Clinical this week began at 5 a.m. at Methodist, in San Antonio beginning with ECT treatment. We were all split into groups the week earlier and chosen to observe the treatment first, followed by going onto the units. The ECT treatment consisted of four patients all varying in age and diagnosis but receiving the same type of treatment. I was able to witness the nurse’s role in this position and the team work of multidisciplinary. The multidisciplinary interaction occurred as one nurse was in charge of doing paper work, another set up IV’s in the patients and a third monitored the patients before seeing the doctor. Seeing the doctor, nurses and anesthesiologist all working together to provide this type of treatment was enlightening. After viewing the treatment I was able to go onto the acute care unit with my “partner”, Breana. On this unit we were able to interact with patients in the group room through activities facilitated by the recreational therapists. The most interesting part about this experience on this unit was aiding in the transportation of the patients to a new unit, located on a separate floor.
My initial thoughts about the ECT treatment was uncomfortable and bias but, after reading the handout given to us by Mrs. Dutton I was intrigued to find out more and excited to witness the treatment in person. Seeing the treatments was exciting yet uncomfortable due to the unconscious reaction I was able to witness from the patients. Knowing that the body was in a paralyzed state, was comforting but watching the physical reaction of fists clenching and biting down followed by the patients face squinting together looked painful although the patient could not feel the pulses. Despite feeling uneasy watching the treatment I was able to observe patients wake up from it, afterwards, feeling better than before. After witnessing the treatment I was able to continue clinical on level one which was exciting because I was looking forward to seeing the acute mental health patients. I was able to interact with a specific individual that illustrated paranoia and severe anxiety; she illustrated these behaviors by staying in her room the entire time until the transition of units. Once on the new unit this patient ate lunch with the other patients on the floor but did not eat her food, I observed her picking at it and requesting to save it for later.
After seeing the process of the ECT treatment I have a better understanding of the treatment and understand the willingness patients have towards it. Knowing that the body is almost paralyzed but still reacting to the electricity through the strokes allowed me to visually see the movement of the electric pulses through the patient’s body. Seeing the different dosages given was interesting because it allowed me to connect the numerical reference to the body’s reaction. After witnessing ECT treatment my biases have been dismissed allowing me to gain a new understanding of this intervention provided for patients.
I am now able to understand the impact ECT treatment has on depression and the patients who experience those feelings that put them at risk for further deterioration or self-harm. In the future I plan to use this experience as a way to be more open about various treatments and be a resource if a patient has questions about this treatment. Having the opportunity to witness electric compulsive treatment as well as being placed on the acute care unit, created an eventful clinical.