Day 1

Wow....

This afternoon was started with suturing. My last sutures were put in-oh- months ago. Like EKGs, this (clearly) is something that demands practice on a daily basis.

Thankfully, that should not be an issue in the coming months. Today? Felt as if I had never sutured anything in my life. I admit feeling quite stupid. Two thumbs anyone-on one hand!

Lots of learning, pearls. More of those later.  I wish I had a notebook with me! I have so many things I wish I had written down!  I admit being tired, and so I am sure I have forgotten a ton.

Some pearls:

• Allergies to lidocaine? Can infiltrate with benadryl
• Careful of scalp wounds and excessive amounts of lido- can lead to "too much lido" because tissue is so vascularized. 
• DOCUMENT sensory exam before blocking fingers/digits
• Water is excellent for irrigation
• numb before cleaning
• Minimize debridment

Have to say it again, this is a totally non-pressured, enjoyable experience. 

The age ranges are extreme, really. Its about 5 PA's, 5 NPs and 5 MD's. One is as from far away as FL. Several from MI (Their practice paid for them to do the 2 year certificate as well as attending this workshop. Quite great bene's I must say!). Most are already in an ED practice, but there is one other brand newbie like myself here. 

I am thankful!

Tonight, dinner at a Japanese steal house. My favorite!

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Today's suturing session

This is Maria, and this is actually a pig trachea, used for doing cric's
 Not like this will transfer directly to my practice, I assure all my future patients!

Pigs feet before...

The gentleman on the right was John, in his last year of ED residency, who patiently guided me thru several different kinds of sutures.  Very very appreciated!

Pigs feet after.

Lunch videos

This afternoon, this played on the screen while we ate lunch.

Pretty cool...

Pretty funny!

http://health.discovery.com/tv/bizarre-er/

Morning session

We jumped right in this AM and had several groups breakouts.

I felt lucky and ended up with what seemed to be a logical progression- beginning airways, more complex airways, LPs, cardiac (think ACLS without pressure), vascular access( femoral, sub-clavian, supra-clavian, IJ, as well as radial). We then worked with doing several different cricothyrotomy techniques on pig tracheas.

Oh my! Everyone was so patient- and being a WSU student, loved having actual working sim dummies;)

Thus far, instruction is TOP notch- my head is exploding with information.

Pics to follow....

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Breakfast

We have arrived! Breakfast (for me, my 2nd!) is served, and we are all busy looking over our info packets.

All ages- 20's- late 50's I'd say, all different backgrounds are here. I'll get permission and hopefully post some pics soon.



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Good Morning from Morgantown WVA

Well, I as usual could not sleep- this is more normal for me than not.
Perhaps today will bring enough tired to sleep comes easier.

The room is great- bed really comfy, and I had a great shower. Getting dressed in scrubs for a morning in the sim lab, and casts and splints this afternoon.  Hopefully I can update from the campus, with lots of pictures for everyone.

West VA Procedures Workshop

This first set of posts marks several things:

• I am official-Licensed, certified in NC.
• I start work soon!
• I am embarking on the West VA Emergency Medicine Procedures workshop

I chose to do the procedures workshop as a gift to myself- my very own graduation gift! 

I had heard about the program both thru SEMPA, as well as my SP at Mission mentioning it to me during my interview.  

I have just gotten to Morgantown, and have met a few of the other group members, and am settling into my nice, cool hotel room at the Hilton (with a great rate!) after my a yuengling and wings at BWW next door. I am quite excited, and despite a rather long week leading up to this day, it feels GREAT to be here!

I am in room 324- for those that know me, I am all about numbers and their ties, and my first child, Jasmin was born on 324. So somehow, significant that this room is my room as I start on this journey.

The drive was beautiful. The roads were twisty and windy. I think I twisted and winded a bit more than most, but that's okay- my beloved iPhone developed a crack at the home button, which cause all sorts of odd things to happen, which included it to become hot as hell, and lose the screen several times. This made the GPS program (which at best sucks) even worse, and the car I am driving, while having an actual GPS in it, probably was last updated before there were more than 48 states. I am only kind of kidding. 

So hopefully I will update this during the event- it's a crazy busy schedule, but I am very excited! 

(Can you tell??)