I am sooooo freakin tired!!!!
Last night was a total zoo at work! Our unit typically has 165-200 deliveries a month, so we are fairly steady. On the busiest night we will admit 5 or so scheduled procedures and have maybe 3 or 4 triages, that mostly go home. Well, last night we had 10 triages and I think only sent 1 or 2 home and had to call off the scheduled procedures because we had no more nurses and no more rooms! When I left this morning I had just put a laboring patient in the last empty room, the morning's scheduled c-section was being pre-opped in the PACU and we still had one patient being triaged in one of our three triage rooms. I hate to even think of what dayshift is like today!
The one bright spot was a great little couple I had the privilege of laboring. It was their fourth child and she came in to "just get checked" she said she had been having contractions every evening for the last three nights and just wanted to see if they were doing anything, she fully expected me to send her home.....NOT happening. She was 6cm! She was so surprised when I told her, it was great!
She had a wonderful unmedicated birth, two hours after she arrived at the hospital. She didn't get to labor in the shower like we had planned. I was warming up the water for her and getting her towels laid out when she started vomitting (she stood by the bed the whole time leaning over the bedside table) and her water broke, puddling between her legs. This is when she started getting some pressure during the peaks of contractions and we felt it best to hang close to the bed, she really didn't want to move much at this point anyway, it seemed like an insurmountable task to to her to get in and out of the shower at 8cm dilated!
On a less stressful note, I get to spend the evening having dinner with the local CNM's. I really enjoy getting together with these ladies, they are such a wonderful group and always keep me encouraged and pushing forward.
Showing posts with label work. Show all posts
Showing posts with label work. Show all posts
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Monday, December 29, 2008
New Year's Chaos
So, it is the last few days of the year, and what does every pregnant family want right now? A birthed baby, of course. Gotta have that tax deduction and there are only a few days between Christmas and New Year's in which to get in all these deliveries so healthcare providers don't get their holiday festivities interrupted.
I hate working this week, but I knew we were going to be slammed, and being on winter break from school, I have the time and need the money.
Last night was a zoo......eight scheduled procedures to come in, not to mention the five triages we had. Three of those stayed and two or them delivered before shift change. Tonight will be no different.....there are seven procedures scheduled and we will be tightly staffed because all those who came in last night will be delivered so half the scheduled staff will be doing postpartum tonight. This will leave just enough nurses to take care of the scheduled procedures.......heaven forbid a triage walk through the door. The powers to be just don't understand that! They fill us up with procedures and make no concession for the women who actually go into labor and just show up.......what? women can actually go into labor on their own? you don't have to schedule their deliveries....grrrrrr!!!
Okay, just had to rant a little.
Hope everyone is gearing up for a great start to the new year! Bring on 2009!!
I hate working this week, but I knew we were going to be slammed, and being on winter break from school, I have the time and need the money.
Last night was a zoo......eight scheduled procedures to come in, not to mention the five triages we had. Three of those stayed and two or them delivered before shift change. Tonight will be no different.....there are seven procedures scheduled and we will be tightly staffed because all those who came in last night will be delivered so half the scheduled staff will be doing postpartum tonight. This will leave just enough nurses to take care of the scheduled procedures.......heaven forbid a triage walk through the door. The powers to be just don't understand that! They fill us up with procedures and make no concession for the women who actually go into labor and just show up.......what? women can actually go into labor on their own? you don't have to schedule their deliveries....grrrrrr!!!
Okay, just had to rant a little.
Hope everyone is gearing up for a great start to the new year! Bring on 2009!!
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Choices....or the illusion thereof
Worked last night at the single room maternity care hospital. Not too bad a night except that I started the night in the O.R. and ended the night in the O.R. The O.R. is my least favorite place to be and I always end up there when I'm having a good hair night!!! Never fails.....I even told myself driving to work last night to be prepared to hit the O.R. first thing cause the hair was looking pretty darn good.......and sure enough!!!
The first c/s was distressing for the poor mom because she had been admitted for elective induction on Sunday evening...had cervidil all night, pit started early Monday morning, doc broke her water shortly after pit started.....made it to 5cm by 6pm last evening just to discover the babe was breech!
Now, the nurse that cared for this patient said she thinks the baby must've turned during labor, she only checked her once, about noonish, and is confident it was head she was feeling. This nurse is a good one too and it definitely wouldn't be the first time a baby has flipped during labor.
This patient was being electively induced (doc is on vacation next week) at 38 wks and the babe was barely over 6#. But everyone did well and that baby is sooo cute!!
The midpart of the night was pretty uneventful and then 4am hit! 4am seems to be the witching hour in labor and delivery. That's when it all hits the fan.
We were schedule to have two inductions arrive at 5am and the am scheduled c/s was to be there at 5am also. Well, at 0430 we had a patient, who was scheduled for a c/s later in the week, show up because her water was broke. She had a c/s scheduled because the baby was breech (she wasn't happy...3rd baby, other two were vag deliveries) and much to her excitement when she arrived we scanned her and the baby had turned head down!! So, she was admitted as a labor patient
Not ten minutes after we got her in a room another patient comes in thinking her water broke and has been contracting, so we used some nitrazine and confirmed the leaking of amniotic fluid so I told her she is definitely staying and having a baby today.
I told her I was going to call the doctor and let them know she was here so they could head in and we would get her ready for her repeat c/s unless she was planning to VBAC. This is when she perks up and says she had originally wanted to VBAC but that her doctor didn't think she could birth vaginally because with her first child she never made it past 6cm. After some probing I found out she was electively induced at 39 weeks and after 14 hrs of pit they did a c/s. I explained to her that it was her choice what she wanted to do and she could discuss it further with her doctor but that her body didn't fail her the first time around, the induction did.
So, since she was contracting I checked her cervix and to her surprise found that she was almost 3cm, 80% effaced and the baby was -1 station. Granted, I am no physician but I have had my hand in lots of pelvis' and this girl seemed to have adequate room and her pelvis felt totally normal. I reminded her that she was weeks earlier with this baby and so it would probably be smaller (first was just over 7#!). So, she asked me to ask her doc if she could attempt a TOL when I called him.
I honestly thought this doc wouldn't mind letting her VBAC, he is one of the only ones in this town that is open to it and tends to be so laid back!! So I expressed to him her wishes and let him know she was dilated, contracting every five minutes, baby was well applied and things were looking great. No......not happening, doesn't think her pelvis is adequate.....prep her for c/s, he is on his way. What the h***!!!!!!!!!!!! This girl is 5ft 8inches, not overweight and about to have a baby that ended up being 6# even.......and her pelvis isn't adequate?!
Found out later that this gal has a family member who is an OB in a much larger city with an even higher c/s rate than ours.........think that had anything to do with it, hmmm!
So gals, in my city I have found that if you or anyone you are related to are in the fields of medicine or of law.....you will have a c/s. It's just getting worse, seeing women talked into primary c/s or talked out of VBAC and then finding out her brother is an MD or her aunt is a lawyer.....never fails.
Man, I get wordy!!! Can you tell I talk alot.....need to learn to be more concise!!!!
Well, I think it is time for a nap.....didn't sleep too well when I got home this morning and now I am starting to feel yucky!
The first c/s was distressing for the poor mom because she had been admitted for elective induction on Sunday evening...had cervidil all night, pit started early Monday morning, doc broke her water shortly after pit started.....made it to 5cm by 6pm last evening just to discover the babe was breech!
Now, the nurse that cared for this patient said she thinks the baby must've turned during labor, she only checked her once, about noonish, and is confident it was head she was feeling. This nurse is a good one too and it definitely wouldn't be the first time a baby has flipped during labor.
This patient was being electively induced (doc is on vacation next week) at 38 wks and the babe was barely over 6#. But everyone did well and that baby is sooo cute!!
The midpart of the night was pretty uneventful and then 4am hit! 4am seems to be the witching hour in labor and delivery. That's when it all hits the fan.
We were schedule to have two inductions arrive at 5am and the am scheduled c/s was to be there at 5am also. Well, at 0430 we had a patient, who was scheduled for a c/s later in the week, show up because her water was broke. She had a c/s scheduled because the baby was breech (she wasn't happy...3rd baby, other two were vag deliveries) and much to her excitement when she arrived we scanned her and the baby had turned head down!! So, she was admitted as a labor patient
Not ten minutes after we got her in a room another patient comes in thinking her water broke and has been contracting, so we used some nitrazine and confirmed the leaking of amniotic fluid so I told her she is definitely staying and having a baby today.
I told her I was going to call the doctor and let them know she was here so they could head in and we would get her ready for her repeat c/s unless she was planning to VBAC. This is when she perks up and says she had originally wanted to VBAC but that her doctor didn't think she could birth vaginally because with her first child she never made it past 6cm. After some probing I found out she was electively induced at 39 weeks and after 14 hrs of pit they did a c/s. I explained to her that it was her choice what she wanted to do and she could discuss it further with her doctor but that her body didn't fail her the first time around, the induction did.
So, since she was contracting I checked her cervix and to her surprise found that she was almost 3cm, 80% effaced and the baby was -1 station. Granted, I am no physician but I have had my hand in lots of pelvis' and this girl seemed to have adequate room and her pelvis felt totally normal. I reminded her that she was weeks earlier with this baby and so it would probably be smaller (first was just over 7#!). So, she asked me to ask her doc if she could attempt a TOL when I called him.
I honestly thought this doc wouldn't mind letting her VBAC, he is one of the only ones in this town that is open to it and tends to be so laid back!! So I expressed to him her wishes and let him know she was dilated, contracting every five minutes, baby was well applied and things were looking great. No......not happening, doesn't think her pelvis is adequate.....prep her for c/s, he is on his way. What the h***!!!!!!!!!!!! This girl is 5ft 8inches, not overweight and about to have a baby that ended up being 6# even.......and her pelvis isn't adequate?!
Found out later that this gal has a family member who is an OB in a much larger city with an even higher c/s rate than ours.........think that had anything to do with it, hmmm!
So gals, in my city I have found that if you or anyone you are related to are in the fields of medicine or of law.....you will have a c/s. It's just getting worse, seeing women talked into primary c/s or talked out of VBAC and then finding out her brother is an MD or her aunt is a lawyer.....never fails.
Man, I get wordy!!! Can you tell I talk alot.....need to learn to be more concise!!!!
Well, I think it is time for a nap.....didn't sleep too well when I got home this morning and now I am starting to feel yucky!
Friday, June 6, 2008
Back to where I started.....
Well, I keep getting low census at work so I called the big house (the large tertiary care center with high-risk L&D, where I started out as a nurse) and they are short staffed on night shifts so I am picking up about one shift a week with them. I have worked two nights so far and am loving being back. There are only three nurses left on night shift from 31/2 years ago when I worked there but the night crew is alot of fun. Most of the gals I used to work with have moved on to dayshift, or gone elsewhere. The night shift is a young crew but very nice and welcoming. I am glad I made the decision to "come home".
Frankly, I love working in the single-room maternity care setting and having the normal laboring patients but there is just something about those high-risk patients that keeps you on your toes and makes you keep your critical thinking skills sharp!
I have four patients tonight al l with different problems and levels of acuity. I have done alot of tear wiping and just plain listening tonight. I forgot how intense emotionally some of this can be. I like to bond with my patients and provide them some emotional support as well as nursing care during this time. I hope to make a difference in their experience and help them be as comforted as possible during such a difficult time.
School only has three weeks left and I still have lots to do. Currently in the middle of two large papers and still have two test to finish in patho. That would be the reason I don't blog much these days...wish I had more time to read others blogs and update more often on mine.
I will do a term recap at the end of this month and update everyone on how the term went and how I did.
Well, time to go put all my gals on NST's (non-stress test) and draw labs.
Frankly, I love working in the single-room maternity care setting and having the normal laboring patients but there is just something about those high-risk patients that keeps you on your toes and makes you keep your critical thinking skills sharp!
I have four patients tonight al l with different problems and levels of acuity. I have done alot of tear wiping and just plain listening tonight. I forgot how intense emotionally some of this can be. I like to bond with my patients and provide them some emotional support as well as nursing care during this time. I hope to make a difference in their experience and help them be as comforted as possible during such a difficult time.
School only has three weeks left and I still have lots to do. Currently in the middle of two large papers and still have two test to finish in patho. That would be the reason I don't blog much these days...wish I had more time to read others blogs and update more often on mine.
I will do a term recap at the end of this month and update everyone on how the term went and how I did.
Well, time to go put all my gals on NST's (non-stress test) and draw labs.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
First week of school
Wow, the reading in this program is huge!! I knew there would be alot but I think I spent the first three days this week feeling very overwhelmed and like...what on earth have I gotten myself into.
The one sunny spot in the week was some reading for the health promotion class. We had to choose a book from a list we were given and read for pleasure...what a relief. Now, it was for pleasure but had to be read critically because we have to write an essay regarding our cultural awareness and how it has evolved..changed...been more enlightened or whatever based on our readings. I chose the book I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou. It was a very easy read...so much that once I picked it up I couldn't put it down and finished it in one day. I recommend it, if you have not read it already. I think I may find another book or two from her to read....when I get some free time.
I am finishing up a one page paper for patho on Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) and then will prepare to take my first exam next week.
I have some more required reading to do for health promo before I can do the essay but should turn that in next week.
I have barely skimmed the reading for the role class (the role of midwifery and birth centers in America) but need to get on it and start making notecards for my first paper, due in three weeks on the historical development of midwifery. That should be very enlightening.
Work this week was busy. We did have a wonderful natural delivery of a first time mom who birthed a 10# 1oz baby after only actively pushing 4 times. What a woman!!!!!!
Otherwise, it was induction city. Why, oh why can't we just let women go into labor on their own. I'm beginning to hate working Sunday night thru Wednesday night because all we do is admit 7-9 inductions each night, not to mention the ones that actually do come in already in labor or the four that are still laboring when we come onto the shift so we have to get them delivered, recovered and passed off to the postpartum so that we can get the inductions in and started on time (in order to avoid the wrath of certain physicians). Those kind of nights go by quickly but give me no opportunity whatsoever to develop a real rapport with my patients, and that is very disconcerting to me.
Just two more years....just two more years.....it will be sooooo worth the hard work!!!
The one sunny spot in the week was some reading for the health promotion class. We had to choose a book from a list we were given and read for pleasure...what a relief. Now, it was for pleasure but had to be read critically because we have to write an essay regarding our cultural awareness and how it has evolved..changed...been more enlightened or whatever based on our readings. I chose the book I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou. It was a very easy read...so much that once I picked it up I couldn't put it down and finished it in one day. I recommend it, if you have not read it already. I think I may find another book or two from her to read....when I get some free time.
I am finishing up a one page paper for patho on Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) and then will prepare to take my first exam next week.
I have some more required reading to do for health promo before I can do the essay but should turn that in next week.
I have barely skimmed the reading for the role class (the role of midwifery and birth centers in America) but need to get on it and start making notecards for my first paper, due in three weeks on the historical development of midwifery. That should be very enlightening.
Work this week was busy. We did have a wonderful natural delivery of a first time mom who birthed a 10# 1oz baby after only actively pushing 4 times. What a woman!!!!!!
Otherwise, it was induction city. Why, oh why can't we just let women go into labor on their own. I'm beginning to hate working Sunday night thru Wednesday night because all we do is admit 7-9 inductions each night, not to mention the ones that actually do come in already in labor or the four that are still laboring when we come onto the shift so we have to get them delivered, recovered and passed off to the postpartum so that we can get the inductions in and started on time (in order to avoid the wrath of certain physicians). Those kind of nights go by quickly but give me no opportunity whatsoever to develop a real rapport with my patients, and that is very disconcerting to me.
Just two more years....just two more years.....it will be sooooo worth the hard work!!!
Friday, April 4, 2008
You too can have a vaginal delivery.
Unintended vaginal deliveries......that seems to be the theme for this week.
We had a patient scheduled for repeat c/s on Tues morning who came in saying she had not slept all night d/t an upset stomach and constipation (this pt is also an MD). The patient kept insisting she really needed to go to the bathroom, she said she just felt sooo bloated and constipated. The monitor showed she was contracting q3 minutes and they were palpating strong, but she kept denying even feeling them. She had only been there about 20 minutes and had refused a vag exam because she didn't think she was in labor. Finally the nurse absolutely insisted on a vag exam to evaluate and let her MD know what was happening. Well, turns out the gal is complete and +2 with a BBOW. She ends up with a precipitous VBAC (RN caught baby) and mom and baby are both doing great.
We had a G1P0 come in on Thursday morning for a scheduled primary elective c/s for suspected macrosomia. Turns out she had SROM a few hours prior to her arrival and since she was already contracting regularly decided that she wanted to attempt to labor and deliver vaginally. She did wonderfully, got an epidural @6cm and once she was complete labored down for about an hour then pushed for 35 minutes to deliver a very robust 9#7oz bundle of joy. Her labor was a total of 12 hours from the time her water broke and she started contracting. Not bad for a primip!
Guess they got the macrosomia right......too bad there isn't a little more trust in the body's ability to birth the baby that it grows.
We have had a surprising number of vaginal deliveries this week compared to what we usually have when the census is as high as it has been. Hmmm, maybe I need to check our stats for this week. The less time I spend in the OR the happier I am!
We had a patient scheduled for repeat c/s on Tues morning who came in saying she had not slept all night d/t an upset stomach and constipation (this pt is also an MD). The patient kept insisting she really needed to go to the bathroom, she said she just felt sooo bloated and constipated. The monitor showed she was contracting q3 minutes and they were palpating strong, but she kept denying even feeling them. She had only been there about 20 minutes and had refused a vag exam because she didn't think she was in labor. Finally the nurse absolutely insisted on a vag exam to evaluate and let her MD know what was happening. Well, turns out the gal is complete and +2 with a BBOW. She ends up with a precipitous VBAC (RN caught baby) and mom and baby are both doing great.
We had a G1P0 come in on Thursday morning for a scheduled primary elective c/s for suspected macrosomia. Turns out she had SROM a few hours prior to her arrival and since she was already contracting regularly decided that she wanted to attempt to labor and deliver vaginally. She did wonderfully, got an epidural @6cm and once she was complete labored down for about an hour then pushed for 35 minutes to deliver a very robust 9#7oz bundle of joy. Her labor was a total of 12 hours from the time her water broke and she started contracting. Not bad for a primip!
Guess they got the macrosomia right......too bad there isn't a little more trust in the body's ability to birth the baby that it grows.
We have had a surprising number of vaginal deliveries this week compared to what we usually have when the census is as high as it has been. Hmmm, maybe I need to check our stats for this week. The less time I spend in the OR the happier I am!
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Who's your daddy.....
Okay, here's a new one on me.
Gal comes in to have a baby, which she is giving up for adoption (the baby is going to a couple that are somehow distantly related to her). Her husband is with her, only two weeks ago he had kicked her out of his house but is letting her stay with him now. This man is so eager to sign away his rights, his lawyer comes to the hospital within hours of the baby's birth. Except, he wants a DNA test.
Why the DNA test? The gal says it is because they were at a party one night with some friends, got really drunk and passed out. Only, she woke up later with her panties around her ankles and her husband still passed out. She says that a friend of theirs at the party raped her.
Okay, makes sense but then who shows up at the hospital.........the supposed rapist. Demanding a DNA test as well.
Okay, if he's a rapist why is he walking around town and not in a jail cell? And why is he demanding a DNA test? Because according to him they had consentual sex and if that's his baby, he wants it.
The poor adoptive couple, they just want to take the baby and go home.
For this baby's sake I hope it belongs to the husband.
Glad that full moon is gone!!!
Gal comes in to have a baby, which she is giving up for adoption (the baby is going to a couple that are somehow distantly related to her). Her husband is with her, only two weeks ago he had kicked her out of his house but is letting her stay with him now. This man is so eager to sign away his rights, his lawyer comes to the hospital within hours of the baby's birth. Except, he wants a DNA test.
Why the DNA test? The gal says it is because they were at a party one night with some friends, got really drunk and passed out. Only, she woke up later with her panties around her ankles and her husband still passed out. She says that a friend of theirs at the party raped her.
Okay, makes sense but then who shows up at the hospital.........the supposed rapist. Demanding a DNA test as well.
Okay, if he's a rapist why is he walking around town and not in a jail cell? And why is he demanding a DNA test? Because according to him they had consentual sex and if that's his baby, he wants it.
The poor adoptive couple, they just want to take the baby and go home.
For this baby's sake I hope it belongs to the husband.
Glad that full moon is gone!!!
Hurting
There are some things I don't think I will ever understand.......but am trying my darndest to be sympathetic to.
We had a gal come in for induction the other night. She was single, young (late teens) and having her first baby. Prior to her arrival her sister and cousin showed up to warn us that she was on her way and that the FOB knows she is coming in and may show up later. This is an issue because there is a history of domestic violence. This man, or rather boy (19), had physically beaten this girl on four separate occasions and the last had just been a couple of weeks ago in which he wailed on her for over two hours and left her in pretty bad shape.
Being in charge that night I did not want any drama so I got a description and called to security to give them a heads up and to stay visible and within shouting distance.
The preggo mama arrived with her mother and a friend. We got her settled into her room and had a nice long chat with her about the situation she was in (after making all the others leave the room) and how she was feeling at this time. She was very concerned for the FOB (huh?!) because now that she lived with her parents and they wouldn't let him anywhere near their house that this would be the only opportunity he would get to care for his child. She wanted him to be at the delivery but none of her family or friends did and they made that very apparent (can't say I blame them).
The patient told us that the FOB was just recently (after this last beating) diagnosed with IED, or Intermittent Explosive Disorder and had just been placed on meds to help with his disease.
We told the patient when said FOB arrived that she was not to be in the room alone with him for even a second at any time, for any reason and she agreed with us that would be best.
Well, the FOB did arrive a few hours later, only he was feeling upset because the patient's family members were staring at him and refused to leave the room with him in there. I was just in shock, this guy sat by her bed and held her hand and she just hung all over him! The patient asked us to come up with a solution because her mother and sister refused to leave the room with him there and he was upset because they were just glaring at him the whole time he was in the room and making him feel uncomfortable. So, we ended up devising a schedule for him to be in the room and her cousin to stay in the room with them while her mother and sisters stayed in the waiting area and then they would switch so the mother and sisters could be with the patient and the FOB and cousin would sit in the waiting room.
I still am totally flabbergasted how this girl, having a baby, was only concerned with the FOB not being treated bad or made to feel bad by her family.
When I left the next morning she was in active labor and had just gotten an epidural. I made sure there was a request for social services consult placed in this girls chart.
I feel for her, and try as I might I don't understand her being overly concerned for this guy. She should be concerned for her own safety, as well as the safety of the child she is about to bring into this world. She had been given an opportunity by her parents (whom she and the baby will go home with) to get on her feet and to make a life for herself and her little girl. I just hope she takes it and doesn't go back to this guy.
This most definitely isn't the first domestic violence situation I have run into but it is the one that has affected me the most and one I don't think I will ever forget.
I have been married for 14 years to one incredible guy, who isn't perfect (although he thinks he is) but neither am I. But I can say with 100% certainty that the first time he hits me will be the last.
We had a gal come in for induction the other night. She was single, young (late teens) and having her first baby. Prior to her arrival her sister and cousin showed up to warn us that she was on her way and that the FOB knows she is coming in and may show up later. This is an issue because there is a history of domestic violence. This man, or rather boy (19), had physically beaten this girl on four separate occasions and the last had just been a couple of weeks ago in which he wailed on her for over two hours and left her in pretty bad shape.
Being in charge that night I did not want any drama so I got a description and called to security to give them a heads up and to stay visible and within shouting distance.
The preggo mama arrived with her mother and a friend. We got her settled into her room and had a nice long chat with her about the situation she was in (after making all the others leave the room) and how she was feeling at this time. She was very concerned for the FOB (huh?!) because now that she lived with her parents and they wouldn't let him anywhere near their house that this would be the only opportunity he would get to care for his child. She wanted him to be at the delivery but none of her family or friends did and they made that very apparent (can't say I blame them).
The patient told us that the FOB was just recently (after this last beating) diagnosed with IED, or Intermittent Explosive Disorder and had just been placed on meds to help with his disease.
We told the patient when said FOB arrived that she was not to be in the room alone with him for even a second at any time, for any reason and she agreed with us that would be best.
Well, the FOB did arrive a few hours later, only he was feeling upset because the patient's family members were staring at him and refused to leave the room with him in there. I was just in shock, this guy sat by her bed and held her hand and she just hung all over him! The patient asked us to come up with a solution because her mother and sister refused to leave the room with him there and he was upset because they were just glaring at him the whole time he was in the room and making him feel uncomfortable. So, we ended up devising a schedule for him to be in the room and her cousin to stay in the room with them while her mother and sisters stayed in the waiting area and then they would switch so the mother and sisters could be with the patient and the FOB and cousin would sit in the waiting room.
I still am totally flabbergasted how this girl, having a baby, was only concerned with the FOB not being treated bad or made to feel bad by her family.
When I left the next morning she was in active labor and had just gotten an epidural. I made sure there was a request for social services consult placed in this girls chart.
I feel for her, and try as I might I don't understand her being overly concerned for this guy. She should be concerned for her own safety, as well as the safety of the child she is about to bring into this world. She had been given an opportunity by her parents (whom she and the baby will go home with) to get on her feet and to make a life for herself and her little girl. I just hope she takes it and doesn't go back to this guy.
This most definitely isn't the first domestic violence situation I have run into but it is the one that has affected me the most and one I don't think I will ever forget.
I have been married for 14 years to one incredible guy, who isn't perfect (although he thinks he is) but neither am I. But I can say with 100% certainty that the first time he hits me will be the last.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Time to.......focus
The mother-in-law came home on Friday and is recovering well. She should get completely back to normal but it will take a while. She is still very slow to respond when you talk with her but that is really the only deficit that she is suffering from.
The weather this weekend was so nice, in the upper 60's-lower 70's until Sunday then it was lower 60's and very blustery. This morning, 30 and SNOWING! The weather around here is so wacky, it's supposed to be in the 70's again by Wed.
I have access to all of my classes (class officially starts April 7) and boy do I have alot of reading to do. I am taking Pathophysiology, Health Promotion and Disease Prevention and The Role of Midwifery and Birth Centers in America.
After looking at the syllabus, Patho is the only class I have tests in, but there are five of them and then one graded assignment.
Health promo has five assignments to complete as well as a health managment plan (that is the big paper for this class).
The Role class has two large papers, a journal assignment and I have to attend a birth center workshop. So, I guess I will be doing alot of writing this term....better get out the ol' APA manual!
I should be studying right now but instead I am perusing blogs and surfing the net. Not a good way to start out the term :) Bad habits are hard to break.
I haven't worked in a week and it has been so nice, but I am back tonight and then off again until next Monday. I really like this one-night-a-week thing, but that won't last long. I'll be back to two nights soon.
Since it is cold outside today, I think we'll be having some soup for supper tonight. Potato soup sounds good and hearty, so off I go to throw some taters in the oven.
The weather this weekend was so nice, in the upper 60's-lower 70's until Sunday then it was lower 60's and very blustery. This morning, 30 and SNOWING! The weather around here is so wacky, it's supposed to be in the 70's again by Wed.
I have access to all of my classes (class officially starts April 7) and boy do I have alot of reading to do. I am taking Pathophysiology, Health Promotion and Disease Prevention and The Role of Midwifery and Birth Centers in America.
After looking at the syllabus, Patho is the only class I have tests in, but there are five of them and then one graded assignment.
Health promo has five assignments to complete as well as a health managment plan (that is the big paper for this class).
The Role class has two large papers, a journal assignment and I have to attend a birth center workshop. So, I guess I will be doing alot of writing this term....better get out the ol' APA manual!
I should be studying right now but instead I am perusing blogs and surfing the net. Not a good way to start out the term :) Bad habits are hard to break.
I haven't worked in a week and it has been so nice, but I am back tonight and then off again until next Monday. I really like this one-night-a-week thing, but that won't last long. I'll be back to two nights soon.
Since it is cold outside today, I think we'll be having some soup for supper tonight. Potato soup sounds good and hearty, so off I go to throw some taters in the oven.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Spring is in the air
Oh I really have spring fever! The weather today was glorious!!!! Sunny and 70 degrees, just the way I like it. I hope we have seen the last of winter and this trend continues. My boys are playing in a baseball tournament this weekend and it looks like the weather is going to be perfect for baseball, not to hot and not to cold.
We had such a nice shift at work last night. Came in to only postpartum patients, discharged two couplets and then admitted four inductions, one c/s scheduled for this early am and then one triage who came in with SROM. So, overall it was a pretty laid back evening. I got to spend some time chatting with the gals and cuddling babies in the nursery. Those nights are so welcome when we have them because they are so few and far between.
I am taking three classes this first term that starts in April and have just been able to get online and access the syllabus for each course. I have my books and am currently working on de-cluttering my office and getting it set up and ready. Hopefully this weekend I will have it all cleaned out and set up so that I can get a jump start on my reading assignments while I am excited and motivated.
Frontier has really taken into consideration the isolation that is so common to online learning and that can be very detrimental to the learner. During orientation we were divided by specialty and then subdivided according to geographical location so that you could really get to know people that are close enough to you to perhaps actually get together outside of Hyden. My group is already planning to meet up for a weekend in May and because there are three of us in my group that are full-time and all taking the same classes we are setting up chat times and study groups. I honestly think that is going to be the greatest help in keeping me motivated and moving through this program at a pace that I am comfortable with and will get me to my destination in the amount of time I desire. Again, more kudos for Frontier and really having it all together!
We had such a nice shift at work last night. Came in to only postpartum patients, discharged two couplets and then admitted four inductions, one c/s scheduled for this early am and then one triage who came in with SROM. So, overall it was a pretty laid back evening. I got to spend some time chatting with the gals and cuddling babies in the nursery. Those nights are so welcome when we have them because they are so few and far between.
I am taking three classes this first term that starts in April and have just been able to get online and access the syllabus for each course. I have my books and am currently working on de-cluttering my office and getting it set up and ready. Hopefully this weekend I will have it all cleaned out and set up so that I can get a jump start on my reading assignments while I am excited and motivated.
Frontier has really taken into consideration the isolation that is so common to online learning and that can be very detrimental to the learner. During orientation we were divided by specialty and then subdivided according to geographical location so that you could really get to know people that are close enough to you to perhaps actually get together outside of Hyden. My group is already planning to meet up for a weekend in May and because there are three of us in my group that are full-time and all taking the same classes we are setting up chat times and study groups. I honestly think that is going to be the greatest help in keeping me motivated and moving through this program at a pace that I am comfortable with and will get me to my destination in the amount of time I desire. Again, more kudos for Frontier and really having it all together!
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Catching up
My blog has been totally neglected the past few weeks..sorry.
I had the best time at my graduate school orientation. I spent the week meeting new people, making new friends and learning about this journey I am embarking on. It was so overwhelming at times but I really felt confirmed during that week that I am on the right path and that midwifery is truly my calling.
I have to say that the Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing has it all together!! It is an incredible program, operated by incredible women, and I am very excited and proud to be a part of that school and will be a part of its rich history.
Of course, by the end of the week I was incredibly homesick and really missing my boys. Baseball season is about to be in full swing and with all three of the boys playing ball it is going to be one busy spring! I love to watch my boys play ball, because they love it so much and they are good little ball players.
I worked two shifts last week and taught an all-day Lamaze class on Saturday. I was in charge on Tuesday night and triage was hopping. It seemed everyone kept coming in with SROM, so most of them were keepers. We did have one girl who came in not in labor and not ruptured. She had called her physicians answering service and told them she was having pressure so they sent her to triage. We got her gowned and on the fetal monitor and began asking her history. It turns out she was not having contractions, nor was her water broke so definitely not in labor. She had been to the doctor a few days before and her physician had done a vaginal exam and told her that the baby had 'moved down' and was 'much lower' than at her last check. Evidently, after this visit she told either a friend or family member what the physician had said and this well-meaning person told her she needed to go to the hospital because she could--"suffocate her baby if it stayed that low for to long" Needless to say, there was a lot of education going on before discharging this gal to home.
My last Lamaze series class had five couples in it. One of the couples gave birth after the second week of class so that left us with four. One couple had a scheduled primary c/s for macrosomia at 38+5 weeks because mom was gestational diabetic, I wasn't really surprised knowing how persuasive this particular physician can be but I really did think they would at least attempt an induction first. Anyway, the baby was 8#2oz--not really macrosomic in my book.
Another couple gave birth with epidural anesthesia but had a great experience, baby was 8#14oz. The interesting thing about this couple is the mom said they were going to try again in two years and she said she would call me when she got pregnant because she thinks she would like to really try and go natural next time. That is really neat because she never had any intention of even attempting a natural delivery this time.
The last two couples to birth both had spontaneous, natural labor and birth experiences. Both of these moms called me afterwards to tell me their birth stories. They both were so overjoyed at their experiences and the fact that they were able to go into labor on their own and work through the process of childbirth without any drugs. Just to hear the pride and joy in their voices when they expressed how glad they are they gave their babies the best start possible. One of the moms expressed how incredible it was to feel the baby come out of her body and how she is so glad she did not dull that experience with numbing medication. Those types of stories keep me teaching! BTW, one of those babies weighed 7#12oz and the other was 8#14oz!
It's a busy week coming up. I am scheduled to work; Tues, Thur and Sat. night. and my boys have a ball tournament next weekend so I'll be busy working the concession stands in between watching their games.
Classes for school do not officially start until the first week in April but I should have access to the readings and assignments week after next so that I can hopefully get a head start on things. Fortunately I have a friend who is just ahead of me in the program and I am getting my books for these first classes from her on Tuesday, that will help save a few bucks.
Be sure and check out some of the blogs on my blogroll, there are some very interesting conversations happening surrounding midwifery. Unfortunately, I just don't have the brain cells these days to get into all of that. I do have very strong opinions about the topics that are popping up, but right now I am just going to prepare my mind for some higher learning and focus on being a good student, sumptuous wife, and rockin' mom.
I had the best time at my graduate school orientation. I spent the week meeting new people, making new friends and learning about this journey I am embarking on. It was so overwhelming at times but I really felt confirmed during that week that I am on the right path and that midwifery is truly my calling.
I have to say that the Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing has it all together!! It is an incredible program, operated by incredible women, and I am very excited and proud to be a part of that school and will be a part of its rich history.
Of course, by the end of the week I was incredibly homesick and really missing my boys. Baseball season is about to be in full swing and with all three of the boys playing ball it is going to be one busy spring! I love to watch my boys play ball, because they love it so much and they are good little ball players.
I worked two shifts last week and taught an all-day Lamaze class on Saturday. I was in charge on Tuesday night and triage was hopping. It seemed everyone kept coming in with SROM, so most of them were keepers. We did have one girl who came in not in labor and not ruptured. She had called her physicians answering service and told them she was having pressure so they sent her to triage. We got her gowned and on the fetal monitor and began asking her history. It turns out she was not having contractions, nor was her water broke so definitely not in labor. She had been to the doctor a few days before and her physician had done a vaginal exam and told her that the baby had 'moved down' and was 'much lower' than at her last check. Evidently, after this visit she told either a friend or family member what the physician had said and this well-meaning person told her she needed to go to the hospital because she could--"suffocate her baby if it stayed that low for to long" Needless to say, there was a lot of education going on before discharging this gal to home.
My last Lamaze series class had five couples in it. One of the couples gave birth after the second week of class so that left us with four. One couple had a scheduled primary c/s for macrosomia at 38+5 weeks because mom was gestational diabetic, I wasn't really surprised knowing how persuasive this particular physician can be but I really did think they would at least attempt an induction first. Anyway, the baby was 8#2oz--not really macrosomic in my book.
Another couple gave birth with epidural anesthesia but had a great experience, baby was 8#14oz. The interesting thing about this couple is the mom said they were going to try again in two years and she said she would call me when she got pregnant because she thinks she would like to really try and go natural next time. That is really neat because she never had any intention of even attempting a natural delivery this time.
The last two couples to birth both had spontaneous, natural labor and birth experiences. Both of these moms called me afterwards to tell me their birth stories. They both were so overjoyed at their experiences and the fact that they were able to go into labor on their own and work through the process of childbirth without any drugs. Just to hear the pride and joy in their voices when they expressed how glad they are they gave their babies the best start possible. One of the moms expressed how incredible it was to feel the baby come out of her body and how she is so glad she did not dull that experience with numbing medication. Those types of stories keep me teaching! BTW, one of those babies weighed 7#12oz and the other was 8#14oz!
It's a busy week coming up. I am scheduled to work; Tues, Thur and Sat. night. and my boys have a ball tournament next weekend so I'll be busy working the concession stands in between watching their games.
Classes for school do not officially start until the first week in April but I should have access to the readings and assignments week after next so that I can hopefully get a head start on things. Fortunately I have a friend who is just ahead of me in the program and I am getting my books for these first classes from her on Tuesday, that will help save a few bucks.
Be sure and check out some of the blogs on my blogroll, there are some very interesting conversations happening surrounding midwifery. Unfortunately, I just don't have the brain cells these days to get into all of that. I do have very strong opinions about the topics that are popping up, but right now I am just going to prepare my mind for some higher learning and focus on being a good student, sumptuous wife, and rockin' mom.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Random rambling
I really dislike cold weather...and today, it's cold. I know some of you nor'easterners will be like 'what the..' This girl is wacko, 42 degress is not cold. Well, for me it is. I am as far north as I ever have any intention of going and would really like to be a bit farther south!
We spent the long President's day weekend in Myrtle Beach and I must say what a great weekend it was! My two oldest ran the Myrtle Beach 5k on Friday night and my husband did the Myrtle Beach marathon on Saturday morning. I have to say, my husband has run marathons all over the country and this one is, hands down, his favorite. And as a spectator I have to say it is very easy to navigate and be able to see your runners at different spots. This was our fourth year going to MB for this run and we plan on doing it every year.
The picture is my husband and my three boys--ages 11, 9 & 3.5 on the beachI worked on Tuesday night and it was chaos. We walked in to a very busy unit, but do-able. Then, the triages just kept pouring in. I think we ended up admitting ten patients that night and delivering two of them---leaving 8 in labor for dayshift to contend with. I came in to a c/s in the OR, so I got her recovered then passed off to pick up a 10pm cervidil induction and a midnight pit induction. So I stayed busy myself with my patients and trying to help out where I could. By the time I left on Wed. morning ALL 23 LDRP rooms were full, all 3 triage rooms had laboring pt's in them and we were triaging a gal in the PACU (post-anesthesia care unit)--of all places. All of our mother/baby nurses had four couplets and all the labor gals had two apiece.
I had wanted to call work and check up on them last night but was just too tired and went to bed about 7pm. They only had 6 pt's going home yesterday, which would have gotten all the pt's out of triage and into rooms but still had a noon c/s to come in, and there is always one or two sent over from offices during the day so it will be interesting to see how they handled the 6 scheduled procedures that were supposed to come in last night. I'm so very glad I don't go back in until Friday night!!!!
Well, I leave for my orientation to graduate school on Monday. I still have to finish a novel and a computer class before I get there. I will be gone the week, getting back home sometime Friday afternoon. So, I have lots to do before then. Get the house and kids ready for the week without me and make sure all everyting is done and caught up so my Love doesn't stress out too much with me gone.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)