As Nicole stands beside me with excitement, I explain to AW about each simulation device, and they both are intrigued. Nicole with anticipation, and AW with uncertainty. “ AW, let me show you this graft simulation. This is different from what you have. This device is designed to educate our patients and our new hires about what a graft access is and maintaining it. A graft is in artificial tubing placed inside a patient’s arm.”, As I cut open the simulation as if I were a surgeon of some sort, AW’s eyes were beyond gigantic. This simulation was put together by myself and another colleague in our Education Department. “ AW, some patients have grafts due to the observation from the surgeon and depending upon the anatomy of the patient. As you can see, it’s like a horseshoe, and it’s seemingly a little harder than a fistula. My colleague and I used those very lines that are on your machine, not used of course, fresh in the packaging. Then, if you look closely at the pump segment, the lines within there are a little wider and thicker than the other lines. We mixed food coloring and red dye to give it a life-like effect on those that are being trained. …..AW’s eyes were still bright-eyed and bushy tailed. Now take a look at this fistula device. If you notice, it’s a little more similar to your arm. It’s more slender and longer. The diameter isn’t as wide as the graft simulation. Instead of placing a more hard type of demonstration as you see for the graft. We used more slender lines of the package like the ones you see that are attached to your arm accessing your fistula now. We used a longer piece of the tubing, tied it to a blue string fiber and a red string fiber. We wanted to paint a vivid picture of an artery tied to a vein…” LOL”, as you can see we are no surgeons, but we try…….” Hmm mm Dwelyn, I kinda get it somewhat. These things are definitely life-like. They look scary but real, or should I say Real Scary!” As she chuckled. Nicole says,” Mrs. AW , I loved cannulating these devices. Especially when the fake blood would squirt out… Hee Hee!”, “ AW and myself both chuckled at Nicole as well.
“Now AW , let’s take a look at this CVC( Catheter Simulation), as you noticed……” Wait Dwelyn!” AW replies ,” What is that hanging on that dummies chest?” “ It looks like a wishbone !” Lol, AW, as I was saying, this demonstration is a bit different from the other two devices. Tell me what you’ve noticed is different?”….. AW, pauses… “ Well I see a little fake blood , it’s in the chest, more stuff that looks like surgery…….wait, where are the needles???? “….” Exactly AW… most patients have a CVC if they don’t have a fistula or graft, or they’re being prepared to have one established. “ “ Huh?? AW, replied….” Why would a patient have both? Why would they be getting one, dear boy? Established??….. There’s a lot going on here. !!!”” , Well let me explain. See if a patient has a CVC, and not an arm access, the goal is to coach and prepare a patient mentally to go to the next step and have surgery to get access placed in their arm , chest, or leg……” WAIT a minute!!!….. Timeout. Before you go any further, let me see if I’m understanding this correctly!”, bare with me. So you’re saying that with these access thingy’s , they can be put or placed in other parts of your body other than a persons arm?”, “ Meaning someone can actually get stuck with a needle in their leg and chest?” “ Oh boy you are crazy, you have been working too long and hard man!” You be jiving me!”” ( All Nicole and I could do is just laugh endlessly) . “ Yes, AW, this is correct. In my years of being a Dialysis Technician , I’ve witnessed all sorts of accesses from patients I’ve had the privilege to take care of. ” So Dwelyn , do patients decide what kind of access they get? “… Well, not exactly to the best of my knowledge.” “ Some patients may have certain health issues that allow only a certain type of access. That’s up to the surgeon’s assessment.”, AW replied,” Okay, I guess that makes sense. “
“Moving right along. Let’s take a look at this Pancreas. “, “ AW, do you know what the relationship is between your kidneys and your pancreas?
Pancreas- a large gland behind your stomach which secretes digestive enzymes into the duodenum.
“In which your pancreas makes pancreatic juices called enzymes( an example of an enzyme is Amylase, which breaks down starch into sugars. Like let’s take for instance Macaroni or a type of pasta noodles) “, “ AW replies ,” Oh Dwelyn I love macaroni and cheese!” ,” So I guess it’s bad for me, or I can’t have it all the time?” …. I reply by saying,” That is possibly correct , but I’ll have to have you talk to our Dietician. For clarity, of course.
“So your Kidney- is a bean-shaped organ that’s the size of your fist that’s located just below your rib cage on the side of your spine adjacent to another. Now, a healthy kidney could filter about half a cup of blood every minute of your life, while removing wastes and excess water to make urine.”
“ Dwelyn , get to the point man.” , “ I have 2 more hours , I believe, for my Dialysis.”, “ What’s the connection between the pancreas and kidney?” ,” You be draining me with too much information, Mon!” As she chuckles.
“Okay, sorry…..Hee Hee…!”. Well I call this a Kidney Kollaboration……. ,” There’s this thing called Combined transplantation that is performed for those individuals who may suffer from kidney failure as a complication of those who are insulin dependent diabetes mellitus…….. Also,……
As Denym walks by and is talking to Nicole , he gives her a stack of envelopes. “ Hey Dwelyn, I’m here to pass out these envelopes to all our patients. It’s a Majestic Monday here at the KidneyTrails Dialysis Clinic, inside these envelopes are numbers, and these numbers represent a wonderful prize. A chance to win a iPad, EarPods, $50.00 gift card, and with an addition from one of the gifts, the winner gets to choose only one and will receive a Guest Appearance on the famous podcast show ,” Hope With Jonathan “, if they get the number 8 in their envelope!”….Sweeeeeeet
“ Hmm, I love podcasts. I listen to podcasts regularly here on my iPad, and to win another iPad or $50.00 as a gift card would be nice. So, Nicole, give me an envelope.!” ,” Sure thing AW!”….. As Nicole hands AW one of the envelopes……….” Yikes!!!!! ( as she is bumped by Ashley , she spills the box of envelopes , and the first envelope AW grabs , swiftly drifts out of her hand……and as she sees the cloud of envelopes soaring throughout the clinic floor, she sees the young lady from across the way that was in business attire. That young lady was Elisia Marchena.
Kidney Trails 
Great Job 👏🏻!
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