Journal #6

Sara Johnston
21 March 2007
MIDS 201

Journal Entry #6

I went to the Clinic on Thursday over Spring Break during the adult clinic, and today, Wednesday. I’ll talk about today first because it’s short and not that exciting. Last week, Doris, one of the nurses, asked me if I would be in this week. When I told her yes, she was glad and gave me a task to do: stamp the Clinic’s name, address, and phone number on appointment cards. I’m sure this is much, much cheaper than having business cards made. So, I spent two and a half hours stamping cards. I did not mind this at all. It was quiet, because when I arrived there was a staff meeting going on. It had started before I got there, and let out just as I was leaving. I think they have those meeting every other week, and its nice to know that they keep themselves constantly updated on everything concerning Clinic operation. Also, when I got there the front doors were locked, so someone had to come open them for me from the inside. I wonder if they keep the doors locked on days they don’t have patient clinics. But it still really doesn’t make much sense- it makes them seem not very accessible and open to the public and new clients.

Last Thursday I got to see more patients with Dr. Arvelos. I also did some rooming of patients and filing of charts. I got some hands on experience this time. One patient, a larger person, was complaining of swelling in their legs and feet, and thought it was from bad circulation. (I know “they” is grammatically incorrect, but I’m using it to protect patient confidentiality) Dr. A said it wasn’t bad circulation, just loss of valves in the veins that help pump blood back up to the heart, caused from standing at work all day. He said if his assistant, me, could feel a pulse in their feet, they didn’t have bad circulation. He showed me where to find the pulse, and I felt it. Another patient needed refills on breathing medication. They told Dr. A that they were going to have to quit sheet rocking, because it was worse for their lungs than smoking. Dr. A said that wasn’t true, but the patient refused to listen. Dr. A listened to their lungs, and then gave me the stethoscope and told me to listen. I don’t have much experience with one, and thought I just wasn’t listening in the right place. I told Dr. A I didn’t hear anything, and he said that was correct, that the patient didn’t hardly have any lungs left. One patient complained of severe headaches, and a bad knee. When the doctor flexed and rotated their knee, I helped hold them because it hurt.

It felt really good to do some work these past two times, instead of just mostly standing around. I also got some more experience in my (hopefully) future career. After the first couple of times I volunteered, I did not think that I would get much medical exposure and experience, just office work. But now I’ve gained more than I thought, learning how difficult patients can be, and how defensive people can be towards their doctor.