IAT tests

So I could very well be the only one in the class to say this but, my results show that I actually have less prejudices than I originally thought I had. This is not to say that I would classify myself as being socially prejudiced, racist or otherwise. However, I do come from a very "old-fashioned" family. My Grandparents in particular still have yet to join this century. They still remember the slave trade, and when the only religion for miles was Christianity. I also went to small schools where the only real distinguishing characteristic in the students was age. There were few religious groups, and most of the students grew up on acreages or in some form of "suburbia." I thought all these factors would have a greater influence on how I viewed the different groups in the tests. It was really interesting and even enlightening to see how I did, and that I faired better than I originally was expecting. Truly an interesting study!

Non-Verbal Communication

So I was sitting doing some homework in the hp centre the other day and I was watching two guys sitting at a table and I can only assume that one was tutoring the other. I say this because by their body language I could tell which one was teaching the other. The "student" would stare intently at his work while the "tutor" spoke and pointed at the papers. It was like he was trying so hard to find the answer but he never his body language never really showed that he understood. He would lean back in his chair and put his hands behind his head as if to say, "Dude.. I give up...this stuff is way over my head." I had to laugh to myself too because once or twice the "tutor" would just grab the pencil from the "student" and write something out. "No, no, no.. I told you that's wrong! Do it like this!" I wish I could've heard what they were saying!

Good vs. Bad Ultrasound

Again, I like hearing the feedback from the patients on their views of their ultrasounds.

I still find it hardest to believe that the first lady was laying there crying and visually upset/shaken and the sonographer didn't even notice! Or perhaps she was just unwilling to acknowledge it. Also for the sonographer to barely speek to this patient is undoubtedly going to unerve her! I just can't comprehend what was going through that sonographer's mind. It's just so obvious to me to talk to and acknowledge your patient.

I also think that if this lady didn't have the expectations she did, perhaps her scan would have ended differently. That's not to say that she wouldn't have still been upset, but I think that when something doesn't meet our expectations (whether they are obtainable or not) we are obviously going to be dissapointed.

It is very obvious as well that, especially obstetrical, ultrasounds can be very emotional. Whether they be positive or negative emotions, the sonographer needs to be sensitive to those feelings. Even though the second lady was in a great amount of pain in the beginning, she said the nurses were very sympathetic to her condition which made her feel a bit better. The sonographer let her see the images which helped her establish a connection with her baby. Because of those simple things she left feeling very positive and excited, regardless of the initial issues.

My Opinion on the Article

Having just read the article "Women's experience of prenatal US examination," I have to say that I am quite impressed. I found the research to be quite thorough, to the point, and I actually liked that it was opinionated. Granted, this research and experiment probably has a great deal of bias in the opinions of those women who were interviewed. However, I don't know of another way to improve patient care without patient perspective.

The article outlined the main cues that would trigger a woman to feel anxiety or stress, and also what would help them feel calm and comfortable. Unfortunately, sonographers are put in a somewhat compromising position, as they are not able to reveal the results of a scan regardless of how unnerved the expecting parents are.

One point in the article that really stuck out for me was that, "no US diagnosis was questioned, even when a serious fetal diagnosis was changed." I feel like this point really drives home the fact that sonographers are trusted and viewed as professionals. Such a responsibility should not be taken lightly since, "the experience for pregnant women may be profound, life changing and unforgettable."

Job Shadow Gone Wrong

I have a somewhat unprofessional story which actually comes from the job shadow I did while I was working on my "career investigation" for my application to the NAIT DMS program.

After weeks and countless phonecalls to several imaging clinics in the Edmonton area, I was finally able to get a time to job shadow and a brand new clinic with some exceptional sonographers. I walked up to the receptionist counter and explained who I was and why I was there. I was responded to with a surprising blank stare. Apparently they had no idea I was coming. After some confusion they allowed me to go back and shadow some of the scans anyway.

All of the techs were pretty friendly and shook my hand and introduced themselves...EXCEPT for the lady I was going to be shadowing. I'm not sure if she was having a bad day or maybe she was just put-off by my surprise visit, but she barely acknowledged my existence. Aside from her attitude towards myself, I was getting a sense that perhaps she didn't win the "most-liked" award from the rest of the staff either. The other sonographers were not as chatty with her, and were in fact more keen to avoid her. I would later learn why.

So we called several patients into the imaging rooms, and I wouldn't describe this lady as being rude to the patients, however I wouldn't describe her as being open or friendly either. She was quite short, to the point, and rather cold. To say the least she didn't quite fit my image of a health care professional.

I would express to her how excited I was and how fascinating it was when I could actually see the liver or kidney etc. on the screen. However, she made it quite clear that she did not share my excitement for the profession. She complained of the "repetitive stresses" to the body that come with the career. She complained of working with difficult patients. She complained that she found her job monotonous. In fact, she complained the whole time! I finally asked her if there was anything about her job that she liked, or really enjoyed doing. Her response was something along the lines of, "Yes. I can work part time." I appreciate that she is sharing the down sides of the profession as well, but perhaps she could've put a positive spin on it for an excited new student? I also mentioned to her that I was thinking of applying for XRay as well and her exact words to me were, "Don't become a tech."

Obviously, she didn't disuade me from applying to the program. I still knew that I was deeply interested in the career and I was determined not to let her poor attitude affect my decision. I would like to believe that if I felt that strongly about my job I would spare all my collegues and patients and move onto something else. Her bitterness was affecting her professionalism in a very obvious way. It affects the way she works with her team and thus it's efficiency. It also effects the experience her patients have during their scan. It can leave them feeling vulnerable and uncomfortable. I feel the experience only motivated me to prove her wrong. The career may not be for her and I would be glad to take her spot!!!