same.

They need care from other people.

The difference on the other hand stretch from both ends of the building.

For instance, a baby's surface area is small compared to his gramps and they are lighter too, the babies.

Basically, we learned the hardship of a nurse.

Washing the patient means patting the body with wet towel, applying oil and whats not.

The hard part is of course the smell and on the last day, we were presented with poo. TWICE.

And no, we didn't take care of that.

The nurse did. and it's an admirable act.

We pricked fingers, sucked drainage from the trachea, recorded things and watched procedures.

It's an opportunity that you get when having practicum over here.

First hand experience

Most of the patient have urinary cathether and tracheotomy.

Tracheotomy is an act of making a hole in your neck to provide better ventilation.

Old age has taken it toll on them.

Most have paper skin, bedsores and bruises.

Of all the patients, Mrs. Bohad* would be the most remembered one.

At 82, she suffers from Alzheimer.

She kept taking off the device for measuring oxygen saturation from her ears.

And she likes men.

She would be surprised when you tell her that she is in the hospital.

You see, she thinks that she is in the train station in some town.

We had the opportunity to witness how they remove her gallstone.

Taking care of the old people certainly is not an easy job.

Gargantuan patience is needed.

It tests your personality.

For me, I learned some shortcomings that I have.

5 days swooshed by and I must say I'm glad that it's all over.

I'll talk about the procedures that we witnessed in upcoming posts.

Maybe. =)