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The applications of CT continue to unfold and in the process save lives. Scientists are now using scans to study the development of insects in the place of dissection which is time consuming and kills the specimens. Think of how many tiny lives could be saved.
Insects make up between 50% and 85% of the animals on this planet, but not much is known about the many species. Bugs like the fruit fly and the metamorphosis of the butterfly are studied more often. “The 3-D images revealed the fine structure of the pupa anatomy as the insects matured, including the tracheal airways, the antennae and the midgut.” Also, “the radiation from the scanning didn’t seem to be a problem for the pupas, many of which successfully hatched into butterflies.”
Using this technology could prove to be an invaluable way of studying living insects as they grow and develop. Whether or not CT imaging saves human or animal lives, it is allowing us to see inside a world that would otherwise remain dark.
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Anyone who has ever CT scanned a patient who is allergic to the IV contrast knows how scary it can be. Previously, I only dealt with inpatients so I could confirm with the nurse that the patient had in fact received the allergy prep medications.
Now I am working almost exclusively with outpatients. This week I had five patients who were allergic to the IV contrast. I didn’t like taking their word for it that they took the prep at home. Did they really take it I wondered? I could only hope so.
One patient told me his reaction was his heart stops. Another spoke of his throat closing and being unable to breathe or move. Another said he gets hives above his right eye and this particular patient had a break through reaction and got hives. We quickly called the radiologist to assess the patient and after a little bit of a scare and taking his vitals, he was fine. One patient who didn’t know to ask his doctor for a prep said his reaction last time wasn’t too bad and didn’t have any concern over receiving it again. Wow! Not on my watch! He was promptly rescheduled and told to call his doctor for the appropriate medications.
Administering IV contrast is one of the more dangerous aspects of a CT. Even if a patient has never had a reaction, they still could have one. It’s important to know your facility’s protocol for dealing with this type of emergency. Always check on your patients after they get injected and keep a close eye on them. Some reactions don’t happen right away. One patient told me the terrifying story of having a bad reaction and being left unattended for about 10 minutes. Image how scary that must have been.
IV contrast composition has come a long way to try to decrease reactions, but they still happen. I treat each patient with the same care and concern and always remember the risks involved.
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The tough job market continues to affect me. I got hired at the VA as a fee-based CT technologist on a part time basis. I was told that I would work 5 days a week every other week until the two full-time open positions were filled. This was supposed to take me at least into the fall of this year. In an unprecedented turn of events, the usually snail paced government pushed through and filled the two positions starting this month. This unfortunately leaves me with only one day a week of work. I guess this job just wasn’t meant to be.
So now I’m back on the job hunt. I have a few promising leads. I have been thinking about trying to work in x-ray since I have never had that opportunity. I went straight into CT right after school because that was the only job available. The potential job I’m most excited about is at an outpatient center doing x-ray and some other nursing related tasks. It sounds perfect for me. I filled out the application on line and also took my resume and cover letter to the facility in person. I will follow up next week with several phone calls and another visit to see if I can make a good impression. If I can just get my foot in the door I know I can wow them with my personality and promise of my excellent patient care skills.
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At my previous job I worked in a busy ER doing CT and didn’t have to learn to start IVs. We didn’t call for patients unless they already had a line established. I got good at telling which IVs were power injectable and which ones wouldn’t hold.
At my current job the majority of my patients are outpatients so they all need an IV. I have been giving it my best to learn but some days I can’t get even one. This has become very frustrating. My co-workers have been showing me their tricks. It is unfortunately something that I will only master in time.
After being in the hospital myself and feeling how painful an IV stick can be, I have much more sympathy for my patients. It hurts less when the person sticking you has a good deal of experience. Confidence and a lack of hesitation also help. I try to approach my patients with genuine compassion and this will have to help hold me over until my skills can catch up.
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My recent blogs have discussed the importance of providing excellent patient care. This week i got a whole new perspective on going that extra mile. Early Sunday morning I had to go to the ER. I was in bad shape and was promptly admitted. i thought I'd get the usual chest x-ray and/or head CT but I didn't need those. I did end up needing lab work, blood transfusions and multiple IV medications.
It was very scary to be in the hospital as a patient on an emergent basis. I was so pleased with the care I received. I found many of my care givers went that extra mile for me. The dietary staff called me or came to my room before each meal to see what I could tolerate to eat. I was on a special diet. I had a financial problem during admission and told my RN and the woman from admitting came to my room 15 minutes later to resolve the problem. The nurses and patient care techs were kind and gentle. Clinical skills are of course very important but attitude and compassion can't be taught.
Going the extra mile as healthcare providers is often necessary to keep a patient comfortable, but thanking them for doing so is also a must. i sincerely thanked each person for my care and told them how much their extra time and concern meant to me. They were all so appreciative to hear this, and it felt just as good for me to say it.
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I’ve been working in CT for 2 ¼ years and I know I have so much more to learn. I know I’m not the best at starting IVs or scanning or MPRs. What I do know is that my patient care skills are excellent. I try to anticipate the needs of my patients. As soon as they lie down on the table I cover them with a blanket. CT rooms are notoriously cold. I always offer up my assistance with whatever patients need.
Case in point yesterday: A gentleman with long hair came in through the ER. In his travels his pony tail holder broke. He asked me if I had one. I didn't have my purse in the ER at that time as it was back in the department on the 2nd floor. I told him I’d bring him one when I came back after lunch. I’m pretty sure he thought I was just brushing him off. However, I’m a person of my word so I promptly paid him a visit after lunch. He was so happy and surprised that I remembered it made my day.
This may seem like something insignificant but it wasn't to him. Remember to always go the extra mile for your patients. It’s the little things that make the most powerful impact.
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The reason I got into healthcare was to make a difference in people's lives. If I have the opportunity to make a real connection with someone during a shift that does it for me. This past weekend I had this privilege. I went to the waiting room to get my patient and we hit it off right away. He had a long, difficult to pronounce last name and I nailed it with my first attempt. This started things off on the right foot. From that moment we didn't have a pause in the conversation. It was like we were old friends.
I didn't want him to know I was new at starting IVs so I just proceeded to stick him like I had been doing it for years. Much to my happiness I got it right away. I explained the scan to him and put him at ease. It was a quick test and I was removing his IV before I knew it. We continued to talk for a bit after the exam was over.
On his way out he had a few follow up questions I couldn't answer so I had him talk with my colleague. She pointed him in the right direction and as he exited the CT area he took my hand, made eye contact, and said thank you. This may sound minor but I have found that these connections I make with strangers at work or out in the community to be some of the most fulfilling parts of my life.
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With week one under my belt, I feel like I’m headed in the right direction. The more I work the more it’s all coming back to me. I was also surprised to see that my medical Spanish was only dormant and hadn’t been forgotten.
Working with veterans is very rewarding. They are grateful for their care and always have good stories to share. As I am learning to start IVs they are very patient with me and don’t complain if I don’t get it the first time.
Right now I am working as a fee-based technologist. This means I get paid per exam. This is both good and bad. If it’s busy I have a chance to make some really good money, but if patients cancel or we can’t get an IV started then I make less. Either way, it’s nice to get rewarded for working hard. At my last job I often said if I got paid per scan I’d be rich, so there’s irony in this for sure.
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I have officially started my new CT job at the VA. So far everyone has been extremely nice during my training. There’s so much to learn between the workflow, protocols, and the new machine. GE isn’t as user friendly as Philips but I am catching on.
The majority of my patients are out patients so this is a nice change from my previous job in the high volume ER. I actually have a little time to chat with them. Patient care and contact is my favorite part of the job. Best of all, they don’t require being moved to the table. My back is especially happy about this. Overall, it feels good to be back at work making a difference in people’s lives.
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Today was my first day of new employee orientation. It went as good as can be expected and will continue for the next two days. I will start training in CT at the end of the week.
I’ve never worked a job with a commute of more than 15 minutes and now I have one that is about 45 minutes. If I’m not early I feel late, so I will be adjusting to this as I go.
Every person I met today was incredibly nice. It became infectious and I just wanted to pay it forward. As I was walking the beautiful grounds at lunch, everyone I encountered said hello. One particular patient and I locked eyes as we exchanged pleasantries and I gave him a big smile. He so nicely thanked me for my smile. This made me feel great. I got that warm and fuzzy feeling that reminded me these interactions we have with total strangers are at the heart of what it means to be alive.
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With my new job beginning next week, I realized that I should get back to the basics. I haven’t worked in CT since October of 2011 so a return to the books is in order. I have been freshening up on my anatomy and positioning and revisiting old text books.
I have only worked on a Philips machine and the VA has GE equipment. I am told they operate very differently so I hope I can adjust quickly. I will get four weeks of training before I am expected to work on my own.
Reading the CT articles in the ASRT Journals has helped me keep up with current trends, procedures, and research so I don’t feel completely removed from the profession. I have also kept in contact with a few former colleagues who keep me up to date.
The most important skills of excellent patient care and kindness will be my focus. These aspects of the job come naturally to me and I need no refresher course. As of next week, I’ll have plenty of interesting stories to share as I begin this new adventure caring for our country’s veterans. What a privilege!
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After going on an interview in mid December of last year, I was just given my start date at the VA of mid March. I guess it’s better late than never. I was initially supposed to begin orientation today but some unfinished paperwork held things up. I have seen first hand that getting a government job takes quite a bit longer than a regular one.
When I did a clinical rotation through one of our VA hospitals I truly enjoyed the experience. The patients were grateful for the treatment provided and made taking care of them feel like a privilege and not work. I never thought I’d be fortunate enough to work at one of these facilities. Everyone I encountered the last time I was there told me it’s a wonderful place to work. I can’t wait to get started and see for myself.
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Jobs are difficult to get these days and it end ups being more about who you know, not what you know. I have my foot in the door at the VA because of a former colleague. She actually helped me get my first CT job right out of school and now she’s helping me out again. I guess I’ve impressed her somewhere along the way.
This is an important reminder to always do your best at any job because you never know when you’ll need that co-worker. Two other former colleagues at another hospital are trying to recruit me. They went to their boss and told her she needs to meet with me. I am so grateful. These are people who have been working in imaging much longer than me and they helped train me. It feels wonderful to have the support and respect of such hard working, caring people.
Work hard everyday and make a good impression on everyone you encounter, it will serve you today and maybe even tomorrow.
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While I’m very excited about getting back to work, I haven’t done CT since October of 2011. Before that I only did it for 2 ¼ years so I know I still have so much to learn. At my previous hospital I worked exclusively on a Philips machine and at the VA they have GE equipment. I’m told they are very different for the user. I will also have to learn the new protocols as each facility has different ways of doing things.
I have been reviewing my CT notes, anatomy and physiology, and registry materials in preparation for my job. Getting a good job these days is not easy and I want to make sure I’m ready.
One thing I can’t prepare for is getting along with my colleagues. Learning to trust each other is very important in medical field jobs and this takes time. In past jobs, I have managed to get along with just about everyone. I hope it will be the same this time. I have learned that being nice and having a strong work ethic goes a long way, especially when people are getting to know me. I like being known as the person who does everything wholeheartedly.
Taking pride in all that I do is central to who I am.
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I spent most of yesterday at the VA Hospital having various tests performed and handing over copies of my fingerprints at the police station. I first met with a nice woman from HR who needed me to sign yet another form. She also informed me that I have more paperwork to complete on line. These forms seem to have no end.
She then escorted me to the clinic where I was evaluated by both a nurse and doctor. Among my many tests were an eye exam and a color blind test. My vitals were taken and I had a thorough physical from an incredibly kind physician.
I was then sent to another building to give blood so my titers to vaccines could be evaluated. Much to my surprise, a urine specimen was not collected. I feel like I’m being evaluated for a position within the FBI or CIA, not a part time job as a CT Technologist.
Every single person I encountered was genuinely kind. I was told it’s a great place to work and the campus is also very beautiful. It looks like this arduous pre-employment process will be well worth the wait.