Reflective Journal for iStan Lab!

Hello everyone!
My day at iStan has again come to an end for this semester so I'm going to tell you all a little bit about it. 😊
1) Simulation lab can often times get very hectic when trying to figure out what the new orders are and getting them completed. One of the very first tasks that we had to accomplish as a team before being able to do anything was to find iStan and return him to to his room. When first starting "our round", we found iStan outside enjoying the fresh air trying to tank up his Vitamin D. To get him back to his room, Kasey and I went to get a stretcher to put him on. When we came back outside, there were people standing around iStan very interested wanting to video and take pictures of iStan. We asked them to not take anymore in order to protect iStan's privacy. Once we got him back upstairs back into his own bed, I hooked iStan up for SpO2 and took his temperature. His temperature was slightly elevated so we called the doctor's office to get an order for acetaminophen. Once we got a call from the lab requesting to redraw a CBC and BMP, I attempted to draw the lab. I was able to successfully draw the blood and fill the vials but I forgot to ask the secretary for stickers so I ended up accidentally sending the vials to the lab without any stickers. Once I realized that I did not have any stickers yet, I wrote the patients info onto a piece of paper and placed it into the laboratory bag along with the two vials filled with blood. With that being said, thank you to all the secretaries keeping up with the non-simple task of always having stickers, armband, etc ready and on hand.

2)One of the most obvious things I learned was that team work is essential in the nursing field. It would have been absolutely impossible to get iStan onto to the stretcher or onto the bed without all of the help that we had. I so often even see this at work. Team work is one of the most essential skills that is needed, especially when a total care patient is in need of help and turning or transferring the patient is required in order to provide care.
The other situation I learned a lot about was to call for administrative supply first such as stickers to label lab tubes, allergy and fall risk band and armband to identify the patient. Several tasks require some or all of those in order to correctly complete the order. When drawing blood, the patient needs an allergy band to verify that the patient is not allergic to latex, a armband to verify the correct labs are drawn on the correct patient and stickers to label the blood vials in order to send them to the lab. Armband, stickers and alert bands might seem minique until an issue arises as a result of not having had one of them.

3)During the next simulation, I will first obtain stickers and then start with an invasive procedure such as drawing blood that requires having stickers before starting. Though it was incredibly frustrating of making such a mistake that took time away from taking care of the patient having to redraw blood and the patient refusing, I am glad that I learned it in simulation and not out in the real world where a patient might have truly been at risk.

4)Communication as well as working together is key to a good simulation experience. Talking openly to patient is very important in getting crucial information pertinent to the next step in treatment. Assessing allergies each time when assuming care of the patient can be life saving. They might have not been addressed at an earlier time, they did not get documented for whatever reason, allergies are very important to know. The patient might get frustrated by being asked the same question, but they will be glad we did.

 5) During lecture I learned that you cannot use a peripheral intravenous line that is already in use to draw blood from as well the vials have to filled in a certain order. Another very important point that lecture has thought be and simulation has allowed me  to put it into practice is using ISBAR. I was okay with it last semester during simulation but this semester I was actually able to remember to not ask the operator what to do with an elevated temperature and a cough that will not go away.

While iStan last semester went much better, each situation and experience is a great learning experience. It all is very nerve racking but so far I've been very lucky with how well the team and the patient care process have flown.
Thank you and I am looking forward to next semester to further improve and eliminate the working kinks.