Post Partum

For clinical two weeks ago I was placed in the Post Partum unit. I really didn't know what to expect but I figured I probably would not be doing much. I was wrong. It was a wonderful day and I wished I could have stayed even longer. 

Vanessa and I were both assigned great nurses to work with. L & D was busy that day and as we were arriving two babies were just about to be born. Meaning......new admins in post partum! My first patient was in the antepartum unit, considered a high risk pregnancy. She was only 28 weeks prego but her amniotic sac, "her water", broke at 22 weeks. Because of this she will have to stay in the hospital until the baby is born. She is bedridden and has non-stress tests performed daily to make sure the baby will be able to handle labor. Because her membranes ruptured prematurely she is at a high risk for infection and will be treated with antibiotics. She was an absolute doll. She was young, probably my age or a year or so older, and had an 18 month old who came to visit. I can't imagine what it is like for her to be cooped up in a hospital room with a toddler and husband at home.

Another patient I worked with was s/p c-section and ready to have her staples taken out. You can only bet Vanessa and I jumped to take them out. Neither of us had ever removed staples before but it was incredible to say the least! We each did half of the removing and half of applying steri strips. Our instructor made fun of us for treating it as artwork since we were making sure each steri strip was the same width apart, same height, and perfectly smooth. What can I say, sometimes these anal tendencies come out! The new mom let me snuggle her baby boy and he was just too cute for words. Did I ever snuggle him! She wanted to shower so I sat in her room and rocked her baby so she could freshen up. Yes, I was in heaven.

 Throughout the day I performed multiple newborn assessments....checking reflexes, fontanels, heart sounds, suture lines, hip placement, and more. It was such a blessing working with these sweet lil lives and the excited new parents. I snuggled, rocked, and soothed newborns. I talked with new moms and comforted their concerns. It was an absolute joy to work in this unit and I love love love being around babies! 




To others, that day was just another day of class, but to me it was a treasured gift. I can't wait to be in the labor and delivery ward this Saturday!

 

Wrong side of the bed...

...is where I woke up on Thursday!! Granted, I am aware that we are completely in control of our own attitudes.....more words of wisdom growing up from my mom....but I'm pretty sure I threw that out the window when I got up! Ah, it was my fault that I was so tired that morning. I procrastinated on my careplan that was due and typing/researching for 22 pages on Wed just didn't cut it! So when I crawled into bed at 12:30am and set my alarm for 4:00am I was already ticked. Thank my alarm when off and I am pretty sure there were tears.

Thankfully, Trav and I both made it out the door dressed and with breakfast by five. I knew I had a long day ahead so I called the Butterfields, knowing that with the time change they were awake. Talking with Maddie and Savi turned my mood completely around. Let's start the day!

This clinical day was different. Instead of one patient, we were assigned two. Double the medications to learn & give, double the daily care, double the research, and double the trouble! Our instructor wanted us all to pass meds to both patients in a two hour time frame. Well, for students this is an impossible task. If it wasn't required that before passing meds we had to list the side effects, classifications, reasoning, and teaching for each medication ( mind you the average pt at the facility is on 20 meds) than we might have made it. Eh, maybe. I was really exited because I was up to give IVPB (hang piggyback antibiotics) and IV push narcotics. Those would both be something new for me to try. However, our medication passing went waaaayyyy to slow and my patient's couldn't wait for my instructor to get to my turn for their pain meds and ATB, so I missed out.

                                                                             IVPB

 

IV push

Insulin

I enjoyed the two patients I did have and I was able to administer meds via G-tube and give insulin injections. Have I mention I love giving injections? It's definitely a thrill. Especially when you go quick and you no the patient felt nothing but a slight prick. The patient in bed 1 had been at the facility for 120 days. At one time she was a very successful career woman but she abused alcohol causing her liver to now be shot. From her excessive drinking, she developed a seizure disorder and suffered from a bad fall. That fall caused an intracranial hemorrhage (bleed) that left significant damage. She was given a trach, artificial airway, and she still has it. She is unable to clear all her muscou/secretions, so when I went in to do her morning assessment, her chest was covered in an inch thick pile of mucous. Poor thing! Who lets someone sit in that?! Frequent suctioning was performed all day. Suctioning through a trach is a sterile procedure, fyi.

Trach

&

Suction Kit







My patient in bed 2 was alert, oriented, ambulatory and mostly independent. She was in due to a pretty massive wound that required her to be hooked up to a wound vac. (I will save you from a picture of that!) She is a smoker and would take frequent breaks to head out side for a cigarette time out. We have to respect our patent's wishes and their lifestyle, but when she asked me to walk to halls and find her a cigarette, I had to redirect the conversation. It was nice having a patient to talk to though and who wasn't comatose. Once I had finished assessments and care for my patients, I stopped by the room of my sweet patient from a few weeks ago. This is the man who is on his way to recovery and I wanted to check on his status. When I popped my head in, he was up in a chair finishing breakfast and about ready to start occupational therapy. He looked great! Plus, he remembered me which totally made my day. I chatted with him for a little bit. He wasn't able to answer all my questions or formulate a response but that's ok. I can see he is progressing which is awesome.

Another week at Kindred down with only 3 more left. Crazy how fast time has flown. And, a total blessing how each week brings a new set of confidence, new fears to overcome, and new lives to make a difference in.

Healing Begins - Tenth Avenue North - w/lyrics

Another one of my favorite artists and songs! I often hear a song that really means something to me and I hang on to it, playing it over an over! I go through "songs of the week". This one is this weeks and I just love it.

Music was always my passion and I miss it. It was a way for me to express myself. Music makes me feel and moves me. One of these days I will find a way to be involved with something musically again. Until than, I will just soak up the good music that is out there.

We love Bass Lake!

Here is a photo collection of the few days we spent at the lake with Cindy's family! It's a great tradition and we look forward to it every year!

Create your own free scrapbook design

A day in the NICU

   


This term, I am in an OB clinical as well as med-surg. For our OB rotation we are at UCI medical center and it is GORGEOUS to say the least! Have you seen the "Grey's Anatomy" episode where they find the Dermatology unit and are so in awe of how peaceful it is? Well, the lobby of UCI is identical to it. I want to take a magazine on my day off, grab a latte, and just relax. During OB clinical, we spend each day in a different unit. I started out in the NICU with my friend Vanessa. I fell in love at first visit. 

          




         NICU is like walking into a whole different world of medicine. It is highly specialized and an average nurse cannot float to the unit. Everything is small. I know, sounds funny, but I am used to dealing with "large" tubes, large people, and a completely different environment.  At first glance, it seems to be a room full or tubes and machines that are so foreign but when taking a closer look they all start to make sense. 

I had a fantastic nurse, Jen, to work with. She was a great teacher and thought out loud the whole day so I would learn. I wasn't able to do much but she kept me as involved as possible. We had two babies for the day and she did an assessment on one, than had me do the other. We gave meds, changed diapers, fed through a bottle and oral gavage, and loved those lil premis.  

My niece, Zoey, was in the NICU when she was born. While she wasn't as critical as most of the babies there, I did get a feel for the unit at the time and I remember loving it than as well. 




I really fell in love with the NICU. My heart tells me that working in pediatric oncology is where I am supposed to be but I've never been in the unit, so I realy have no idea what it is like. However, should that not end up being in the Lord's plan for my nursing career, I pray that a door into the NICU would open up because I think I could make a huge difference there. My cousin, Rochelle, and I had a long talk about nursing, the NICU, and oncology. She is one of few who doesn't think I'm crazy when I say oncology is my passion, instead she replies with " I totally see you there." We were talking about how in the NICU and Onc units you become a huge part of the patient's stories because you build relationships and you don't just see them one day to have them discharged the next. I think that is one of the big reasons nursing is for me. I want that relationship with my patient's. I want to be their advocates, their teacher, a counselor to them or to the family, a listening ear, smile, or gentle touch, and a caregiver. I'm not sure where I will end up next February, but I am very excited to step into this role.
 

2 years down...Forever to go!

This past Tuesday we celebrated our 2 year wedding anniversary in Bass Lake! Can't even believe it's been two years! The Lord is good and they have been a fun filled 2 years where we have been challenged and grown alot as one. We love looking back through our wedding pics and remembering the day. One of the greatest things was having all the nieces and nephews play such a huge part. Most of my memories from the day include one of the kids and I just love that!

Here is to another 50 + years together! We are excited to see what the Lord has planned for us in our 3rd year and where He will lead us! Thanks to all of you who shared that special day with us and who continue to support and love us! You are so appreciated and we love you!

 What a fabulous day!!!! :)

Be strong in the Lord....

I LOVE this song! I blast it when it comes on the Fish! Hope you enjoy it as much as I do :)

The words are so powerful, reassuring, and comforting.

"Don't forget why you are here. Take your time and pray"