Dietetic Internship adventures at the Memphis VAMC continue!(Previous week's blog posts can be found to the left under the navigation by date headings.)
Weeks 8 & 9 - General Medicine
In this rotation I experienced my very first inpatient setting… the General Medicine wards. I had become so used to Outpatient that I wasn't exactly sure how/what went on in the hospital. On Day 2 I was quickly caught up to speed as I saw an obtrusive red sign on the patient’s door, nearly shouting at me, “Caution! Caution” Not knowing what to do, I called my preceptor (which is like a mentor and boss during a rotation), “Umm, help?!”
She graciously informed me that this patient was under isolation and droplet precautions, and I needed to re-outfit myself. She helped me get suited up in a head-to-toe yellow gown, face mask, and gloves… then I entered the room. What kind of encounter was I headed to? Aliens? Nope, a patient with the flu and other complications such as COPD and hacking every 2 minutes. “Contact Precautions” I don’t want your flu or anything else! I suited up many, many more times over the course of the day, and the following two weeks. (It is really hot under a face mask!)
