Job Shadow
I did my job shadow on Keith Anderson, an nurse anesthetist at Asante Three Rivers Hospital. I went into the facility at 6:30 and left at 3:15. needless to say it was a long day, but it was an experience I will treasure and take with me forever. After I was guided to the locker room, I changed into thoroughly sanitized scrubs, and was escorted into the surgery room that I would spend the rest of the day in. I was early on warned to eat breakfast, and realize that today would be a make-or-break moment for my future career path. Because I was warned that many students get their mind set on the medical field, and then go into their job shadow to find out that their squeamish about blood and bodily fluids. This was not the case for me, I was close enough to each patient to touch them, and neither grossed me out.
Our first patient had a pain in his right leg due to arterial blockage. The surgeons opened the mans leg and removed the blocked artery, then proceeded to remove another less-important artery to graph in (or replace) the one that they removed. They then used a sonogram to listen and make sure that blood was flowing to all his extremities through the new artery.
The second patient was 89 years old with an infected gallbladder. This case was difficult and all the doctors, previous to the surgery had expressed deep concern for the patient and his chance at survival. I was able to see this patient in the surgery-prep room and do a consultation. The man was diabetic, obese, undergoing chemo therapy for his leukemia, and was allergic to a main substance used in anesthesia. The man made it through the surgery fine and a few weeks ago celebrated his 90th birthday.
The surgery team I worked with was very welcoming and treated me very well. Not only was I able to work closely with Keith, but also a student at OHSU who was on her last year of residency to be an anesthesiologist. It was amazing to get perspective from a female, and one who went through college the traditional way, like I plan to. Keith was trained through the air force and had no college debt to pay when he got out of the service, however this student will have student debt to look forward to. I had many questions and some of them where about debt being a hardship, these questions where better answered by her.
I am very thankful for this amazing opportunity and it truly got me on fire and exited for my future career in this field. I hope to come back some day with a doctorate to be able to work alongside the people I job shadowed.
Our first patient had a pain in his right leg due to arterial blockage. The surgeons opened the mans leg and removed the blocked artery, then proceeded to remove another less-important artery to graph in (or replace) the one that they removed. They then used a sonogram to listen and make sure that blood was flowing to all his extremities through the new artery.
The second patient was 89 years old with an infected gallbladder. This case was difficult and all the doctors, previous to the surgery had expressed deep concern for the patient and his chance at survival. I was able to see this patient in the surgery-prep room and do a consultation. The man was diabetic, obese, undergoing chemo therapy for his leukemia, and was allergic to a main substance used in anesthesia. The man made it through the surgery fine and a few weeks ago celebrated his 90th birthday.
The surgery team I worked with was very welcoming and treated me very well. Not only was I able to work closely with Keith, but also a student at OHSU who was on her last year of residency to be an anesthesiologist. It was amazing to get perspective from a female, and one who went through college the traditional way, like I plan to. Keith was trained through the air force and had no college debt to pay when he got out of the service, however this student will have student debt to look forward to. I had many questions and some of them where about debt being a hardship, these questions where better answered by her.
I am very thankful for this amazing opportunity and it truly got me on fire and exited for my future career in this field. I hope to come back some day with a doctorate to be able to work alongside the people I job shadowed.