My First Spinal

Josette Salas, RN BSN

Josette Salas is an RN from California. She has worked as a traveling nurse in some of the busiest Medical Centers on the West Coast including UCLA, USC University Hospital, Cedars Sinai and others. Her specialties includes Cardiothoracic ICU and Neuro/Trauma intensive care. She comes to Nurse Anesthesia School with a lot of great preparation and motivation.

Hey Gang, How is it going for everyone? I have been reading the blog and it sounds like everyone has been very busy. FUN FUN FUN at the old anesthesia corral. My clinical rotation is not as scary yet as others so I am kind of jealous about that. But I can’t wait for the good stuff to come around. Right now I am just doing a lot of hernias, D&C’s, laparoscopic stuff, tons of Orthopedic surgery and hysterectomies.

I can finally say I like the MAC blade and I have been pretty successful with tracheal intubations these past two weeks so I am feeling better about the whole induction thing. I hate placing Laryngeal Mask Airways but I am getting the hang of those too. You know I have small short fat fingers which is not helpful.

Today I got to do a spinal anesthesia case and ooooh-la-la first one here so of course I was all thumbs and asked a lot of dumb questions. Learning is such a great adventure but I hate feeling stupid all the time. I can’t wait till I am past that point of feeling stupid every single day to where I am feeling stupid just every other day.

I love using local anesthetic for my IVs starts. I think all nurses should do this but I don’t know if this is in the scope of practice for the RN instead of our purview as Advanced Practice Nurses in training – Oh just give me a break already!

OH I am going to the Washington DC in August for the annual AANA meeting which lasts for 5 days. I have never been to DC so this is going to be cool. I want to see the Capitol building if I can.

Currently I will be ending a rotation at the end of this month and then I will be going to the big Buffalo General Medical Center so hopefully I will see some interesting cases there. I don’t know when I will have the opportunity to go to the County Hospital for a Call/Weekend shift. I don’t think everyone here gets to do this but I am excited about doing this and am planning of learning so much there. I want to get the experience to equip me to handle anything that comes through the door.

Right now I hate the summers here in Up-State New York - it is like tropical hot humid disgusting nasty weather kind of place. Did I tell you about the winters here? Now it’s funny because the people here are just happy that it is hot and not frozen over like it was a few months ago so there’s no place like home.

Anyway I am going on and on. So take care and good luck with the rest of your current clinical rotations and I will write again soon. My picture is in the mail if you know what I mean.