Just my thing

To some, a hospital is a scary place. They don't like walking through those big front doors into a place of such uncertainty. They don't like the smells or the atmosphere or the "what ifs". But to me, hospitals are magical. I know, crazy but true. When I walk through the front door of any hospital it is an incredible feeling. To me, they portray a feeling and enviroment of healing and great things. I love walking through the halls, the shiny floors that are always glistening, the sound of beeping IVs and machines, and the hustle & bustle of Drs and nurses running around as they provide care. 

That being said, I love visiting new hospitals. Buildings are inspiring in general. Architecture can be a pretty fascinating thing. Football stadiums and baseball fields are must sees when on vacation, but I also have Trav make one more stop: the biggest hospital in the area. I have a list of hospitals I love and hope to see one day. I am well aware that I am probably completely crazy but I truly love them. I love the helio pads and knowing that they provide an entrance for organ transplants to make their way to their recipients & for emergency cases to have a fast way of transportation. When I worked next door to CHOC, I had a view of their heliopad. Every time I heard the rumble of the helicopter in the distance I would open my blinds all the way so I could watch them land, the medical team prepared on foot for them, and the rush as they unloaded and hurried inside. Most would think it's really sad because it means someone is really sick, and yes, that is true. Those helicopters do transport critical cases but, magical things happen in hospitals. God gave Drs, nurses, researchers and more great technology, knowledge, and skills so that they can take these tragedies, act as His healing hands, and provide healing. It's incredible.

Here are just a few of my favorite hospitals. Some I have set foot in. Some I will see soon. Others I hope to visit one day.

 Phoenix Childrens, AZ

( New building)

Barnes Jewish, MO

Siteman Cancer Center @ Barnes Jewish, MO

Boston Children's Hospital, MA

Cardinal Glennon, MO

(Childrens)

CHOC, CA,

New CHOC, CA

( building in progress)

City of Hope, CA

Denver Chlidrens, CO

SSM St. Mary's, MO

Rush, IL

Texas Childrens, TX

UCI Medical Center, CA

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.
 

Oh Kindred...

In this nursing term, I have clinicals on the Med-Surg floor as well as an OB rotation every other week where I will gain experience in the NICU, Post-Partum, and L&D. I was really looking forward to clinicals and the chance to be with patients again.

Last week consisted of orientations to our clinicals sites/floors. We met our instructors and I came home with an intense amount of anxiety regarding my Med-Surg instructor. Past clinical instructors have been pretty laid back. That is the last I will see of that. After laying out the plan for the next 8 weeks, I realized I may be in over my head. I was already nervous about heading back out on the floor and that day just didn't make it any better. I've come to realize though that as an instructor she is going to push me to do my best. She is going to challenge me & teach me things that you can't learn in a textbook. She is going to question my judgment to make sure I have it in me to stand up for my decisions, patient care, and that I am my patient's advocate.

Aside from that, I was really excited about being able to go into the OR, ER, Telemetry, and Ortho units. Until our site was changed to Kindred Westminister. Now, I spent my Med-Surg clinical for LVN school here and it was great for that. I was able to grasp passing meds and injections as well as insert my first NG tube, watch a chest tube insertion and more. But for this term, I was totally bummed to hear the news. I was ready for something different and completely jealous of my friends who are scrubbing in the OR today or running around the ER tomorrow. Why did I get stuck with a facility that is pretty close to being an assisted living/long term care facility?

Growing up, when my mom didn't like my attitude she would tell me to have an attitude check. After telling her my disappointment for tomorrow's clinical, she did the same. She reminded me that the patients at Kindred need just as much care as a patient in the ER. My sister piped in to remind me that there is a reason I was placed at this facility. The Lord knew that the patients I would encounter here need something I have to offer. What would I do without my family's support?

So, my attitude has changed. I will still be praying the entire drive to the facility tomorrow for strength, patience, and guidance but I know that He has a great plan for me at Kindred that I don't even know yet. With every patient I encounter, I always treat them as if they were my loved one. For that patient is someone's parent, sibling, child, grandparent, friend and most importantly loved by the Lord. I can only pray that His love shines thru my work in clinicals to touch and heal lives. I pray that I will be challenged to the ultimate this term and that because of it, I leave as a confidant, joyful, and hard working RN. I also pray that my perseverance and dedication to this term allows the door to open for the clinical group at CHOC next term....which would be my dream. So, if this is a stepping stone....a bump in the road....a challenge to overcome than bring it on. I'm ready. I'm ready to make a difference. I'm ready to learn. I'm ready to care.

Here's to tomorrow and the beginning of a beautiful Med-Surg clinical at Kindred.