Journal Entry #2

Amita Raj

Abney

6^th Period

Journal Entry #2: Thursday, September 16 2010

                Today I visited my mentor while she was working in the Emergency Room at St. David’s South Austin Hospital. We mainly focused on one patient who had severe kidney problems. These problems were caused by excessive smoking (using the more heavy kind of cigarettes) as well as using nicotine patches and nicotine gum. Such high levels of these toxic substances in the body will lead to kidney failure. The patient had told the doctor that she did not want to undergo any severe dialysis treatment, but changed her mind after she was told that she would not live much longer on the medications that the hospital was currently giving her.

                The Emergency Room was a fascinating experience. Although many patients kept coming in on gurneys, the doctors remained optimistic and went about helping as much as they could. These doctors were also very friendly and welcoming of my presence, talking to me about the patient and how she could have avoided the problems she has right now.

                In addition to the patient care aspect of the shadowing on Thursday, the doctor also showed me how she used the databases on the computer to check lab results and the various levels of substances that were present in the patient’s blood work.

                After doing the Annotated Bibliography about kidney cancer and the subsequent surgery n different circumstances, I was able to reciprocate what I had learned in the news article to some of what my mentor was saying. She was impressed that I knew that information and I think she feels more confident that I will understand her medical jargon.