Travelling in the Wrong Direction

This morning was the first time I’d be catching a bus into hospital. I got up early, had a shower and ate breakfast with Great Aunty Margaret before walking down the driveway and a few hundred metres to the bus stop. It was freezing cold and you could see the frost on the grass! One bus came by and I was about to catch its attention before I realised it was the wrong one and stood back. Not too long after the ‘20’ bus came and I got on.

The bus went through the Bus Exchange before stopping just opposite the Christchurch Public Hospital where I’d be at on the last day.

This time I arrived at the hospital before Joanne! When she finally arrived, we went with all the pharmacy technicians to this room filled with preserved body parts to hear one of the University of Otago professors tell us a bit of pathology. It was quite interesting! We were standing for a long time though!

After the meeting, I was taken by one of the pharmacists up to the neonatal unit where I got to see these really tiny babies in incubators and cribs! There were different parts of the unit. We started off walking through the intensive care unit where there was a little baby with cystic fibrosis which was kinda sad. As we kept walking through the unit we saw healthier babies which made things a lot more positive!

After checking out that unit, I was then passed on to this other pharmacist, who was the top intern in New Zealand last year! She took me up to the gastro ward, which just happened to be where the norovirus outbreak had occurred! Fortunately only some of the rooms in the ward were isolated and it was starting to clear up. I was quite tired by now after staying up late last night trying to finish off my work. I didn’t want the pharmacist to see that I was dozing off though!

Finally it was time for lunch. I couldn’t find Joanne so I went to a nearby café in the hospital, and ended up spending WAY too much on my lunch!

When I got back, I was then taken to another ward with another pharmacist. This pharmacist was cool, she taught me quite a bit and she even got me to fill in a yellow medicines card for a patient (it helps them remember what to take) and even explain it to the patient. She told me I did well, which was cool to hear because I don’t get too many compliments in pharmacy!

We arrived back in the pharmacy department slightly late. We were meant to be checking out the dispensary but they were too busy for us, so we just stayed in the office and discussed the remainder of our questions in our workbook before it was finally home time! We finished half an hour late but that was OK.

Joanne and I just walked down to the central city where we had a walk past a few restaurants she was thinking of going to for dinner with her friends, before we had a walk through Cathedral Square again, and this time went inside the Cathedral to have a look. All the chairs had been stacked in preparation for some kids’ event, so there was quite a bit of space!

Eventually we had to part ways, and I finally ended up checking out the Korean shop with all that Asian stuff in it! I was tempted to buy something but in the end I decided to save money. I did buy a thank-you card for my great uncle and aunt though.

I was sitting at one of the benches just staring at the intersection ahead of me, when these boys came over and asked me if I had any change so they could catch the bus. I told them I didn’t but that I would have a look. I tried to hide my notes though! I didn’t want them taking them! Instead I just gave them a few coins and they were on their way.

I finally decided it was time to go back home, so I went to the Bus Exchange and caught the ‘20’ bus that my great aunt had told me to catch. I got on and probably didn’t pay attention to where the bus was taking me…very soon I noticed the University of Canterbury sign and started thinking to myself that I didn’t pass the university in the morning!

I soon started wonder where I was! I got out the map and turned to the guy sitting nearby, and pointed to where my relatives lived, asking him if we were getting close to that spot. Instead, he pointed to the other end of the map! The bus I had caught was travelling in the opposite direction! What was worse was my phone had died, so I couldn’t text my great aunt to let her know what was going on! I got off at the very next stop, crossed the road and started walking until I found the next bus stop. It was just my luck that the next bus would be arriving in a minute! I jumped on and this time got home!

When I arrived home, I could see my great aunt in the window on the phone, saying something about being worried about me. I went inside and apologised profusely! Fortunately they were very understanding! At least I got to check out some of the sights of Christchurch…even though it was in the dark!

Farewelling the Borastons

This was the last day I would be staying at the Borastons’ house as they would be leaving tomorrow for Blenheim to go olive-picking.

Aunty Jill dropped me off at Hillmorton Hospital. We had a bit of difficulty finding the entrance and drove around some of the driveways, passing a group of smokers along the border of the property until we came by one of the staff members and asked them for directions.

I finally found the pharmacy department where Joanne was already there once again! As soon as I got there we took a little tour of the facility, including the locked isolation rooms where the people who are a danger to themselves and others were locked up. They sometimes strip some of the patients and put them in this poncho-like shirt thing that is made of tough material to avoid being damaged. We also saw the other units where not-so-serious people were housed. It was a bit difficult for me to tell who was a patient and who was at staff member as staff didn’t wear uniforms!

We returned to the pharmacy department before one of the other pharmacists took me to a multi-disciplinary meeting to discuss the progress of various patients being reintegrated into the community.

What was interesting was what one of the nurses had to say about a smoking cessation conference that she had attended. She showed us one of these electronic cigarettes called an ‘Intellicig’ which replicates the glow of the cigarette when inhaled as well as the smoke that smokers blow out, only the cigarette only has nicotine and none of the dangerous chemicals! It’s just like a nicotine patch or gum and helps smokers quit. That could possibly work! It was quite unusual seeing one of them try it indoors though.

I got back to the pharmacy department to work on our task for the day which was to investigate a medicines enquiry – a practice question from a psychiatrist regarding which medication he should start his patient on for treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Joanne and I worked on it for another hour before we went for lunch with the other pharmacists.

It was interesting having lunch with the other pharmacists. They joked a lot and it didn’t seem as though any of the originated from Christchurch!

I had a go at the drinks machine they had at the cafeteria which gives you free coffee or hot chocolate, but I forgot to select milk and so it gave me really hot chocolate drink! I think I burnt my tongue!

Anyway, lunch was over and it was back to work! Joanne and I were left to work on the task for another couple hours before the pharmacist came in to discuss the enquiry with us. He was quite harsh and critical on us! He ended up marking us on the spot and only giving us a ‘Satisfactory’ mark for having to spoon-feed us! Haaarsh!

Oh well, at least we were allowed to go home straight after that! Joanne and I got a little lost on the way out and couldn’t find the entrance again, but we eventually got there and caught a bus back into the city. I decided to hang around at the Food Court and write the ‘Thank You’ card for the Boraston family before Uncle John texted me and asked me to meet him there.

We then walked across the city to his car parked on the side of the road and he gave me a lift home.

When we got back to their house Jean, Aunty Jill’s friend was there again that night for dinner. I got changed and joined them for dinner. It was rice risotto that Alice had cooked for all of us. Yum!

Once dinner was over, Alice offered me some dessert and once that was finished, we talked for a bit before Jean had to leave.

I then said all my farewells and gave them a ‘Thank You’ card with some money but they wouldn’t accept the money!

Uncle John drove me over to Great Aunty Margaret and Great Uncle Rob’s house. Fortunately they had all their heaters going so it was quite warm! We all sat in the lounge and just talked and had some Milo before I went to bed to try complete my hospital placement workbook. I don’t think I got to sleep till 1am!

Meeting the Relatives

I have to say that this was probably the least exciting day at the hospital. This morning Aunty Jill drove me to Princess Margaret Hospital, which specialises in orthopedic care (hips, fractures, old people stuff) as well as some psychiatric care such as anorexia.

When I got there, Joanne was already there as usual. We were introduced to all the pharmacists. They then gave us the details of one patient’s case for one of our workbook activities where we had to analyse her situation, the drug medications she was on and come up with some questions we would ask her in an interview we would be having with her in an hour and a half’s time.

The supervising pharmacist came back just in time to lead us to the patient in another room where we had a bit of a conversation with her, asking her some questions about her medication. She was really nice! Due to patient confidentiality I can’t disclose any of it here.

After the interview we went back to the office where we were left to make sense of all the information and devise a care plan for her. Let’s just say the case was quite confusing and I don’t think the pharmacists knew what was required of us!

They sort of left us to our own devices for the rest of the day. They met up with us just before it was time for us to go though, just to see if we were on the right track. We left even more confused as to what we were meant to do!

Joanne and I waited at the bus stop just outside the front of the hospital until she caught her bus. Before her bus came though, some 12-13 year old Maori boy with a guitar came over to us and asked if we smoked. When Joanne said she didn’t smoke, he went over to the people beside us and asked if they had a cigarette he could exchange for a song. The lady told him she started smoking at his age and it

“F---d me up!”

While I was waiting for Aunty Sally (Aunty Jill’s sister) to pick me up from the hospital to take to Aunty Jill’s house, I had a little walk beside the river. It was quite chilly that afternoon outside! I was amazed at how it didn't stop many people from walking their dog, jogging or just cycling outside!

It eventually got too cold for me and I took shelter in the hospital foyer till my aunty, uncle and cousins Amanda, Samantha and their friend came.

We got to Aunty Jill’s house where I got to meet Richard (Aunty Jill’s son – I’m sleeping in his bedroom!), Alice, Aunty Gayle (Aunty Sally and Aunty Jill’s older sister), Uncle Warren and a few other relatives. We all had some really nice food that some of the relatives had cooked, including lasagne, roast pork and potatoes and vegetables. All of us younger relatives sat together eating while the aunties and uncles talked amongst themselves at the table.

Dessert was the second course that had been nicely cooked by Alice! There were chocolate brownies, ice-cream and feijoa crumble.

We ate that as we checked out some photos and videos of Alice’s recent holiday to Tahiti before we went to the lounge to play some cards. They taught me a new game called 500 which took quite a while to get my head around!

They all eventually had to leave and after they did, I went back into my bedroom to try finish off my care plan but I was so tired I just fell asleep!

A Unique Look at Hospital Pharmacy

I woke up early once again at 6am. While I thought I was getting faster at my morning routine of having a shower and getting dressed, I seemed to have spent more time than the morning before! Fortunately there was still plenty of time for me to have some toast and Milo, talk to Aunty Jill and then leave for Burwood Hospital.

Aunty Jill drove me to Burwood Hospital. We initially turned left into this road that had an arrow pointing to it saying Burwood, but after a while Aunty Jill thought we had gone the wrong way, so she did a U-turn and took the other turn. Luckily enough we somehow managed to arrive at Burwood Hospital! We drove around for a while looking for the main entrance before I ended up just getting out and asking someone at the Spinal Unit reception. Even after that I still had to wander around till I finally found the pharmacy department! Joanne was already there!

We were introduced to the three pharmacists and the pharmacy technician in the department, and told that we wouldn't be doing any work today, just following them around. We first followed one of the pharmacists to the admissions ward, but there weren’t any patients there to see! It was really quiet!

We then went to join another pharmacist at the spinal unit who told us all (and quizzed us!) about drug treatment for patients with spinal injuries. She was telling us how the patients in this ward were either paraplegic, tetraplegic, some were paralyzed and confined to wheelchairs, others were temporarily reliant on ventilators to breathe, while some other more unfortunate patients were permanently reliant on them. We didn't get to visit the patients, but we did see quite a few in wheelchairs going down the corridors. We also saw some equipment being transported that is used to lift patients up. The corridors are a lot wider than those at Christchurch Public Hospital too, and the spinal unit have their own resident cat!

One interesting thing we overheard while at that ward was that there was some sort of outbreak in a couple of the gastro wards back over at Christchurch Public Hospital! Hopefully it gets cleared up before we go back on Friday!

At around 10.30am we went to the café to meet up with the other pharmacists. Some drug rep was meeting up with them to tell them about some new drug that is used for prophylaxis of hip injuries…I think. She says it has better efficacy than enoxaparin (a low molecular weight heparin), and came prepared with all these brochures, journal articles, guides with graphs and statistics and even samples of the medication for the pharmacy to stock if they wanted to! Oh but don’t forget the most exciting thing, she paid for our drinks! I had a mocha! Flash!! She also brought all this merchandise, such as branded pens, diaries, note pads, bags, and even a figurine of some character called ‘Clot Man’! She gave Joanne and me a note pad each which was cool!

After the drug rep was finished with us, or should I say we were finished with her (asking a thousand questions), Joanne and I went to watch a pharmacist do a medication history review with a patient with rheumatoid arthritis coming in for surgery. I can’t really say much due to patient confidentiality and I don’t want to get into trouble but it was interesting watching that.

Finally it was lunch at 1pm! We just ate at the café. I ate the lunch Aunty Jill once again made for me before we went over to the brain injury rehabilitation unit to follow another pharmacist. This time there was a lot for her to do! It wasn’t too exciting for us though, just watching her do paperwork.

We did follow her into one of those rooms populated with nurses, and one of the nurses turned around and when she saw us asked sharply

“What are you doing here?!”

Then she realised we were pharmacy students following the pharmacist!

We did get to watch the pharmacist talk to a patient about which medication they had been taking upon arrival to hospital, and it seemed as though he was non-compliant.

After that, we just stood around for a lot longer in the ward drug room watching the pharmacist try to complete her paperwork while being distracted and pulled away by nurses!

We were supposed to finish by 4pm but finished half an hour later. We went to the nearest bus stop and Joanne showed me this little box that is on a pole at the bus stop. You push a button and a light next to the amount of time the next bus will be showing up brightens!

The bus ride back to the Bus Exchange in the centre of the city took about half an hour. Once we got into the city, Joanne and I went our own ways and I went to find the Dollar Store 123 to buy a ‘Thank You’ card for my relatives to give to them this Thursday when I leave them! After that, I went to the food court above the Bus Exchange to wait for Uncle John to meet me.

When he arrived, we had to walk to (what felt like) the other side of the city to reach his car. We just talked and I got to check out the sights as I walked so it was all good.

When we got home, Alice had cooked dinner for us! It was fish wrapped with ham or bacon, and some chips with some lemon sauce I think! Anyway it looked and tasted really good! This family likes cooking!

We spent the evening watching a couple of food shows on TV before the women went off to bed and left Uncle John and I to watch Spooks.

After that I finally went to bed! 

A Hospital Visit and an Interview

I woke up at about 6am, just before Uncle John came over to wake me up! I had a shower and went upstairs to have a bit of breakfast before Aunty Jill dropped me off down the road at her friend Jean’s place. Jean was already waiting in her car for us on the side of the road, so I quickly jumped in her car and we were off! We travelled across the city and she parked outside her work, which was just on the other side of the intersection that was adjacent to Christchurch Hospital. Fortunately the weather in the morning was only slightly cold and foggy, but not rainy! In fact it didn’t rain at all today! I even caught a glimpse of the sun through the window during lunch!

I got to the hospital half an hour early, so I just wandered around the ground floor amongst the shops which sort of looked like a little village. Eventually by 8.30 I went to the pharmacy department where I had to wait a while before the staff meeting was over. As I was waiting, Joanne, the University of Otago pharmacy student I would be working with for the week arrived. She’s a Malaysian and she is pretty friendly and easy to get along with so that’s good.

We first met Nigel, one of the pharmacists who first took us on a tour around the pharmacy department. They have around 30 pharmacists in the department! I’ve never seen so many pharmacists in one area!

We got to see the dispensary area, the cytotoxic room, the sterile room, the compounding area, the controlled drugs room and the office.

Nigel then took us up to the gastro ward where he showed us what he usually does when he reviews a patient’s notes. He looked through them to check that all the doses were correct, the legal stuff was there (like dates etc) before we followed him to watch him check some medication with a patient.

That was about all the time there was for that ward before I had to get back to the pharmacy department at 10am for…my pharmacy intern job interview!

There were three pharmacists interviewing me. One of them was going to be taking us to the paediatric ward straight after! They started off by telling me all about the pharmacy department and the intern programme. Then they each took turns asking me questions!

They asked the standard questions such as why I chose to study pharmacy, why I wanted to work at Christchurch Hospital and what is my long term career goal. However, I also got asked a few questions I hadn’t thought much about before then, such as what was my most and least favourite subject (to which I said most favourite = pharmacotherapy…obviously! Haha and least favourite=law! Just because it’s annoying having to find the right page with the right law on it!). I also got asked if I could remember an example of a stressful time during which I had to communicate clear information. I couldn’t think of one off the top of my head, except for my oral exam! That wasn’t a particularly good example. Another question they asked me was if they were to ask my friends about me, how would they describe me? I just said they’d think I was loyal, hard-working and trustworthy! What would be the bad things they’d say about me? I was trying to think of an answer that wouldn’t make me sound too bad and all I could come up with was…that I sleep too late!

At the end when they asked if I had any questions, I asked when we’d be notified of the outcome, to which they said by the end of the week. I’m just hoping it’s after I’ve left Christchurch so I can have time to discuss it with my family if I do get in, or so I don’t embarrass myself if I don’t!

After the interview, one of the pharmacists who interviewed me took Joanne and me up to the paediatric ward. We didn’t get to interact with any of the patients unfortunately. We just mainly watched the pharmacist review the charts before we came back down to the pharmacy department to fill out our workbooks a bit more before going to lunch. Joanne was going to have lunch with one of the interns originally from Otago Uni, so I joined them as they went to the staff cafeteria. We just ate some lunch, and I ate the lunch Aunty Jill had kindly prepared for me!

We had to be back at 1pm (an hour later). Our next activity was to visit the sterile lab, where we just had a look around as the pharmacist told us all about it. After that, we checked out the cytotoxic room which would soon be decommissioned by the end of the week which was a little sad for some of the pharmacists working there.

After those two tours, we got to meet Cherry our proper preceptor, who took us on another tour of the department before taking us up to her ‘baby’, the ACAU – Acute Care Assessment Unit! She asked us a lot of questions. Fortunately she wasn’t too strict, nor did she mind my crazy answers which turned out to be correct half the time!

She helped us look at bus timetables to get to the other hospitals in Christchurch over the next few days before we went back to the department to finish for the day. Joanne and I just did a bit more work in our workbooks before walking to the Bus Exchange together. We had a little walk around the streets nearby where all the shops were located. We also checked out Cathedral Square with the iconic cathedral. That was pretty cool! By not it wasn’t too sunny but it wasn’t raining and it wasn’t too cold either which was good. Joanne showed me the bus to take – route 3 to Sumner.

I was told to get off the bus outside the New World Supermarket in Redcliff. It was amongst the second lot of shops after Countdown. However, I came across Countdown and thought I’d get off at the bus stop there, and walk to New World! I couldn’t find New World though so walked back to Countdown and waited for Uncle John to pick me up from there! It turns out New World was a lot further away from Countdown than I had realised! Oops!

When I got home, I met Alice for the first time which was pretty cool. We ended up talking a bit throughout the night. We had lasagne for dinner which Aunty Jill had cooked (nice as usual! She even offered me seconds!). Alice let me try some of the carrot cake she had baked for her dad’s birthday which was on the exact same day as my dad’s birthday last Wednesday!

After dinner we watched a bit of TV before starting to watch a movie that Alice had randomly chosen. Aunty Jill and Alice ended up going to bed halfway through the movie, before I left not too long after.