Dialysis Training Update:

So, how is the training going? You might ask...; well its a bit like this:

I started on Wednesday this week, and only needed to be there (Albert Luthuli Hospital in Durban) at 11:30 am. I was registered by 11:00 and still waiting for the sister at 11:45. By midday we were nestled in a little room in the renal clinic, just me and a young Indian lady making up the trainee list. By 12:30 the Sister thought we should have a break...a break? We had only just got started. Lunch break was an hour...spent sitting in my bakkie reading a book, while Sister King went for staff fish and chips in the canteen, no doubt washed down by the state regulation green tea...no, not Green Tea...green tea!

We "convened" at 1:30 in the renal ward, for a bit of practical demonstration. As it happens, the only two trainees were on two different dialysis systems so we could not do the pracs simultaneously. I sat on a chair in ward reception for 45 minutes while Sister King sorted Pravashnee, before I too was summoned. I watched for 45 minutes as the sister demonstrated a dialysis bag procedure from beginning to end. I reckon 40 of those minutes are spent washing hands! My word do you wash hands...I don't know how sister King has flesh left on her digits!
By 3:30 day1 was declared over. Wow, how does the State do it? Where else can you stretch an accumulated 1.5 hours of actual activity over a day??

Day 2 was little different, only we finished at 1:30pm! This time was a little more exciting because we got to do the demos ourselves...soooo exciting really, I can't wait to start proper!! Sure. I was marked on washing my hands - then had to do it again after tending to an itch on my nose. Amazing hey...there you are with sterile hands up in front of your face, feeling a little like Doctor Shepard ..all your sterile instruments laid out on a stainless tray in front of you...and your nose itches.
Well, I got through my 1st prac ok...if 'infecting myself' on only four occasions is ok...three from an itchy nose, and once from boxers riding up my...well, no guessing what I was not supposed to have done at that point. I soon learnt that when all else fails, you cant remember the next step, or simply need a moment to think...wash your hands. It impresses the hell out of Sister King, even if the dialysis fluid ends up on the floor cos you missed a clamp!

Just now I head down for day 3. I am beside myself with anticipation and excitement. I cant wait to see how many hours of the day we are going to spread our actual hour of work over! We are also discussing infections...which is such fun because we do all this amongst the renal patients in the ward, all suffering from infections. Quite clever really, cos even as Sister King is lecturing on the signs, symptoms and avoidance methods of infections, all around you are patients moaning in pain and screaming for morphine. Quite effective I must admit.

So, what next you ask? I think...they leave me alone for the whole of next week...no dialysis, no hospitals. I will get back to the office, dust off the desk and fire up the ol laptop once again. I believe I will then be admitted to the hospital on Monday the 24th where they start the dialysis in the ward...then let you go when they are happy with the catheter and my self-sufficiency. At that point I rejoin the big wide world and things return to 'normal'...only with a bit of extra baggage.

Then, hopefully, I can wash my hands of this whole phase...