3-11-2011 week

This week we had to present our case study about the ultrasound guided craniotomy. It was a very interesting case, that I got to observe in the OR. The presentation went well, and the nest case will be about renal cell carcinoma. I have to prepare the etiology and pathophysiology of the disease. At the physics lab we took a test, that prove to be harder than we anticipated. I plan to study physics over the spring break, so I get prepared for the upcoming boards. At the clinical site, I scan pelvic exams, both transabdominal and endovaginal. It take a lot of practice for me to obtain good images of the ovaries. I have practiced to find some good windows for the kidneys, especially the left one.

3-4-11 week

This week was just as busy as the previous one. We had a test on Monday, and I did pretty well, and the rest of the week was packed with studying, preparation for the case study presentation, and clinicals. At my clinical site I was able to scan more, and I started to scan more venous legs, and assist with invasive procedures, such as thoracentesis, paracentesis and biopsies.
As we enter the month of March , I realize that I only have two months until this semester ends and I need to complete all my competencies. I try to get at least 2 every week, if possible, so I don't stress out towards the end.

2-25-11 week

This week was a busy one, even without school on Monday. I feel overwhelmed with so many school projects and not enough time to study. At the hospital I started scanning venous legs and I am working on developing my own routine and order of images. I love what I do and where I am at, the techs are impressed with my attitude of trying new things and they encourage me to scan more. I hope to get better at the venous studies, since we get so many of them.

02-18-2011 week

This week in clinicals I got to scan more. The techs have been trusting me more, and I have been scanning abdomen and renal studies. I enjoy being at John C Lincoln Medical Center because of all the interesting cases and the helpful techs. I work mostly with Earl, Amy and Kay, and they all been very kind to me and willing to teach me the ropes. The most interesting case I have seen was the renal vein thrombosis in an 80 year old female. I did not find it, my preceptor found the pathology, but I scanned most of the other organs.

In the physics lab, we looked at the elevational resolution and we measured it by looking at dental floss in a bowl of water.

02-12-2011 week

I the physics lab, we measured for the lateral resolution, using an AIUM test object and we determined that it varies with the focus, depth, frequency and type of the transducer used.
This week was my first week at my new clinical rotation: John C Lincoln Medical Center. The drive was not as bad as I thought, and the employees are very nice. The techs that I work with mostly are Earl, Amy and Kay. The most interesting case that I got to see was a craniotomy in the OR. We placed the hockey stick transducer, right on the brain, after a piece of skull was removed, and we imaged the tumor, that was right underneath the pia mater. It was very interesting, and I would like to see more of these cases.

Feb 4th 2011 clinical week

I completed another week at SMIL, and I learned that I will be moved to another clinical site, because SMIL asked for just one student. I will be going to John C Lincoln Medical Center, probably starting next week. I am looking forward to learning how to scan the inpatient patient population, and all of the acute ER patients. I embrace this change and I will do my best at learning quickly the protocols, and all the tech preferences.

Clinical rotation 1-29-2011

This week I did not scan as much as I would have wanted, and on Friday I felt aprehensive about an abdomen study, because the tech was in the room with me while I was scanning, and she kept saying" No, don't take that", but she did not tell me why or how to improve it, so I decided for the sake of time, to hand her the probe and let her finish the exam. She came to me after the exam and asked me why was I hesitant in the room. I found it hard to express my true feelings, because I did not want to start a conflict. I am sure that by now, the techs have higher expectations of me, and I cannot come across as stand-off-ish. I will try harder to be more assertive, and display more confidence.

Clinical rotation 1-21-2011

Today concludes our first week of 2 day school and 3 day clinicals schedule. It is more challenging to do both, but it makes it more interesting, because we learn about OB/Gyn in class and we get to apply it in clinicals as we go along. I took Friday off, due to flu like symptoms, and I hope to get better by next week, on Wednesday. I have enjoyed being in clinicals this past two days and I am getting to be more comfortable scanning. I have seen a lot more pathology this week, and it is helpful to correlate it to our lectures. Some examples include: large liver cysts, pleural effusion, renal tumor, etc.

January 14th 2011, after my fourth week in clinicals

Today we end another 2 week course of clinical hours. I have spent most of my time either scanning or observing the ultrasound procedures at SMIL, Mountain View office. I got a chance to work with most of the techs, and I like most of them. They are all different and I am doing my best at learning how to interact with all of them. Some of them like me to start scanning and they scan after me, and finish the exam, while others prefer to scan first and then, if time allows, I get to scan. I am not sure, yet which one of these two approaches I like best, but I am glad when I get to scan at all. Sometimes, there is a time limit, or the patient is in a hurry, so I do not have a chance to scan, but most of the time I try to fit in some scanning time.

Jan 07 2011, after my third full week in clinicals

At the end of my third full week in clinicals, I feel better about my scanning, and I am sure it will only get better. But I still struggle with the abdomen studies on larger patients, and with the fact that some of the techs are not willing to teach us. I will have to stick to the ones that are willing to show me the ropes, and guide me on this path of learning.