Wandering in Waterford

Hello! So I have been off the radar for quite sometime, not just here but my book blog. I have been busy trying to qualify myself as a nurse here in Ireland. It has been a very long journey (talk about almost a 24-hour plane ride), and of course I am still getting used to the cold here (can get up to 5 degrees in the morning). It's a bit rough especially when you came from a tropical country where the coldest than you can get is about 20 or so. Waterford in Ireland is a wonderful place. It's pretty laid-back and relaxed, reminds me of home. If I want to go to Dublin, then it's just a two our three-hour bus ride which I really don't mind. Coming here was like a dream, especially when it came to me as a birthday present. It...

Methods of Sterilization

So what are the methods of sterilization inside the operating room?Steam Sterilization. This is the most common method of sterilization for operating room instruments If steam alone is used, it is not enough for sterilization. But, when it is pressurized, its temperature would rise. This moist pressurized read causes the destruction of microbes by coagulation and denaturation of protein inside the cells. The relationship between the temperature, exposure time and pressure are the contributory factors in the destruction of microbes. When steam is limited in a closed-compartment and the pressure is increased, the temperature will also increase provided that the volume of the compartment remains the same....

The Surgical Team

The surgical team are composed of the surgeon, anesthesiologist, assistant surgeon, circulating nurse and scrub nurse. These are the basic roles of the surgical team inside the operating room: SURGEON Head of the surgical team Perform operative procedure safely and correctly Visits the patient before anesthesia is inducted, if needed, assist in the positioning of the patient Responsible for being certain that all team members are aware of what they need during the procedures and that all necessary equipments are available.  If he/she is responsible to give the anesthesia (in cases of local anesthesia), it will either be given before scrubbing or after the patient has been draped After the operation: surgeon secures the dressings in...

The Principles of Sterile Technique

The principles of sterile techniques are considered to be the Holy Commandments inside the Operating Room and should be strictly followed at any given operation.  1. Only Sterile Technique are used within the Sterile Field2. Sterile person are gowned and gloved3. Tables are sterile only at table level4. Sterile person touch only sterile items and areas. Unsterile person touch unsterile one5. Unsterile person avoid reaching over sterile field, while sterile person avoid learning over unsterile area.6. The edge of anything that encloses sterile contents are considered unsterile.7.Sterile field is created as close as possible to the time of use.8. Sterile areas are continuously kept in view. 9. Sterile person keep well within sterile...

Total Abdominal Hysterectomy and Bilateral Salpingo-Oophorectomy (TAHBSO)

This was the first operation that I had assisted when I was still a student in the university. I personally volunteered myself because I wanted to see what this operation is. My mother underwent TAHBSO when I was still young and she stayed in the hospital for over a week. I didn’t know why in the world would someone open her and take all of her reproductive system when she’s not yet in her menopausal. Total Abdominal Hysterectomy and Bilateral Salphingo-Oophorectomy (TAHBSO) is the removal of the uterus including the cervix, tubes and ovaries using an abdominal incision. First, let us review the basic medical terms: Hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the uterus. This may be total (removing the body...

WHY EVERY WOMAN IS BEAUTIFUL

Her heart loves a roller coaster ride. She cries. She laughs. She falls in love. Sometimes, cautiously. Oftentimes, recklessly. Her mind is on a constant marathon. Running. Running away. Changing pace. Turning around. But never stopping. Her dreams keep on flying. They may not reach the sky but will never ever take a dive. Her hands touch other people's lives. Constantly. As if that is the reason for their being. But most of all, every woman is beautiful because she is both steel and cotton candy and everything in between. - Anonymo...

Capgras Syndrome : Forgetting VIPs in your Life.

Have you ever had the feeling that the friend you have known for ages may not be the one who's standing in front of you? Weird, right? you are pretty sure the person is not your friend, and yet everyone is telling you that he or she is. Before you start debating with everyone else and insists on your thoughts, let me tell you about a certain theory that had caught my attention these past few days -- CAPGRAS DELUSION THEORY or the Capgras Syndrom The syndrome is a disorder in which a certain person believes that a friend or a relative has been replaced by an identical-looking impostor. This is classified under the delusional misidentification syndrome, a certain kind of delusional beliefs that involves misidentification of people, places...