If you're going to overdose the child, it would be better to overdose them on ibuprofen than acetaminophen, because the latter may cause permanent liver damage.
This applies only if the child does not have a broken bone, or needs to heal an internal wound. Ibuprofen is an NSAID, therefore an anti-clotting agent?
More things I learned while shadowing Synth.
I woke up this morning thinking about that lesson for some reason, before I got up to take care of some things at work until the time I had to take public transit to SFO.
Not that it mattered, since my flight was delayed for 3 hours.
3.25.2011
3.23.2011
nationality
Volunteered in the ED tonight.
First patient, 86 years old, numbness/headache in left hemisphere, blacking out of left eye every so often for hours at a time. She used to be a tour guide in the city, hosting at conferences held here. The uncomfortable part was taking off her leads- I had to see granny boobs. BLEGH!!!
One worker down on the floor asked me whether I was Chinese or not, and which language I could speak. Once I said Chinese and spoke to her in Cantonese, she complimented me, saying how she thought I was more handsome, now that she knew I was Chinese.
Why is it always the old Asian ladies that think I'm cute?
Second patient, 83 years old, diabetic, had colon cancer, pain in legs but generally all over her body. She began with complaining about being hungry, so I tried to bring the tray of food over to her to eat. She couldn't, or wouldn't, eat any of it. She settled on the wheat roll and some apple chunks, but only after I cut off the skin for her. During the time I was handing over the apples to her, she asked me what nationality I was. I told her Chinese, yet she assumed that I was either Japanese or Korean. Ladies came in to get her to sign insurance forms and other waivers, to which she suggested that I sign them for her, but the ladies told her that that was not possible. She told many stories, one about smoking, partying, drinking in the past, and another about all the small businesses surrounding her neighborhood, with the best bakery in town. Hilda's Bakery, I think it was called.
This patient was worried about being sent over to CPMC because they were horrible with her, but the staff were actually sending her to Mt. Zion, which made her still worry since it was not such a great neighborhood. A chaplain came in to comfort her, which made me uncomfortable- she told him that she wanted to tie a chain around my neck, and put an apple in my mouth, to take me with her to Mt. Zion. The chaplain teased me by saying that I might actually like that. At some point, I think she said she loved me. She offended the chaplain a little by asking if he were English. He was Irish. She also asked him about me," Isn't he a nice young man?" He replied comically with,"I'm afraid I'm going to have to refrain from saying that." He started chuckling, and pat my head. I tried to chuckle with him, to make the situation less awkward. Oh dear.
This same patient kept talking some more, and eventually the paramedics arrived to take her elsewhere. She had to go pee so I left the room, and my shift was over so I went back to lab.
First patient, 86 years old, numbness/headache in left hemisphere, blacking out of left eye every so often for hours at a time. She used to be a tour guide in the city, hosting at conferences held here. The uncomfortable part was taking off her leads- I had to see granny boobs. BLEGH!!!
One worker down on the floor asked me whether I was Chinese or not, and which language I could speak. Once I said Chinese and spoke to her in Cantonese, she complimented me, saying how she thought I was more handsome, now that she knew I was Chinese.
Why is it always the old Asian ladies that think I'm cute?
Second patient, 83 years old, diabetic, had colon cancer, pain in legs but generally all over her body. She began with complaining about being hungry, so I tried to bring the tray of food over to her to eat. She couldn't, or wouldn't, eat any of it. She settled on the wheat roll and some apple chunks, but only after I cut off the skin for her. During the time I was handing over the apples to her, she asked me what nationality I was. I told her Chinese, yet she assumed that I was either Japanese or Korean. Ladies came in to get her to sign insurance forms and other waivers, to which she suggested that I sign them for her, but the ladies told her that that was not possible. She told many stories, one about smoking, partying, drinking in the past, and another about all the small businesses surrounding her neighborhood, with the best bakery in town. Hilda's Bakery, I think it was called.
This patient was worried about being sent over to CPMC because they were horrible with her, but the staff were actually sending her to Mt. Zion, which made her still worry since it was not such a great neighborhood. A chaplain came in to comfort her, which made me uncomfortable- she told him that she wanted to tie a chain around my neck, and put an apple in my mouth, to take me with her to Mt. Zion. The chaplain teased me by saying that I might actually like that. At some point, I think she said she loved me. She offended the chaplain a little by asking if he were English. He was Irish. She also asked him about me," Isn't he a nice young man?" He replied comically with,"I'm afraid I'm going to have to refrain from saying that." He started chuckling, and pat my head. I tried to chuckle with him, to make the situation less awkward. Oh dear.
This same patient kept talking some more, and eventually the paramedics arrived to take her elsewhere. She had to go pee so I left the room, and my shift was over so I went back to lab.
3.22.2011
peds
I shadowed my boss's wife tonight in the Pediatric Urgent Care unit.
It was repetitive, but nice. I could definitely get used to a lifestyle that is predictable, and not so chaotic like lab.
The kids were... cute? The sick ones as well as the siblings. Interacting with the children was obviously much easier for me than interacting with the parents. The kids just kept staring at me and wanting to play. Ugh.
Although I can't say that I enjoy looking into kids' ears and mouths, even though it was interesting being able to view the tympanic membrane with that otoscope? What the hell is that instrument called?!
It also seemed as though the cure-all for every condition, for every child we saw in the ED, was acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
2 stomachaches, a strep throat, one with earaches, and deposits oozing out of another's eyes.
This seems more relaxed than what I'm used to in the ED. Surely there's something for everybody in medicine.
Final thoughts: I'd prefer looking at a child's brain. Somehow it doesn't gross me out as much as looking up their nose, mouth, and any other orifice. There's probably a lower chance of me having to ask about their urine and stool.
Medical information gathered: Triad of asthma, allergy, and ..., infection would be indicated by leukocytes in urine, but high protein indicates dryness/dehydration. Forgot what bilirubin indicated... high glucose for diabetes? Even tonight felt like drinking from a fire hydrant.
It was repetitive, but nice. I could definitely get used to a lifestyle that is predictable, and not so chaotic like lab.
The kids were... cute? The sick ones as well as the siblings. Interacting with the children was obviously much easier for me than interacting with the parents. The kids just kept staring at me and wanting to play. Ugh.
Although I can't say that I enjoy looking into kids' ears and mouths, even though it was interesting being able to view the tympanic membrane with that otoscope? What the hell is that instrument called?!
It also seemed as though the cure-all for every condition, for every child we saw in the ED, was acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
2 stomachaches, a strep throat, one with earaches, and deposits oozing out of another's eyes.
This seems more relaxed than what I'm used to in the ED. Surely there's something for everybody in medicine.
Final thoughts: I'd prefer looking at a child's brain. Somehow it doesn't gross me out as much as looking up their nose, mouth, and any other orifice. There's probably a lower chance of me having to ask about their urine and stool.
Medical information gathered: Triad of asthma, allergy, and ..., infection would be indicated by leukocytes in urine, but high protein indicates dryness/dehydration. Forgot what bilirubin indicated... high glucose for diabetes? Even tonight felt like drinking from a fire hydrant.
3.17.2011
progress report
Exciting news- my brother was accepted into UCLA's MBA program. He will be starting this fall, part-time. Supposedly that only takes 3 years to finish.
He is celebrating with my family/relatives this weekend. Ergh, I wish I were down there right now (he notified everyone that he would be treating them all to dinner).
What gift should I get him for this accomplishment?
When will it be my turn? I laid down on the couch/benches in our break room, staring up at the ceiling, wondering about my existence.
He is celebrating with my family/relatives this weekend. Ergh, I wish I were down there right now (he notified everyone that he would be treating them all to dinner).
What gift should I get him for this accomplishment?
When will it be my turn? I laid down on the couch/benches in our break room, staring up at the ceiling, wondering about my existence.
urgent care
I was volunteering in the ER again last night.
They always seem to have food whenever I volunteer. Mmm.
Cheese and crackers, vegetable with ranch dip, cookies and tarts. I ate a lot of it during my breaks, of which I took many.
Once again, I was assigned the task of translating questions to a Cantonese-speaking elderly gentleman in one of the rooms. For the life of me, I had no idea how to translate insurance. The lady needed him to sign a form for either MediCal, MediCaid, or MediCare, and I told him in Chinese that he would have to sign this form in order to be hospitalized in one of the rooms upstairs.
He was very concerned that he was signing something he was not familiar with, that he might sign away his rights. I never even use the word "insurance" in conversations with my parents. If my mom calls to see if I've received my car insurance form, she would just use the English word for it. I think...
Anyhow, it was weird forcing a patient to sign a form without coherent disclosure.
There was another Asian patient in a different room who seemed just like a vegetable. He was a nursing home patient, and completely out of it when I entered the room to help roll him over so that the nurse could wipe his backside and make sure he did not defecate in his own bed.
Later on in the night, some cute children arrived in the ER, crying of course. One Asian kid seemed scared when he was laid flat on the gurney. Another blonde girl either had lost her fingernail or suffered head trauma. I never get the story straight since I'm usually passing by while faintly eavesdropping among the parents and nurses conversing with each other.
One of the primary care technicians down in the ED always forces food on me. I feel bad about taking it, but what else am I supposed to do when she's standing between me and the room that stores the snacks/drinks/extra dinners?
I'm going through both boxed lunches tonight while waiting for my lentivirus to spin down. FINALLY, the virus production protocol is working again!
They always seem to have food whenever I volunteer. Mmm.
Cheese and crackers, vegetable with ranch dip, cookies and tarts. I ate a lot of it during my breaks, of which I took many.
Once again, I was assigned the task of translating questions to a Cantonese-speaking elderly gentleman in one of the rooms. For the life of me, I had no idea how to translate insurance. The lady needed him to sign a form for either MediCal, MediCaid, or MediCare, and I told him in Chinese that he would have to sign this form in order to be hospitalized in one of the rooms upstairs.
He was very concerned that he was signing something he was not familiar with, that he might sign away his rights. I never even use the word "insurance" in conversations with my parents. If my mom calls to see if I've received my car insurance form, she would just use the English word for it. I think...
Anyhow, it was weird forcing a patient to sign a form without coherent disclosure.
There was another Asian patient in a different room who seemed just like a vegetable. He was a nursing home patient, and completely out of it when I entered the room to help roll him over so that the nurse could wipe his backside and make sure he did not defecate in his own bed.
Later on in the night, some cute children arrived in the ER, crying of course. One Asian kid seemed scared when he was laid flat on the gurney. Another blonde girl either had lost her fingernail or suffered head trauma. I never get the story straight since I'm usually passing by while faintly eavesdropping among the parents and nurses conversing with each other.
One of the primary care technicians down in the ED always forces food on me. I feel bad about taking it, but what else am I supposed to do when she's standing between me and the room that stores the snacks/drinks/extra dinners?
I'm going through both boxed lunches tonight while waiting for my lentivirus to spin down. FINALLY, the virus production protocol is working again!
3.11.2011
public transit
Oh yeah.
I had a dream last night where I was riding the bus along Geary St. towards dance class.
I get off the bus, start walking to dance class, and as I enter the dance studio and try to put away my belongings in a locker, I notice that my backpack is missing.
Several items fly around in my head: my wallet, my cell phone, and my clothes for dancing.
I stand there contemplating whether it would be possible to catch the same bus with the same bus driver on the return trip.
Suddenly I'm waiting outside on the street and enter the same bus, with the same bus number, and the same bus driver. Once inside, I start walking down the aisles to find my backpack being clenched tightly to a girl's chest.
I ask her nicely if I can have my backpack back, because clearly it's worn and looks exactly like mine.
She gives me some lip, and since I apparently don't take crap from strangers, I being wailing my fist at her face repeatedly. As I kept punching away, the passenger next to her sitting still, I woke up and got ready for work.
I had a dream last night where I was riding the bus along Geary St. towards dance class.
I get off the bus, start walking to dance class, and as I enter the dance studio and try to put away my belongings in a locker, I notice that my backpack is missing.
Several items fly around in my head: my wallet, my cell phone, and my clothes for dancing.
I stand there contemplating whether it would be possible to catch the same bus with the same bus driver on the return trip.
Suddenly I'm waiting outside on the street and enter the same bus, with the same bus number, and the same bus driver. Once inside, I start walking down the aisles to find my backpack being clenched tightly to a girl's chest.
I ask her nicely if I can have my backpack back, because clearly it's worn and looks exactly like mine.
She gives me some lip, and since I apparently don't take crap from strangers, I being wailing my fist at her face repeatedly. As I kept punching away, the passenger next to her sitting still, I woke up and got ready for work.
tsunami
How many of you have negative perceptions about your boss at work?
I'm not sure if any personal bias is playing a role, but I feel that lately I evaluate my boss as being lazy.
Every time he takes a break from his office, he's always spending at least an hour talking to someone in the break room.
This probably angers me because of his hypocrisy- you can't criticize your employee for wasting time when you yourself are just as wasteful. If you're going to be a role model, you shouldn't say things that you don't abide by.
Just saying.
I'm not sure if any personal bias is playing a role, but I feel that lately I evaluate my boss as being lazy.
Every time he takes a break from his office, he's always spending at least an hour talking to someone in the break room.
This probably angers me because of his hypocrisy- you can't criticize your employee for wasting time when you yourself are just as wasteful. If you're going to be a role model, you shouldn't say things that you don't abide by.
Just saying.
3.08.2011
larkspur
I had no idea Rubarb lived in the city, which makes us neighbors, just as in CityVille!
Terrible game.
I'm not ready for Janey to come to SF while I still suffer from Spanish Flu.
Such a nuisance!
The only thing keeping my head sane, oddly enough, is listening to electronic music. Specifically, Korean electropop music. Shameless, I know.
My roommate/lab manager sucks, in both roles. He thinks that just because he's sick, I'm going to bring home some spray bottle of ethanol, which he thinks would solve his bed bug problem.
I asked him to do something over a week ago, not for me, but for the lab. Guess if he's performed that task yet.
The answer is no.
Terrible game.
I'm not ready for Janey to come to SF while I still suffer from Spanish Flu.
Such a nuisance!
The only thing keeping my head sane, oddly enough, is listening to electronic music. Specifically, Korean electropop music. Shameless, I know.
My roommate/lab manager sucks, in both roles. He thinks that just because he's sick, I'm going to bring home some spray bottle of ethanol, which he thinks would solve his bed bug problem.
I asked him to do something over a week ago, not for me, but for the lab. Guess if he's performed that task yet.
The answer is no.
3.07.2011
mezcal
Coming to work with flu-like symptoms is not the best idea in the world.
I sweat infrequently, feel bloated from gas, and have to situate myself near a trashcan in the off-chance that I do throw up.
I sweat infrequently, feel bloated from gas, and have to situate myself near a trashcan in the off-chance that I do throw up.
3.03.2011
gusano
I feel I've been too selfish in my thinking. My time investment into science has separated me from the rest of the world.
Just now I read an article about how the U.S. needs to embrace flexibility if they want to stay as successful as they were in the 60s and 70s, when they began construction of highways, reforming education, etc.
Now it seems our programs are outdated (?), but parties on both sides are more likely to slash spending on education, technology, than they are to cut expenses in other areas. Even raising taxes seems unfavorable.
Maybe in a decade, I should move to Sweden, Germany, Japan, or China.
It's such an American thing to do: adjust conditions to benefit those in the present, yet never thinking about preparing for the future. If it's not a problem for people today, then they don't want to deal with it.
I feel as though this is how lab acts at times. Nobody wants to make it their problem.
Just now I read an article about how the U.S. needs to embrace flexibility if they want to stay as successful as they were in the 60s and 70s, when they began construction of highways, reforming education, etc.
Now it seems our programs are outdated (?), but parties on both sides are more likely to slash spending on education, technology, than they are to cut expenses in other areas. Even raising taxes seems unfavorable.
Maybe in a decade, I should move to Sweden, Germany, Japan, or China.
It's such an American thing to do: adjust conditions to benefit those in the present, yet never thinking about preparing for the future. If it's not a problem for people today, then they don't want to deal with it.
I feel as though this is how lab acts at times. Nobody wants to make it their problem.
psych eval
Architect.
52 years old black lady.
Husband killed in front, illegally discharged/subpoenaed, ex-husband, energy is love, positive attraction.
10x 11th time suicide.
Asians criticizing language skills.
Great-grandma, missing son in Seattle, teenage pregnant granddaughter.
Free dinner. Blueberry crumble pie.
Shrinking by boss.
Catching up with old friends.
All in a night's work in the ED.
Offers to shadow in neurology, pediatric neurology, pediatrics.
52 years old black lady.
Husband killed in front, illegally discharged/subpoenaed, ex-husband, energy is love, positive attraction.
10x 11th time suicide.
Asians criticizing language skills.
Great-grandma, missing son in Seattle, teenage pregnant granddaughter.
Free dinner. Blueberry crumble pie.
Shrinking by boss.
Catching up with old friends.
All in a night's work in the ED.
Offers to shadow in neurology, pediatric neurology, pediatrics.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)