A couple months ago I was at the Timpanogos Women's Center completely my Labor & Delivery, Post-Partum, and Newborn Clinical Hours. My first shift there I was placed in a NICU Level 2 to follow a nurse. I never wanted to work with the sick babies because I thought I wouldn't like the stress of the responsibility. They are so little and everything can change SO MUCH quicker than with an adult. So even though I was scared to complete this shift, I went in with an open mind. Out of all the different units I have been on, I have never felt as comfortable as I did working with these babies. It seemed so natural for me and some one needs to care for these little infants. I left the hospital that day wanting to get my capstone (aka internship) at a NICU. I figured it would be a trial run to see if I really like this area. So looked into every possibility I could to find an opening in a NICU to do my capstone. It isn't that easy because you need a hospital and a nurse willing to take you. Also this is a intensive care unit, so having a student nurse to learn on the floor isn't always welcomed. BUT I GOT ONE!! I would be returning to the Timpanogos Medical Hospital for 108 hours in the NICU. I was so excited when I found out. I did everything I could to get this spot.
Moriah Taylor was the nurse I followed. She was scheduled on nights. I went to work at 6PM and left the hospital around 6:30AM...It was a blast :) It wasn't actually as bad as I thought it was going to be. I enjoyed not having to set an alarm at 4:30AM, waking up at 2:30AM to make sure the alarm was still working, dreading only having 2 more hours to sleep, hating the sound of the alarm when it actually went off, and having a stomach ache for the first 2 hours of being awake (if you couldn't call it that). It was nice to find out I can adjust to night shifts, since I will probably be working those for the first 2 years of my career. I didn't like how I would lose 2 days for every 1 shift and how I would be up til 2AM on the nights I didn't work.
Moriah was a great nurse to follow. She was in her early thirties and working on getting her bachelor's degree in nursing. She is thinking about going to school to become a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner. She is a lot like me and how I think I will be as a nurse. She always asks "why" when she doesn't know. I am known for that in my class. My classmates get annoyed at me because I want to understand why and how everything connects together. And sometimes they could care less. Moriah would explain to me the reason behind different medication or orders. She wasn't afraid to teach me. Let me tell you...If you can explain the pathophysiology behind something at 3 AM, you have mastered and can do it anytime!! She was always looking for more opportunities to grow and learn. In fact, she floated between Admit Nursery, NICU Level 2, & NICU Level 3. Because of this, I got to experience a lot! :) Moriah allowed me to do everything I felt comfortable doing. Because of her personality and willingness to teach, I tried a lot skills. I wasn't afraid to mess up because I knew she wouldn't let me hurt a patient and she would look down on me. She was always giving me criticisms, but it was never mean. It was stuff I knew I needed to work on. On my last shift I took on her whole patient load and she barely assisted. :)
Admit Nursery:
I always pictured myself being in Labor and Delivery...helping the mothers through this amazing but different time. In admit nursery, I got to go into the deliveries to do the APGAR scores and wipe the babies off. I gave the babies their first bath, made the fingerprints, and did their initial assessment. I loved it!! After several deliveries, I was beginning to believe the movies had it all wrong when it comes to deliveries. They weren't crazy. Many parents were calm and people were laughing while they waited for the baby to come (mainly because the mom had an epidural). I hadn't experienced a crazy delivery where nurses are running around and one catches the baby on its way out. But then their was this one experience where the delivery was a "Stop and Drop" It is a termed used when the mother pretty much comes in a delivers in right away. It was a first time mother who was going really fast. This poor woman was in so much pain and didn't have the opportunity to get any medication...which I think she was planning on having an epidural. She was screaming "Get him out. I don't care if you have to cut him out...get him out." The husband would try to soothe her and she would tell him not to touch her. haha. Poor guy. He looked so helpless and lost. The baby ended up being delivered without the doctor and she is definitely going to be sore. The baby was 9lbs. Ouch!!
NICU:
My last week I got to work with this 30 week old infant for all three shifts. He was so tiny and connected to so many cords. I was afraid to move and flip him around while I did cares. But by my third shift I felt so much more comfortable. I was able to move him around like he was a 10lb baby..safely of course. He was the smallest baby I worked with, but was the first one I was able to get a blood draw from. I was able to poke all the other babies and get a flashback, but they would move and I would lose the site. But the baby with the smallest and most fragile veins I was able to get!! As sad as it is, it was because he didn't fight back as much. I learned so much from this baby, my nurse, and the NP on his case.
Another experience I will never forget happened in the NICU. We had a baby being transferred into an open crib (This is good because they are doing really well). We gave him bath before putting him in his new bed with clean linens. I was holding him while laying out his blankets to wrap him in. I look over at Moriah and she was smiling at me. But in a way that I thought I was doing something stupid and completely wrong. So I asked her what I was doing wrong. She said I wasn't doing anything wrong but was laughing at me because of the way I was holding the baby. I was holding the baby so his head was on my shoulder. I asked why this was funny? She just said a lot of nurses don't hold babies that was because they don't feel comfortable enough. This made me feel good. I really did feel comfortable and more secure holding the baby this way.
I absolutely LOVED the NICU and my EXPERIENCE!!
Except for this...
Having a glove allergy is like the plague to nurses. I was so upset. I still don't know exactly why I get it. I think I am allergic to Nitrel (blue) gloves. But then again, these particular pictures are from a night a wore a cheaper brand of vinyl gloves. So I don't know.
But I do know this is something I will probably have to work with for the rest of my career. Hopefully I can find a way around it so I don't have to have my hands look like this. Plus taking Benadryl on a night shift is just a double whammy.
BUT I know I love nursing. I love working in the NICU. And I can't wait until I graduate and can start working and earning money.
I have known this family since I was in high school. I was their babysitter and their nany when the twins were born. I absolutely love these kids. I haven't seen them for TWO YEARS...pretty much since I left for nursing school.
It was SO good to see these kids. I have missed them so much. They were a huge part of my life for many years. Monica wasn't there, but I am going to try and catch up with her when I move out here after graduation. But I did get to see Dan and catch up with him and the kids. I took the three older children to go get some yogurt and just talk to them.
haha...this is Luke. He is one of the twins. I couldn't get a picture of Jake. He was running around doing his own thing. It was so fun to see the twins now that they are a little older. They are exactly how I pictured them to be. :)
My mom and I were able to go to the ring ceremony prior to the reception. It was held at this beautiful golf club house. Taylor's wedding was exactly how I thought it would be...
The ring ceremony was amazing. It was so fun to hear them say their sweet words to each other. I really respect Taylor and Sky's relationship. I watched it from the beginning to them getting married. They are both so responsible and ready for this next step in their life. I am so excited for them. Taylor's dad was the officiant and did a great job. He gave them some great advice.
After the ring ceremony, there were appetizers and a soda from a hose at a bar!!
I had so much fun and Taylor was a beautiful bride!! The only thing that would of made this reception better would of been having more of my friends there to help me celebrate...
...but I had a BLAST with my mom. Well, beside the minor punch in the face while dancing. It ended up making the DJ laugh so hard he had to leave the room. :) It was pretty funny!
Little Side Note: Taylor's mom made her dress and it was absolutely beautiful!! :) I love the paisley lace she had on her dress. It was totally Taylor...
