Neuro Icu Reflective Journal

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Recommended: Communication and interpersonal skills in health care

Reflective Journal #2
Dates worked (80 hours): After 80 hours of work in the Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit, I am still amazed and loving it. My preceptor as taught me so much and taken the time to make notes and other things for me to take home along the way. All the nurses on the floor make a point to come get me when they have something interesting or a teaching point that I could learn. This unit does extremely well with time management and delegation. With this being the neuro ICU, one must do more than just vital signs every hour. In this unit, you must also do a full neuro check every hour. This includes pupils, corneas, cough and gag reflexes, Glasgow coma scale, and movement to stimuli. The nurse also has things that must be implemented …show more content…

I am a borderline introvert and this unit has really made me step out of my comfort zone to provide for patients and communicate with members of a team. I must say it has been worth it. I have seen the smiles of many patients and family members that I would not have seen if I would not have taken the extra time to speak with them just because it makes me a little nervous. I have also made wonderful friendships with nurses just from stepping outside my comfort zone. I continue to improve on my skills as this experience goes. I feel very confident in giving medications and hanging piggy backs. My preceptor as also enforced looking up my meds or going through them with me if I was unsure of what it was for which has helped me learn a lot about medications. I even taught her something. If you did not know, Reglan which is commonly given in the NSICU is contraindicated if the patient is experiencing PVCs. I have also found weaknesses or rather areas to improve in, such as starting an IV or time management as I spoke on earlier. Overall, I could not be more pleased with my decision of choosing the NSICU for my

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