Tag Archives: hospital

Jun8

Musings From A Hospital

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Musings From A Hospital

Hello!!!! My darling best friend/Gemini Twin, Kate, of Live In The Nautical and I have so many similar things about us that it’s honestly insane. We both come from funeral home families, we are both former figure skaters, have the same birth month, and share a passion for fashion, musicals, and movie magic. The one thing that I desperately hoped we would not share twinship in is a loved one being in poor health, but here we are.

From the hospital, we have been texting nonstop about the similarities from the Cleveland Clinic and her stomping grounds in North Conway and I guess we are twinsies in that way too. Obviously, we are both incredibly grateful for the wonderful care our loved ones are receiving, these are just the petty things that make us laugh during a tough time. I am genuinely curious – has anyone noticed some of these things in the hospitals in your neck of the woods or is it just us?

Really Crappy Art:

Okay, I will be the first to admit that the Cleveland Clinic has some awesome art installations. Having said that, there is some art hanging throughout the hospital that is not the best. I hate to be judgy but some of it looks like my four year old niece could have made it and the art in the outer ICU was arguably the worst. The art in the other areas of the hospital, I get it. BUT, you would think they would show out a bit in the ICU when people are going through the literal worst time of their lives! SMH.

Really Uncomfortable Chairs:

Ah, yes. Hospital chairs – SO uncomfortable!! From the rooms in the hospital to the waiting rooms and family areas scattered throughout the floors, the chairs are not great. Are we expecting a plush armchair? No, even though that would be awesome lol. BUT, the lack of padding on all of them makes it so hard to get settled – especially when you are posted up there for a while. Also, all of the wall length benches tend to have dividers on them, like the evil tactics used to keep homeless people from sleeping. So, long story short, any hope of giving your poor back a break is simply out of the question. SMH.

Really Lackluster Vending Machine Selection:

Lol, okay, I get it. We are in a hospital and junk food isn’t going to be pushed in vending machines. BUT, come on!!! Sometimes, you just need that comforting sugar rush or salty snack and they are nowhere to be found!! The vending machine selection in the family room in the ICU was one of the saddest displays I have ever seen. It was basically trail mix, Almond Joys, York Peppermint Patties, chapstick, and bottled water. Major shout out to my diabetic dad because he now keeps a candy stash on him for that reason and it comes in handy. What can I say, we love a Hershey and Heath bar! SMH.

Really Amazing Staff:

Like I said above, Kate and I were cracking up from the little things that are so similar in the hospitals states away from each other that we are spending a lot of time at. We aren’t Gemini Twins for nothing! BUT, the staff at both of the hospitals are just fantastic and the gratitude we feel is unmatched. Every time I visit the Cleveland Clinic, I joke that I’m the mayor because I can’t walk anywhere without running into someone who has helped my family in some way shape or form. That sense of community puts me at some semblance of ease even at the most stressful times, as does knowing my loved one is in the best hands. The Cleveland Clinic staff has done more for my family than words can say and almost every single one of them holds a very special place in my heart. Not SMH at all! ❤

The next step in mine and Kate’s twinship is for the people we love so much to be in perfect health and we are both eagerly anticipating that day. Until then, her and I will continue to support each other endlessly and, yes, be a bit petty with our musings! 🙂

Can anyone relate to the sentiments above? Do you have an unofficial twin in your life? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan3

Steps To Becoming An Advanced Practice Nurse

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Steps To Becoming An Advanced Practice Nurse

Becoming an advanced practice nurse could be the next step in your career if you work in nursing. It can offer you opportunities to work in specialist areas and take on more responsibility at work, including moving into leadership roles. If you’re thinking of becoming an advanced practice nurse, these are some of the steps that you may need to take:

Consider a Patient Focus Areas and Specialisms:

There are several areas of patient focus you can consider if you want to be an advanced nursing practitioner. There are also more specific specializations for you to choose within different practice areas. You might choose something like midwifery or psychiatric health.

Check Licensure Rules:

You will need to ensure that you have the necessary license to practice to be an advanced nurse practitioner. To be registered nationally in the US, you need to be licensed as an advanced practice registered nurse (APRC). Different states and even medical settings can also require certain licenses.

Gain Valuable Experience:

Getting experience in your field of choice will help you to find the roles that you want and climb through the ranks too. You will need nursing experience if you want to complete a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) or a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN).

Continue Your Education:

Nurses often start with an associate’s degree or may have a bachelor’s degree. To become an advanced practice nurse, you can consider gaining an MSN or DNP. Both of these qualifications could help you to achieve your goals.


Infographic Design By Bradley University

Oct11

Accidents Happen

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Accidents Happen

*Trigger Warning* This post contains details of a car accident and medical trauma.

Helloooo everyone! Those of you who follow me on Facebook will know that yours truly was in a car accident this past month that had me in the hospital. (And, for those of you who don’t follow me on Facebook, make sure you get on it at: Sarah Mushenheim!) It was a really scary, painful experience and I wanted to give you all the 411 on what happened because I have been so blown away by all of the well wishes and all of you deserve to know. So, let’s get to it.

It was a Sunday afternoon circa one PM when my boyfriend and I were driving to pick some things up from his house and then we were going to have a date day. I had just returned from vacation the night before so we hadn’t seen each other for a week and were eager to hang out. Unfortunately, that got cut short, because as we were at an intersection on a twenty-five MPH street, we got hit head on by a driver going at least forty-five.

How did this person end up in the complete wrong lane and effect not just us but SIX cars in total? I’m really not sure, because it happened so quickly. But, I am fairly sure he was trying to get around a person turning left and, in the process, swiped another car and ended up going head first into ours. This left the car that got swiped, our car, and the car of the guy who hit us totaled. And, I’m assuming the other three cars ended up in fender benders or the like from all of the commotion going on on the road.

The heavy blow to our car caused the air bags to go off and, oh my god, the pain was indescribable. Before the accident, I had my feet on the dashboard and when I saw the car coming I instinctively went into fetal position. This caused my skater’s legs to go wham, bam, thank you ma’am right into my chest. I felt like I couldn’t breathe and I just remember screaming bloody murder.

Thankfully, the first responders came quickly and, while we were waiting for them, I had to shimmy my way out of the driver’s side door because the accident prevented my side from opening. I can recall yelling “let me out, let me out” and that was also super scary because I already felt like I couldn’t breathe and then I felt trapped on top of it.

Once the police and ambulances came, everything was a whirlwind. The EMTs began to check me and my boyfriend and we ended up being transported to a local hospital. We were both experiencing pain in our chests and had seat belt burns and various bumps and bruises. I also had a horrible pain in the bottom left corner of my stomach.

When we got to the hospital, we were put in separate rooms and I was asked to give a urine sample. I hobbled my sorry ass into the bathroom and got my shorts and undies down to see that there was blood in them as well as blood in my urine. Once this discovery was made, I had to get a CAT scan done and a pelvic exam which hurt so incredibly badly.

According to the scan, there was an air bubble in my bladder. And, as the day went on, there was still blood in my urine and it was becoming increasingly difficult to pee. So, the decision was made to have me transferred to the ER in Cleveland with a trauma team to try and find out what was going on with my bladder.

By the time I arrived in Cleveland, it was already eight thirty at night and I was exhausted. I was in unbearable pain and, at this point, I couldn’t pass urine at all and was experiencing all the discomfort of an insanely full bladder. Another CAT scan was done as well as a bladder scan and a catheter was put in so that I could finally go to the bathroom. I also had to get an X-ray of my shoulder to make sure I didn’t have any fractures there.

When this was all said and done, it was around two in the morning and I was told that I was going to be admitted to the hospital. A room finally opened up around five AM and all I wanted was to sleep but the constant questions, poking, and prodding made that damn near impossible.

I spent the following day at the hospital being monitored and having different tests done and was able to go home around eight in the evening with my catheter still in. And, lucky for me, I got to have it taken out two days later because it was very uncomfortable and quite painful. Everything looked okay according to the urologist and I just had to keep an eye on the slight bleeding that was still happening.

Thankfully, nothing was majorly wrong other than the pain and the same goes for my boyfriend, as well. We both had to take the week off of work and were happy to return the following Monday. There were a lot of things to be grateful for in this situation. No one involved in the accident got severely hurt. The insurance company of the person responsible took care of everything thanks to the help of the Auto Accident Lawyer on the case. And, most importantly, we were in my boyfriend’s big station wagon. Had we been in the Little Red Love Machine (a tiny hatchback), this would have been an entirely different story.

I am so appreciative to my family, boyfriend, the first responders, and the staff at both hospitals for taking such good care of me. It was a horrible situation to be in, but it could have been a lot worse and I am so thankful that all is well for both me and my boyfriend now. And, thank you to all of you for the concern and get well soons. It didn’t go unnoticed and I love you all! ❤

What are you thankful for? Has anyone had a situation similar to mine? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov29

Are You Cut Out For A Career In The Medical Field?

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Are You Cut Out For A Career In The Medical Field?

These days, if you cast your eye around for in-demand careers, it’s likely you’ll find plenty in the medical field. By ‘medical field’ we’re talking about all of the different careers and jobs in hospitals and other places of work related to medicine. So, that’s already a pretty broad stretch of jobs!

The reason they’re so in-demand is that people always need medical assistance. The population is getting older and older, which means more people are in hospitals and getting medical treatment. Therefore, healthcare institutions need all hands on deck, and they’re constantly looking for new employees.

Immediately, this might strike you as a great career move. After all, one of the hardest things in life is trying to find a job when there aren’t many available. Within this field there are plenty of jobs going, whether you are looking to build a new medical practice or join an existing team, there’s every chance that you’ll find work easily. However, things aren’t quite that simple in the medical field. These types of jobs possess certain challenges that you might not be cut out for. So, before you start aligning your career path, answer these questions to see if you’re a good fit for a medical job:

Do you like working long and unpredictable shifts?

Doctors, nurses, surgeons, consultants, and any other medical professional will not have a typical working life. They don’t always get the classic 9-5 shifts every single day. More often than not, particularly when working in a hospital, the shift patterns are sporadic. You could be in for some hours in the early morning or late at night, and this could completely change the next day/week. If you want to pursue a medical career, you need to enjoy this element of unpredictability. But, if you’re someone that loves a strict schedule and wants to work 9-5 Monday-Friday, then this is definitely not the right career move for you.

Are you prepared to study…a lot?

If your answer is a resounding yes, then this is the right career path for you, and it could be time to start looking for those open residency positions. With some careers in some industries, you can get away without studying much or having a lot of educational qualifications. Here, it’s the complete opposite. Take a look at your standard hospital and you’ll find that every single job requires a degree or qualifications of some sort. Nurses need to undergo RN courses to qualify for work, doctors have to study medical degrees, and so on.

Then, you have further studying to advance your medical career. A nurse can study a 100% online RN to BSN program while they work, to gain more qualifications to be able to perform more jobs. A doctor can go back to university and train to become a surgeon or specialist doctor, and so on. No matter which way you turn, education is at the forefront of your medical career. So, if you’re not prepared to study, don’t even think about it.

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Ready to hit the books?

Can you cope well with pressure?

This is a simple yes or no answer question. If the answer is yes, then you may fare well in this line of work. If the answer is no, well, you might want to look at a different career path. Every type of medical job will be conducted under immense pressure. You may have strict time constraints, which means that you’re rushing around in an emergency situation. Or, you have certain rules and things that you need to pay very close attention to, for the patient’s safety, meaning you’re under even more pressure. If you’re the type of person that thrives under pressure, then you might have found the ideal career option.

Are you able to handle stress?

Similarly, are you able to handle intense periods of stress? Everyone gets stressed, it’s just part of life. However, there’s no denying that some people cope better than others. For anyone out there that knows how to handle and manage stress by meditating or finding ways to relax, then you’ll survive a career in the medical field. It’s no secret that working in medicine is extremely stressful. It goes back to the point about pressure. Being under intense pressure day after day is bound to cause stress. But, if you can manage it, then go for it!

Are you a people person?

If you’ve gone through all of the previous questions and still think that you’re cut out for a job in the medical field, then this is your final test; are you a people person? Do you like talking to other people and being around other people? Is this something you’re confident at doing, or do you always shy away from others? Naturally, working as a medical professional, all of your daily tasks will involve interactions with other humans. You’ll work as part of a team and need to be good at working with others. But, most importantly, you need to be excellent at talking to patients – which can sometimes be more difficult than you think!

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Are you a team player?

If you answered yes to all five questions, then woohoo! A career in the medical field could possibly be for you. If you are interested in the medical field, or even public health in general, then you may be interested in this public health education degree. It’s a big decision to make, but you should always make sure to follow your interests when it comes down to it. Don’t let the downsides of a field push you away from your passions.

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Dec5

Keep Your Medical Clinic Healthy with These Essential Improvements!

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Keep Your Medical Clinic Healthy with These Essential Improvements!

Those who own a medical business are often stretched when it comes to resources. But there’s no getting past the fact that most medical facilities could do with some improvement. But in what areas could improvements of your clinic be made? Here’s a quick list that you may find useful.

Increasing comfort: Medical facilities aren’t typically known for being the most comfortable places to be. People usually aren’t there in the best of states, they often feel nervous and can’t quite settle. While this side of things is hard to help with, ensuring that the layout of the practice means they have space to move around and get themselves comfortable, perhaps with a degree of privacy. If your current space isn’t compatible with the ideas you have to make the area more comforting for patients, then consider contacting experts in pharma facility construction to consult you on how best to rebuild the space in a way that works best for both employees and patients.

It’s possible that your medical facility could be improved tremendously by simply upgrading the furniture there. I’m talking about in the waiting room and in the doctor’s office. Just giving everything in there an update – even something like the receptionist’s desk – will make the place look much more inviting. And that will help increase the comfort of everyone who steps foot into your clinic. Take a look at some hospital furniture and see if there’s anything you can do to step things up.

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Geograph Image

Connectivity: A lot of medical facility owners don’t think much about Internet connectivity at their clinic. Sure, they know that they need it to some extent. But you’ve got to consider just how much data is now being processed through medical networks. It’s more important than ever that the Internet connection quality of your facility is fast and consistent.

Loading or updating medical records when your connection isn’t great is just going to slow down the process for everyone. And when it comes to this line of work, any time you can save is good. The longer people have to wait, the more agitated they become and the less patients your doctors get to see.

With improved connectivity, your facility will run much more efficiently. You can then begin utilizing medical practice management solutions to automate tasks and simplify processes. Billing, scheduling, inventory, and document management will become a breeze instead of a headache. Other practical solutions to boost connectivity and efficiency between your facility and patients include the option for text message or email communication. You can also outsource and hire a medical virtual receptionist if you are struggling with staff shortages or would like to lend a helping hand to your current staff.

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Pixabay Image

Security: That reference to data in the previous section brings up another important factor. You need to make sure that all of this data is properly protected. Increasing connectivity to include things like better WiFi is great. But if you’re not careful, this can open you up to cybercrime.

Medical records sell for more on the black market than credit card details do. So criminals are always looking for weak spots in the Internet security of the healthcare industry. You cannot allow your clinic to become an easy target. Ensure your Internet security measures are impeccable. This will help you gain trust with your patients.

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Accessibility: Accessibility is probably the most important item on this list. After all, a clinic that the most needing of healthcare assistance can’t access properly isn’t much of a clinic at all! If you have a healthcare facility, then you probably already have met the ADA’s requirements for wheelchair ramps, as well as provide accessible bathrooms, and the like for those who need it. But there’s more that you can do.

If you hook your clinic up with telemedicine facilities, then you’ll increase accessibility by an amazing margin. This process can actually be a lot simpler than you might think. And for those of your patients who find it difficult to even leave the house, then it could be an absolute lifesaver. (I used that figuratively at first… but when you think about it, it could also quite literally be a lifesaver!)

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