Tonight I admitted two patients of my own as well as listening in on discussions between the medical students (and attending physician) and the patients whom I checked in. I was also able to accompany a couple of the medical students to see two additional patients, which I also really enjoyed. During the previous clinic experience our group was not informed that we were allowed to follow the other healthcare providers into the rooms during their consultations. I thought that it was great being able to go in there with them and learn more about the conditions of the patients in addition to the observing the discussion about the thought processes of the medical students when evaluating and diagnosing the patients with these conditions.
A particular patient that I got to learn about presented with a Bartholin's cyst, a collection of fluid (swelling) near the Bartholin’s glands which are “located at the end of the posterior and lateral aspects of the vaginal orifice”, and usually signify the presence of an infection such as a sexually transmitted infection (STI) (Lewis, et. al., 2014, p. 1222). This was the patient’s second visit to the clinic for this issue and she was referred to come back yet another day; a day when a specialist in obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN) is to be present. During her previous visit the patient was informed that upon returning, for a second time, the physician (or medical student) would be able to drain the cyst for her (again) or remove it completely. There was also a consideration about placing a drain in the area to help relieve some of the pressure in the vicinity of the cyst. Unfortunately, the healthcare professionals present this evening were not able to effectively resolve the patient’s issue but she was given a new appointment two weeks into the future where she will be able to get the appropriate care from a specialist in the designated focus area. Other than having the Bartholin cyst, this patient appeared to be healthy. Throughout the interview with me she maintained good posture in addition to a positive attitude, and exhibited adequate levels of self-esteem. She sounded content with herself as well as her environment and, based on our discussion, she has the knowledge and skills to engage in proper self-care. She presented with good personal hygiene, her speech was clear and articulate, and she was well oriented to her surroundings. I was impressed by the patient’s persistence (multiple visits to the clinic) to get her problem taken care of and hope that she comes back again next month to resolve this problem for good.
References
- Lewis, S. L., Dirksen, S. R., Heitkemper, M. M., & Bucher, L. (2014). Medical-surgical nursing: assessment and management of clinical problems. (9th ed.). St. Louis, MO.: Mosby Elsevier.