Nursing Simulation Reflection

Simulation Reflection (10/04/17-10/05/17) Simulations have always been a stressful event for me. I never feel prepared enough and being observed behind double sided glass is unnerving. With that being said, the first day felt very choppy to me. I was assigned the charge nurse position and spent the better part of the time looking up patient information and planning ahead for what might be needed in future orders. I was a good mental exercise for preparing patient care plans and I did enjoy it. When it came time for me to help, it was with an in and out catheter and to collect a urine specimen. This process wasn’t completely unfamiliar to me as I had seen in and outs done in clinic, but had never performed one, with the exception of indwelling
Since I would not be the charge nurse, I would be able to be involved in direct patient care, I felt that way I would have slightly more control over my environment and interactions. My partner and I discussed our patients after viewing the orders, labs, and medications. We placed priority on giving a patient blood and attempting to control pain after getting vitals and assessment. He had a PICC line, something we do not have much exposure to in clinic apart from visually assessing the dressing. As simulation continued his stats dropped and I made the mistake of ‘simulation pretend’ instead of looking at the situation as a real obstacle. The program of decreased oxygenation was solved when proper trach suctioning was initiated. Though the order stated nasal cannula for decreased oxygenation, trach oxygenation was implemented and was deemed appropriate. With our other patient, vitals were obtained through the charge nurse, but I neglected to put priority on getting her assessment and instead reobtained vitals before administering medication. Since her treatment was a continuation from yesterday, we also had to start an IV and should have called to question fluids, but we did hang