Lehlogonolo Masemola

• The first 3 months of my community service, I worked at one of the hospitals' feeder clinics called Boschplaats Clinic; where I practiced as an antenatal midwife and other nursing clinician roles in family planning and female reproductive health, IMCI and EPI; chronic disease management and acute disease diagnoses and management to name a few.
• The next 7 months were spent in the maternity department in the labour and delivery ward for 4 of those 7 months; and in the postnatal ward for the remaining 3 months.
• The last two months of my community service were spent working in the casualty/ emergency department. In this department I managed various patients with many different health histories and of different ages. Some of the medical histories included but are not limited to uncontrolled chronic diseases, acute mental illness relapse/ psychotic episodes, trauma patients (assaults, vehicle accidents, burns e.t.c.) and poisoned patients e.g. organophosphate poisoning. This department especially helped in growing my knowledge, administration and management/ handling of emergency medication.
• In all departments I was:- Collecting specimens for laboratory investigations such as blood, stools, urine and sputum.

- Inserting of intravenous lines (drips) for the administration of IV medications and fluids.

- Inserting of urinary catheters in both male and female patients in necessary situations such as pre-op preparations, resuscitated and bedridden patients.

- Administration of intravenous, intramuscular, oral and topical medications as prescribed.

- Using my knowledge of disease processes and pharmacology; to scrutinize the plans of care and medications prescribed for patients in order advocate for patient safety and wellbeing in situations where there are observable contraindications.