Blog 23

Ethnographic Study

Taking place in a Hematologist/Oncologist office. Names of my participants have been anonymous. No names have been revealed while this study was being performed.

JOTTINGS: 

• Good morning by the nurses
• Nurses have Thanksgiving scrubs on
• Nurse #1 calls my subject to follow
• Both, subject and Nurse #1 walk down the hallway
• Nurse #1 asks my subject how she is?
• Subject nods her head side to side
• Nurse #1, so-so or okay?
• Subject responds with okay
• Nurse #1 weighs subject
• 143 lbs Nurse #1 says
• Nurse #1 points to office
• Subject sits in a green chair
• Nurse #2 says Hi
• Nurse #2 asks about primary care physician
• Observer says I don't know
• Nurse #1 with butterfly needle, alcohol pad, two tubes with red tops
• Nurse #2 asks subject how she is feeling?
• Nurse #2 asks about GI doctor
• Nurse #1 cleans spot
• Nurse #1 puts needle in vein
• Blood flows into the tube
• Nurse #2 walks away
• Nurse #1 puts tube in machine
• Subject left alone, waiting
• Nurse #1 comes in with band aid
• Nurse #2 asks Nurse #1, about blood count
• Nurse #1 says 11.6
• Observer says it went down from 11.9
• Nurse #2 says it was 11.9, now 11.6, it went down but not too drastic.
• Nurse #1 and #2 say Happy Thanksgiving
• Nurse #2- Next week okay?
• Subject says okay
• Nurse #2 and #1 hug subject

Head Notes:

We enter the Hematologist/Oncologist office. Everyone says, "Good Morning." Nurse #1 comes down the hallway and calls subject to follow. Nurse #1 asks how subject is, subject nods head side to side. Nurse #1 asks if subject is so-so or okay? Subject responds to the nurse, "Okay." Nurse #1 weighs the subject and tells subject 143 pounds. Nurse #1 then directs subject to an office with a green chair. Nurse #1 leaves the room goes into another. Subject sits, waiting. Nurse #2 comes in and says, "Hi." Then Nurse #2 turns to subject, asking how subject is doing? Subject says, "I'm okay." Nurse #2 gets pushed by Nurse #1 to move to the side. Nurse #1 has a blue strap, two tubes with red tops, an alcohol pad and  a butterfly needle. Nurse #! straps subject's arm, taps her vein, whips the spot with an alcohol pad and inserts the butterfly needle as Nurse #1 unstraps the subject's arm. Nurse #1 then places the tubes when the subject's blood begins to flow.

Nurse #2 asks about the primary care physician. Observer responds, "I'm not sure." Nurse #2 then says, "It's fine." Then Nurse #1 removes the needle, whips the spot with a cotton ball and goes away to get a band aid. Nurse #2 asks about the GI doctor and observer says, "I have to call to see what day they have her scheduled for." Nurse #2 says, "Okay, just let us know when you can."

Nurse #1 puts tube in machine, comes into the room with a band aid. Then Nurse #1 and Nurse #2 leave, subject sits waiting. Then Nurse #2 asks Nurse #1 what's the blood count of the subject. Nurse #1 says 11.6. Nurse #2 turns to subject and observer, says 11.6. Observer says it went down. Nurse #2 says, "Yes, it was 11.9, but it wasn't too drastic." Subject gets up to leave, Nurse #2 says, "Happy Thanksgiving and hugs subject. Nurse #1 hugs subject and says, "Happy Thanksgiving."

Observations about What Happened:

Subject is going for blood count check a day before Thanksgiving. The office wasn't packed with other patients like it normally is. The staff always greet the subject with a friendly Good Morning. Everyone in their Thanksgiving scrubs. Nurse #1 comes down from the hallway and see's the subject. Nurse #1 directs subject's attention to follow her. Subject follows Nurse #1, Nurse #1 asks the subject how the subject is doing today? The subject nods her head side to side. Nurse #1 confused, asks, "so-so or okay?" The subject then turns to Nurse #! and responds, "Okay." 

Nurse #! brings subject to weight and tells subject 143 pounds. The subject gets off and follows Nurse #1 into an office with a big green chair. The subject sits and places her arm on top of the arm rest of the green chair. Nurse Z#1 leaves the room for medical supplies. Nurse #2 comes into the room and says, "Hi," to the subject and observer. Nurse #2 asks whether or not the subjects primary care physician received their fax. The observer responds to the Nurse. Meanwhile Nurse #1 comes into the room, pushes Nurse #2 to move to the side, so there's room to pass. Nurse #1 puts a blue strap on subject's arm, taps on the vein so it can be visible and whips the spot with an alcohol pad and inserts the butterfly needle in subjects veins. Then Nurse #1 grabs two tubes, when the subjects blood filled both tubes, Nurse #1 removes strap and needle. Whips the excess blood with a cotton ball. Nurse #2 then asks about subjects GI doctor, when subject will see the GI doctor again. Observer turns to Nurse #2 and says, "I have to call the office to see what day she is scheduled for." Nurse #2 says, "Okay, that's fine, just let us known when you know." Nurse #1 leaves to get a band aid and to put one tube in the machine to read the subject's blood count.

Nurse #2 leaves and subject waits to know the results. Nurse #2 asks Nurse #1 what is the subject's blood count. Nurse #1 says, "It's 11.6" Observer says, "It went down from last week." Nurse #2 says, "Yes, but not too drastic." Nurse #2 gives subject a copy of the count as the subject is getting up to leave. Nurse #2 gives subject a hug and says, "Happy Thanksgiving, take care of yourself and if you need anything call me." Then in the hallway Nurse #1 says, "Happy Thanksgiving," and hugs the subject.

Things I remember later:

Nurse #1 and the rest of the staff had Thanksgiving scrubs. Nurse #2 was the only one with white scrubs and a lab coat on. Nurse #1 puts the supplies on the side chair next to the green chair before performing blood work. Once the subject hugs Nurse #1, subject gives her two kisses for marriage and Nurse #1 says, "Yes, I need all the good luck and vibes to get married." The observer pays for the visit and then looks for the subject, who was sitting in the waiting room. Observer makes an appointment for subject for next week. One of the employee's comes up and hugs both the subject and the observer. Wishing a Happy Thanksgiving.