week ending may 4

Wow this is the last week of clinicals.  tomorrow is the class party for graduation.  The tech's at the ob site say that I have done an excellent job and I should be able to be checked off on all of my ob stuff.  So I only have to pass my last final and I'll be all set to graduate.  From there I need to study for my ARDMS tests soon to come.  I am sure looking forward to having my RVT  as well.  Few in my class will earn this title.  Guess I was pretty lucky to get the extra vascular rotation.  Ended up being a job for me.  Thanks Malka.  Take care Bryan

week ending april 27

Performed to complete growths at the ob site this week.  I have a hard time with twins.  They put themselves in such positions that it is hard to follow their body's.  I was pretty on target with the other tech's measurements.  Need to review the amnio and chorionicities of multiples.

week ending april 20

Just got some great news.  I am hired on at my vascular site.  I did an aorta study.  wasn't able to finish it as the 84year old man had hernias galore and had eaten.  Felt bad that I couldn't finish it but I did most of what they asked for.  They needed AO prx mid dist measurements then velocities there and the ct sma renal take offs and bilat iliacs.  I couldn't realize the ct or the sma.  too much gas. frustrating

week ending april 13

Done with my abdominal clinical site now for good.  Too bad that they don't have a position for me.  Feels like another chapter in my life has past.  I will miss some of the people there.  Good people.  Had a case of oligohydramnios at my ob site.  We checked the cord doppler.  It wasn't high resistive.  Got to see how the fetal respirations affect the flow.  neat

week ending april 6

I was able to see a partial molar pregnancy this week.  Guess that is pretty rare.  I wasn't able to scan it as it was already known and the people were there to talk about a possible amniocentesis even though they couldn't keep it.  The husband was crying.  a pretty sad situation.  The placenta had cysts all over it.  The baby was squished with oligohydramnios.  sad sad

week ending march 30

Boy am I tired.  10 hours on friday.  It's like a real job.  These renal artery dopplers are pretty hard.  especially if the patient has eaten.  This site NEVER tells the people to not eat before the exam.  Someone should get into trouble for it as I then have to bury my hand into their gut.  Not pleasant for anyone involved.

week ending march 23

Started my ob rotation this week.  Quite a drive from my house.  It will be worth it though.  much easier to put this information together when you can put the principles to work.  did a few BPP's all of them were 8 out of 8 points.

week ending march 16

Saw a vein of giacominni this week at the vascular site.  This is where the short saphenous vein doesn't anastomose with the popliteal but rather the greater saphenous higher up.  Was the first that I had found on my own.  It didn't reflux

week ending 9 march 12

I nearly have all of the hours that I need now.  1600 is the number to hit.  More important will be getting all of my check offs completed.  Sort of stressful.  only a month and a half left.  The clinical site is slow here and there, I'm sure I'll have all I need come may 10.  Got checked off on an optional interventional exam this week.  Took 15 litres off of this mans gut.

week ending 2 march

The vascular people have expressed interest in me this week.  Very exciting. they say that they are expanding and they may have a place for me.  I'll keep my fingers crossed.  Still would like to get a pool position at a hospital so I don't loose my abdominal  skills.  Very quick at doing carotids now.  Faster than some of the other techs.

week ending 2-24

Saw a neat gall bladder this week.  He had adenomyomatosis.  Had the comet tail artifact.  In class we spoke about how the porcelain gall bladder can mask a tumofactive sludge.  Guess that is what CT is for.  Kind of slow for gyn/ob exams this week.  One lady was middle eastern so she didn't want me to be a part of the exam.  Still doing the vascular rotation.  getting more comfortable with the legs but still need more time on them.

week ending 2-17

Yet more pelvic exams this week.  i hope to get my check offs completed very soon as I am nearing the end.  The doctors seem to trust my opinion more and more as time goes on.  The exception is one who introduced himself to me again this week even though I have spoken with him several times prior.  My CI seems to want more and more exams before he checks me off.  somewhat worrisome.

Week ending 2-10-12

I did 3 pelvic exams this week. did the endo vaginal portion too.  Felt pretty good.  We have a new 2nd shift tech who is a much better teacher than the others.  She has given me some good tips.  I find the ovaries much easier now.  I should have an OB rotation within a few more weeks.  Looking forward to learning/gaining more experience in that arena too!

Week ending 2-03-12

Super slow week this time.  One of the new employees that just started ended up quitting.  Then a full time employee fell and hurt both knees again.  She'll be out for 5 more weeks.  Boss isn't very happy.  Maybe by the time I am ready to go these people will be ready to give up a spot for me.  In addition another private company has expressed interest in me.  So hopefully between the two entities I might have full time hours.

Week ending 1-27-12

The boss had pretty nice words for me this week. pretty impressed. feels good to know that I am nearing the end. feeling pretty comfortable scanning even the heaviest patients.  Even showing a super fatty liver with a barely visible diaphragm is diagnostic.

Week ending 1-20-12

Misdated my last blog entry.  it was labeled 1-12-13. should have been 1-13-12. This week we really concentrated on the interventional radiology stuff. hardly didd any other scans as it was pretty slow too. and the younger year student was present as well. less stuff for me to do. getting pretty good at it though. trite now.

Week ending 1-12-13

The boss taught me how to set up the sterile trays this week.  then another employee showed me a different but similar way to do it.  She had me draw up .5cc Sodium bicarbonate/5cc 1% lidocaine.  X2 syringes.  This seems less accurate than drawing up 1cc/10cc in one sryinge. nevertheless

Week ending 1-6-12

Had a nice winter break.  Less stress to continue now.  Was a short, pretty uneventful week.  Boss says he wants to teach me to run the interventional radiology procedures now.  I have seen plenty already but haven't set up the sterile trays yet.  Nice to move onto something else.