Today I was lucky enough to transfer a patient to and from the high dependancy unit at the hospital with my mentor. After waiting for a few minutes for him to be ready, we took him out of the unit. However, as soon as we began moving down the corridor, his heart monitor started beeping and flashing red. Luckily the nurse who was accompanying us got it all under control, and he was back to normal within a minute. The urgency of the situation, although dealt with calmly, was really exciting, and has made me look forward to the future even more, when maybe I can deal with these sorts of circumstances.
Later on in the day we had to transfer a patient with MRSA, so as we approached the ward we put on the gloves and aprons supplied. As I didn't know what MRSA was, when I got home I did a bit of research, and found that it is a bacteria that is resistant to beta-lactam anitbiotics, making it very difficult to treat. It is also a particularly problematic issue in hospitals, as most of the patients have weak immune systems, making them a lot more susceptible to the bacterium than the majority of the general public. The symptoms of MRSA begin with small red bumps, sometimes alongside a fever and rash, generally around then nose. As the bacteria take hold, the bumps transform into deep and sore boils containing pus. Most cases of MRSA can be treated, however about a quarter can spread more quickly. These sometimes affect vital organs and cause infection throughout the body, something that can be fatal. Fortunately, the patient that we met was being treated effectively.
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