Family Health - Week 7 Discussion 1st REPLY

Jessica Alper

The videos shown on this page are all great resources to use as a nurse practitioner. During my last clinical rotation, I had the opportunity to learn about multiple skills a nurse practitioner should be an expert on, which include suturing as well as reading and interpretating x-rays. 

Learning how to suture took a long time to be proficient in it. Because my last clinical rotation was in an acute care center, suturing wounds was performed almost on a daily basis. I ordered a suturing kit during the first week of clinicals so that I could practice early on and eventually use my skills later on with patients. Before reviewing the videos and practicing the skill, I was not aware that different types of sutures existed. This video really helped in learning all the different ways to suture and why one technique might be used over another. I will continue practicing and improving this skill until I feel confident with it. 

Another point to make is that being able to read x-rays takes a lot of practice. Whether the practitioner is looking at an elbow, a knee or a rib, it is important to know what is normal from the abnormal. I previously had experience reading chest x-rays and KUBs from my job as a NICU nurse, but reading and interpreting bones from imaging was quite challenging. It is first and foremost important to know what the normal anatomy is, so that any fractures or displacements may be easier to notice. I will continue practicing my skills using these videos as resources.