Month: September 2022

One pre-existing thought I had about human trafficking prior to this discussion was that human trafficking mostly involved bringing people over state lines for work, sexual favors, etc. I was not aware that the majority of human trafficking occurs close to where the person being trafficked lived. One thing that surprised me from the presentation were the different types of trafficking, such as how someone can be coerced into providing healthcare for another person. After this discussion, my thoughts have changed in the sense that I am now more aware of what is defined as human trafficking and what to look for. I would love to know more about resources that are available for victims of trafficking. I would also love to know more about the process involved of helping a victim of trafficking escape or get out of the current situation with their trafficker. 

I will definitely apply a lot of what I learned in the human trafficking lecture in future practice as an RN. I will be more aware of what to look for in victims of human trafficking (ex. Barcode tattoo, bruises, withdrawn, etc.) and how to speak to a patient that you suspect might be involved in trafficking. I will also think about how a trafficking victim may react in the hospital, and how to ask the right questions. This lecture also made me more aware of resources in the hospital that can help with human trafficking victims. I also learned more about what a forensic nurse does, which was very interesting.

Disaster events can be a nerve-wracking experience for everyone involved, so in the case that one happens it is important for the healthcare providers involved to have a plan. Most hospitals will have an Emergency Operating Plan to follow in case of a natural or man-made disaster, so it is very important for the nurse to stay updated on their role in this plan. During a mass casualty or disaster event nurses will most likely be triaging patients. This can be difficult as the nurse’s role in a disaster event is a bit different than it would be in an emergency room triage. Patients are triaged based on who is most likely to survive, and those not expected to survive usually receive treatment last. Along with treating patients during a disaster, nurses also help with transporting and evacuating patients to other hospitals or safe areas.

            I think that both ethical codes bring up good points when thinking about disaster nursing. Provision 2 states that “a nurse’s primary responsibility is to the patient” and I think that is true as long as the nurse is being mindful of their safety during the disaster. While a nurse might have to put themselves in harm’s way to care for a patient, they will not be able to perform good care for other patients if they get injured. That is why I would agree more with Provision 5 which states “a nurse owes the same duty to self”. A nurse might push their own wellbeing to the side when caring for patients, since we want to do the best, we can for them while they are under are care, but it is important to remember your own safety as well.

Delirium usually begins over a few hours to a few days. Delirium is not the same as dementia which has a slow progressive onset. Delirium often happens in the hospital where patients are bed bound and in a new environment that may be upsetting or confusing to them. Medications, infection, sleep deprivation, malnutrition, pain, stroke, and heart attack are some causes of delirium that are commonly seen in the hospital. Delirium can present as reduced environmental awareness, such as being distracted or not responding to the environment. You also might see disorientation, poor memory, difficulty speaking, hallucinations, and restlessness. Delirium also includes disturbed sleep habits, fear, depression, and mood and personality changes. 

I experienced caring for a patient with delirium at clinical this year. The nurses described this patient’s delirium as “waxing and waning”. This patient went from being oriented to where they were and asking questions about their care to being very restless and distracted, not knowing where they were, and having trouble speaking. After this patient had an episode of delirium they returned to their baseline neurological status a few hours later, so it was interesting to see that shift.

            One learning goal I have for this experience is to get better at recognizing signs of delirium since that will help me to provide better care for the patients. The next learning goal I have for this experience is to become more comfortable working with patients who are experiencing delirium, as this is not something I have a lot of experience in. I am a little bit nervous for this experience since I have only seen a few patients experience delirium so far. However, I do feel ready to work with patients in a bit of a different setting than clinical, and still provide them with good care. A few community support networks for the aging population that I am aware of include senior centers, and meal delivery programs.