This session was the perfect blend of practical education and helpful pointers for in the field, that was relevant to the GP’s. Michelle demonstrated tricks for creating distance when searching for foreign bodies by performing the ultrasound through water – e.g. a fluid filled glove or making a shallow pool for a hand. Ultrasound for determining simple fractures and also finding vessels. She also came prepared with some chunky rolled chicken breasts that were stuffed full of foreign bodies – Iv cannulas, needles, caps etc – the GP’s thoroughly enjoyed getting to play find the hidden object in the chicken, and the practice dog Ratu enjoyed the fact that there was left over chicken for morning tea (disclaimer – all foreign bodies were removed before feeding the chicken to the dog. No animals were harmed in the making of this story).
It was also lovely to see that the GP’s were clearly still impressed with the previous sessions information about Ultrasound use with the eye that they re-practised this technique on themselves and added in Michelle’s tip of a water filled glove to give more depth. The EMET program is a pleasure to work on and it is so rewarding to see the staff that attend retain and use tricks and tid-bits that they have picked up from our FACEMS, in their clinical practice.
Another bonus of working in rural sites is the locals like to make baked goods for their GP’s – so they generously sent us on our way with a tray of baked goods from their local CWA champion – delicious! I think the smile on Michelle’s face says it all – Winner winner home baked goods for dinner!
For the month of August Dr Ray Siauw was our EMET guru, visiting both Bruny Island and Huonville.
At Bruny Island we planned to run mupltiple paediatric simulation scenarios – this topic was chosen to consolidate the learning of a handful of Bruny Island nurses who recently completed the RHH ED run Emergency Peadiatric Course. The staff were very engaged with the session and the focus was to run the simulations as a ‘know your own resus’ style event. All scenarios were based at external locations and the staff had to simulate the entire process – from receiving the call, gaining access to their vehicles and finding their equipment in their car. This allowed us the opportunity to see what they had access to.
Bruny Island is equipped with a relatively new health centre. There is a large treatment room with a Doctor/nurse station, resus bay, pan room, drug room and equipment stores. This room has internal and external access for easy extrication of patients. They have two vehicles attached to the centre that the nurses take home when on call so that they can provide rapid on site intervention when needed. Each car is equipped with an AED, torches, chain cutters, blankets, IV kits, Medications, dressings splints and c-collars etc. They also have the paper work to track up to 5 patients at once pending multiple occupants in cars etc. The staff know their Island in side out and were very familiar with their equipment. It was great to see them in action and really buy into the simulations. Each person took a turn as team leader and they worked in teams of 2-3 to give a true representation of resources in the event of a real situation.
Unfortunately as per typical timing in life, my son broke his arm two days before EMET and he wasn’t quite ready to go back to school so I brought him along with the grand plan of a lunchbox of snacks and every parents best friend – the Ipad! Unfortunately he toppled off a swivel chair just as we were about to start the first scenario so I had to attend to him and this left Ray to manage alone – sorry Ray!
We eventually got back on track and ran through 4 scenarios before hightailing it for the ferry. And just a quick note to those who havent been across lately – the ferry system has been taken over by sealink and there are two new, single level ferrys – and there is no toilet on board. Our delightful day was further disrupted by the broken 5 year old wailing in need of a poop. Despite the hurdles, the day was a success and the staff throughly enjoyed the scenarios and found it good practice getting to use their own equipment.
Well that’s all for now! Until next time…
Sarah x
Sarah has been an RN for 14 years, 10 of those in the RHH ED. After several years on the floor it felt like the right time for some project work, and what better way to do it than by stalking her husband, Juan, professionally – once known as the ‘sepsis’ couple, the Ascencio-Lane’s have now taken over the EMET portfolio. When not in the office Sarah is either under pressure in the Hyperbaric Unit, or under even more pressure at home caring for their three young boys. |