Skillslab Training

Today I allowed myself to sleep in, it felt somehow good. The week was full of impressions and the days were long. Tomorrow will be another long day.

But today, I first headed to the university around noon. A gray, cold day. My fingertips were red-hot again, but so far no pain.

Upon arriving at the university, I wandered around; where were the skills labs again? I couldn't remember how Mr. M. had guided me. Wrong building. Next building. I was about to give up since it was getting late, and I didn't want to barge into the class. Then a group of students approached me. “Are you nursing students and do you have skills lab training now?” Yes. Very good.

When I reached the top, I met Jaqueline. She was the instructor for today. “I've heard of you already. Great that you're here; you can help me. I've only been here for two months myself, and well, I haven't written EKGs that often yet. Do you know how it's done?” Of course!

It was a small group of 12 people again, great size here.

She started with a small introduction on the screen. Then we split into groups of three to go to the different stations/beds. I was slightly frustrated because the topic was “Cardiovascular system” 1st semester.

I had enough of that over the last two years. But okay.

Manual blood pressure measurement, pulse assessment, VATI, ventilation, respiration, writing EKGs. I took on the latter.

I told them a bit about sinus rhythm. “And cosine, do we need that too?” asked the student. I laughed. “Only when you're calculating the tangent!”

Okay… she didn’t react at all. The question was serious.

Everyone had a turn, some were hesitant. “You should use this in this safe environment here…”

I moved to the blood pressure station. “I don’t understand this.” I calmly explained each step. Unfortunately, I must say, she was rarely getting it right and I was struggling to teach her. I had never experienced that before.

With one student, no one could determine the blood pressure; his arm was already bright red.

“Can you measure it, Ms. Aumüller?”

“170/95. Please, see a general practitioner or a cardiologist soon.”

“Yes, I already have an appointment for that.”

Pulse station. “Okay, I will count for 15 seconds. Now I got 17. What does that mean?”

“Why multiply by 4?” “I don’t understand.”

“What does a pulse of 80 mean now?”

“Yes, but what does that mean for me?”

“I don’t understand.”

Phew. Everyone in the course has a diploma.

It was already dark when we came out. Jaqueline and I went to the train together, and by the time I got off in Salzburg, we had talked the whole way. “Hopefully see you next week? And thanks for today,” she said as we parted.

When I got back to the dorm, I had already developed a routine: quick stop in the kitchen, kettle on. Bring things to my room, back to the kitchen. There was someone new again; he was cooking something. No one here is very talkative. “Hey, I’m Sandra.” only a glance.

“That smells delicious,” no word. Hmmm okay.

He was listening to music and started dancing in front of his pan. I rummaged through my social work memory. Mirror technique!

So I swayed to the music and even did a little spin. Apparently, it wasn't impressive. I looked at him expectantly.

No reaction.

Tomorrow is sure to be long. A workday in nursing in Austria lasts 12.5 hours, as I already know from Vienna.

Hubert, the former civil servant, sent me an audio message.

There was an outbreak of COVID on the ward tomorrow; he asked if I still want to come. Sure!

I'm curious and will report back.

!! Everyone involved was asked beforehand if I could take photos. Individual faces are therefore blocked out!!