Archive for Female Reproduction
I had my first shift back to work and – like the title suggests – all went well. I volunteered to have someone experiencing an IUFD (intrauterine fetal demise). She did end up delivering her baby on my shift too.
IUFDs can be a give or take type of situation: either it’s prolonged and drawn out, trying to induce the labor, or they labor and deliver very quickly. I would imagine that I would prefer the quick labor and birth if I were to be in her shoes. But honestly, who knows what I would feel unless I were actually in that situation? Perhaps I would want more time to process the information that my baby had died? Perhaps I would want to savor as much of the pregnancy as possible before it’s conclusion? Or perhaps I would want to just get it all over and done with?
Like I’ve said before, I don’t mind taking care of women having a fetal death. I don’t run the other way when I see a diagnosis of “IUFD” on our patient assignment board. I feel like I can give excellent, compassionate care to these women and their families. I also find that I enjoy the challenge of creating tasteful photographs of the babies, with the limited supplies that we have on our unit.
I sometimes find myself thinking that I should go ahead and obtain the bereavement counselor education that is offered once or twice a year at work.
We have these fantastic mold impression kits that we use for fetal demises. When you are unable to get foot prints (which is often the case in the early 2nd trimester losses), the impression kits are perfect. I am able to get some perfect hand and feet impressions on the tiniest of babies with these kits. I also feel that it gives a very nice 3-dimensional object that the families can touch and feel after they experience a fetal loss. It’s so much better than a flat 2-dimensional print, I think.
Side note: I need to get moving with more of the 2nd trimester loss fetal wraps. I only have two made. Kudos though to the volunteers who made some small, gender neutral knitted blankets for us! That was a nice surprise to find when I was looking for a small blanket for the baby last night.
Posted on March 11, 2010 | Filed under Female Reproduction | Permalink
I’m very interested to hear the results from the NIH VBAC seminar/webinar that is currently going on.
Anyone click in to see/hear it today?
Posted on March 9, 2010 | Filed under Female Reproduction | Permalink
Got the green light to return to work. My incision is healing beautifully!! Sorry, no pictures.
****************************************
I’m super-psyched about going to a birth conference in May. It’s at the beach! Ordered my bikini online 
Also ordered two cover-ups/summer dresses to bring with me, even though I’ll be inside at the conference most of the time. There will be an extra day for beach going. YIPPIE! Technically, I’m on the waiting list for the conference – it booked up so fast. Yowsas! I hate to say it, but I hope people cancel so I can attend this conference. It’s a required one for school (AABC workshop).
****************************************
Sushi for lunch today. Yum.
Posted on March 8, 2010 | Filed under Female Reproduction | Permalink
Egyptian food!!!! I love me some good ethnic food.
Egyptian sampler platter:
Egyptian (aka Turkish) Coffee!!!! It was so incredibly thick and strong. Definitely strong enough to grow some hair on your chest.
Posted on March 7, 2010 | Filed under Female Reproduction | Permalink
1. Are you currently in a serious relationship? Yes
2. What was your dream growing up? To be a nurse
3. What talent do you wish you had? Singing in perfect key
4. If I bought you a drink, what would it be? Cosmo
5. What was the last book you read? The Midwife, by Jennifer Worth
6. What zodiac sign are you? Sag
7. Any tattoos and/or piercings? Explain where. One tat – on my leg
8. Worst habit? Grazing on junk food
9. What is your favorite sport? n/a
10. Do you have a pessimistic or optimistic attitude? Depends
11. Worst thing to ever happen to you? I’ll skip this one
12. Tell me one weird fact about you. I own all of the Sims games
13. Do you think clowns are cute or scary? Cute
14. If you could change one thing about how you look, what would it be? Lower body lift!!
15. Would you be my crime partner or my conscience? Conscience
16. Ever been arrested? Nope
17. If you won $10,000 today, what would you do with it? Oh heck, I don’t know. So many things I could do with it…..pay off debts, go on vacation, down payment for a real house, pay off my car.
18. What’s your favorite place to hang out at? My computer — LOL! I’m so exciting, right?
19. Do you believe in ghosts? Absolutely, yes!
20. Favorite thing to do in your spare time? Play games online
21. Do you swear a lot? Nope
22. Biggest pet peeve? Ignorant people
23. In one word, how would you describe yourself? Well-rounded
24. Do you believe/appreciate romance? Who wouldn’t???
25. Do you believe in God? Yes
Posted on March 7, 2010 | Filed under Female Reproduction | Permalink
Yep, totally tired of the cold weather. We’re getting a little taste of spring-like weather this weekend – mid 50’s! YIPPIE!!!
Upper 40’s yesterday. Took a 20 minute walk with the family and the dog. (MUST you have this total urge to take a dump every 5 seconds, my doggy-dear?? Really?!?) I definitely need to work on bringing my energy level back up, via some more walking. I was tuckered out after a 20 minute walk! I ended up taking a 2 hour nap from the walk.
My hyacinths are starting to show their greenery in the front yard. Soon time to clean up the flower beds from winter. Almost all of the snow has melted – YEAH!!!!
NO MORE SNOW – you hear me Mr. Meteorologist? NO MORE!
Bring on spring and summer. I am very ready for the warm weather.
Posted on March 7, 2010 | Filed under Female Reproduction | Permalink
I had a wound check on Thursday with one of my favorite nurse practitioners. My umbilical incision is healing perfectly. It’s the lower incision that isn’t doing so great. Do I fault my surgeon? Absolutely not. He did a marvelous job with my tubal.
However, I believe that I am at fault for my delayed wound healing. Why?
I went back to work on post op day #3. I did do some lifting, nothing heavy. I was on my feet for 8 hours. I didn’t gradually build back my activity level. My fault. Totally. I should not have gone back to work so soon.
Thus, I split my wound open, and it actively bled.
I also take up to about two weeks to blow the general anesthesia out of my system. I am tired, dizzy, and lightheaded until this happens. I am prone to needing to take 2-3 hr naps during the day time.
Anyhow, the NP opened my wound a little more, and did some digging with hydrogen peroxide and sterile Q tips. Turns out I had some nice blood clots that needed to be worked out of the wound before it could approximate and start to heal from the inside out.
I also was started on antibiotics – something I RARELY take. Just FYI.
I should also mention – I am a slow healer with some of my incisions. I have a history of slow wound healing, and even rejection of suture. It could be the site – were there is excess skin from weight loss (a.k.a. My Pannus).
WARNING! WARNING! PANNUS PICTURE BELOW!!!!
(Note: this is a picture from the web, not my pannus, but looks very much like my very own pannus. Isn’t it beautiful?)
Picture from: http://fertilityportal.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-o-matic/cache/9c9be_PreopFig1_fmt.jpeg
It could be that I do not always get optimal amounts of nutrition (from having gastric bypass). I blame none of this on my surgeon. I knew this info, going into an elective surgical procedure. (This is aimed at the anonymous MD commenter from my previous post op post.)
Am I belly aching and moaning and groaning about my complications? Heck no. I’m just blogging. I write about whatever pops in my head. Take it or leave it.
(Oh, and I’m also off of work til Tuesday. Another wound check on Monday, this time with my surgeon.)
Signed,
Your sassy AtYourCervix Nursey Nurse
Posted on March 7, 2010 | Filed under Female Reproduction | Permalink
So……….
I went back to work on post op day #3. Big mistake. My lower incision burst open and was bleeding bright red blood. Had to change my dressing several times. Granted, the incision is only about 3/4 inch, but it wasn’t closed with suture. Also, I wasn’t doing any heavy lifting at work. Circulated for a c/section (felt like I was going to pass out at one point…..ahhh, the dizziness continues!), and took care of a post op c/section on complete bedrest. Just too much walking around, too soon.
I still have periods of dizziness — not narcotic related – not taking them during the day at all, just one tab at night for soreness and PRN sleep.
I called off of work yesterday to rest up, and was still having some bleeding from the open incision. The bleeding is less today, and I’m leaving the incision open to air now.
To those of you who have had a tubal – how long did you take off of work afterwards? Do you have a highly physically active job or a sedentary job? Just curious……
Posted on March 4, 2010 | Filed under Female Reproduction | Permalink
Should nurses be allowed to have personal cell phones while working? Should personal cells phones be banned in the hospital for nurses (and other staff)?
I see a LOT of nurses, physicians, and other staff members at the hospital with their personal cell phones while on duty. Some are texting (ok, many are texting), some on Facebook, others….?? who knows what.
Our hospital’s official stance is no personal cell phones allowed while in the workplace. Of course, if you are on your break, it’s not a problem.
Do different rules apply for different employees? Technically, the physicians are not employees, and tend to use their cell phones for work related phone calls. Nurses are supplied with hospital cell phones for use for hospital only phone calls.
Here is just one thread on allnurses.com about texting while at work.
Thought? Comment?
Posted on March 3, 2010 | Filed under Female Reproduction | Permalink
I arrived home a few hours ago from getting my tubal ligation done. Still groggy from the meds and the general anesthesia.
Will post something when I’m more alert
Posted on February 27, 2010 | Filed under Female Reproduction | Permalink
33 yr old G2P1 patient arrives to L&D. She is currently 34 weeks gestation. Normal prenatal labs, including a 1 hr glucose tolerance test at 28 weeks that was 102. She is here on L&D for an elevated BP in the office, as well as proteinuria. Her prenatal records do not have the most recent visits noted on them (records were sent from the office at about 32 weeks).
1. Upon patient arrival, what should the nurse do:
a. Place patient on EFM
b. Get a BP reading in the sitting position
c. Have patient give a urine specimen for protein and glucose dip
d. All of the above
All three items are a MUST for this patient!
2. The patient is noted to be of a higher BMI (45). What type of BP cuff should be used?
a. Regular cuff
b. Large cuff
c. It doesn’t matter
To get the most accurate BP reading, you need to have an appropriate size cuff, as well as proper placement on the arm. When in doubt, measure the widest part of the upper arm in centimeters, and use the cuff that fits in that measurement range. If the cuff is too small, it will register a BP that is falsely high.
3. What is the best position for taking an initial BP on a pregnant woman?
a. Lying on her left lateral side
b. Sitting upright
c. It doesn’t matter
A true and accurate blood pressure reading is taken with the woman in the sitting position, with the cuff at about the level of the heart. Her arm should be at rest, or supported, so that she is not holding her arm up (which can falsely elevate the BP). Lying on her side provides the optimal blood flow to the uterus, and displaces the uterus off of the great vessels running medial in her chest/abdomen. This lowers the BP, but does not provide for a true and accurate BP reading.
4. Her BP is 162/102. What should the nurse do next?
a. Have her lay on her left or right side and recheck the BP in 5-10 minutes
b. Recheck the BP immediately, in the same position
c. Nothing
Her BP is concerning, so it must be rechecked. Some people might stop at the first reading, or immediately recheck it in the same position. However, we want to find out if the BP will decrease with her lying in a more optimal position for uteroplacental circulation for the fetus.
5. Upon performing a protein/glucose urine dip, the nurse finds the following results: Protein +2, Glucose 2000+. What should she do next?
a. Ask the patient about any s/s of preeclampsia: HA, n/v, epigastric pain, recent changes in vision, presence of edema, recent weight gain.
b. Perform a physical exam, including lung sounds and deep tendon reflexes.
c. Nothing, just notify the physician.
d. Both A and B
Both are important. The nurse needs to assess for signs and symptoms of preeclampsia that the patient might be exhibiting, as well as documentation of a thorough physical exam. The nurse will need to have a baseline of the physical exam results, in case the patient begins to show worsening symptoms of preeclampsia. Deep tendon reflexes will show whether or not the patient is showing signs of hyperreflexia – potentially worsening preeclampsia that could lead to eclampsia.
6. What, if anything, should the nurse do about the high glucose reading on the urine dip?
a. Nothing, it’s probably a mistake since she passed her one hour glucose tolerance test.
b. Tell the patient she is diabetic.
c. Perform a bedside glucose fingerstick to find out the blood glucose level.
A follow up on the abnormal urine glucose results are a must. The physician/midwife will also want to know what the fingerstick glucose result is, so it is important to have that information handy. While the patient is more than likely diabetic, it is not in the nurse’s scope of practice to make a medical diagnosis. She can, however, educate the patient on the possible reasons why she is spilling glucose into her urine.
7. What type of lab work would the nurse expect the physician/midwife to order for this patient?
a. Nothing, send her home. Have her follow up in two days in the office.
b. Preeclampsia labs (uric acid, creatinine, CBC with diff, ALT/AST, start a 24 hour urine for protein).
c. Hemoglobin A1C.
d. Both B and C
Self explanatory. With the high blood pressure, the proteinuria, and the glucosuria, it needs to be further investigated as to whether the patient is preeclamptic and/or gestational diabetic. While the HgbA1C will not determine if the patient has gestational diabetes, it will give a quick view of what her average blood glucose range has been for the past three months. A definitive test for GDM is the 3 hour glucose tolerance test. Or, at this late gestation, a diagnostic test may not be ordered, but regular blood glucose levels and a diabetic diet would be prescribed for the remainder of the pregnancy.
Posted on February 26, 2010 | Filed under Female Reproduction | Permalink
33 yr old G2P1 patient arrives to L&D. She is currently 34 weeks gestation. Normal prenatal labs, including a 1 hr glucose tolerance test at 28 weeks that was 102. She is here on L&D for an elevated BP in the office, as well as proteinuria. Her prenatal records do not have the most recent visits noted on them (records were sent from the office at about 32 weeks).
1. Upon patient arrival, what should the nurse do:
a. Place patient on EFM
b. Get a BP reading in the sitting position
c. Have patient give a urine specimen for protein and glucose dip
d. All of the above
2. The patient is noted to be of a higher BMI (45). What type of BP cuff should be used?
a. Regular cuff
b. Large cuff
c. It doesn’t matter
3. What is the best position for taking an initial BP on a pregnant woman?
a. Lying on her left lateral side
b. Sitting upright
c. It doesn’t matter
4. Her BP is 162/102. What should the nurse do next?
a. Have her lay on her left or right side and recheck the BP in 5-10 minutes
b. Recheck the BP immediately, in the same position
c. Nothing
5. Upon performing a protein/glucose urine dip, the nurse finds the following results: Protein +2, Glucose 2000+. What should she do next?
a. Ask the patient about any s/s of preeclampsia: HA, n/v, epigastric pain, recent changes in vision, presence of edema, recent weight gain.
b. Perform a physical exam, including lung sounds and deep tendon reflexes.
c. Nothing, just notify the physician.
d. Both A and B
6. What, if anything, should the nurse do about the high glucose reading on the urine dip?
a. Nothing, it’s probably a mistake since she passed her one hour glucose tolerance test.
b. Tell the patient she is diabetic.
c. Perform a bedside glucose fingerstick to find out the blood glucose level.
7. What type of lab work would the nurse expect the physician/midwife to order for this patient?
a. Nothing, send her home. Have her follow up in two days in the office.
b. Preeclampsia labs (uric acid, creatinine, CBC with diff, ALT/AST, start a 24 hour urine for protein).
c. Hemoglobin A1C.
d. Both B and C
Posted on February 25, 2010 | Filed under Female Reproduction | Permalink
Countdown to the end of this school term!!!
3 more closed book exams
1 more open book exam
2 more open book matching exams
1 more 100 point paper to write (legislation, regulations, and specific midwifery practice statements)
Register for AABC workshop
A LOT of reading for the exams and the paper that I need to write. I am *so* ready for this term to be done.
Posted on February 24, 2010 | Filed under Female Reproduction | Permalink
C-section #1: elective c/s offered for method of delivery. Patient accepted. (grrrrr)
C-section #2: primip who pushed for 3 hours. Failed vacuum.
C-section #3: primip who pushed for 3 hours. Failed vacuum.
Amazingly enough, the failed vacuum (both patients) did not need an extra hand from below to push the baby’s head up out of the pelvis during the c-section. This is common to have to do when mom has been pushing for so long, and the baby is very low in the pelvis.
**The hand from below is the circulating nurse – pushing the head up out of the pelvis during the c/s so the surgeon can lift the baby out through the abdominal incision.
Posted on February 24, 2010 | Filed under Female Reproduction | Permalink
I don’t know why it seems so difficult to let go of my fertility. I know in my mind and heart that I am done having children. I am in my mid 30’s, with a child in college, one graduating from high school, and the youngest in the first grade. I am a fulltime nurse and student. I simply do not have the time or energy to expend on another pregnancy and subsequent infant/toddler.
So, why so sad to let go of my fertility, voluntarily at that? The end of a stage in my life, I suppose. I have either been giving birth or raising children from all ages from the time I was 15 until now. More than half of my life has been dedicated to pregnancy and parenting (my own, that is).
I am ready to see my children grow up and leave the home Yes, I admit, I do look forward to the day when they are ALL out of the house! I cannot wait to not have to worry about who is watching the youngest, or where everyone is and if they’re safe. Ok, I guess as a parent you never really stop worrying about that. Even when they’re off at college…….scratch that, most especially when they’re off at college.
I’m ready to help women start their own families – pre-conception, pregnancy, labor, birth, postpartum.
I’m ready to be able to travel with my partner and not worry about childcare issues at home.
But yet, I wonder……..am I really ready to be done? I know the rational reasons to not have more children.
1. I suck at pregnancy. I’m miserable, constantly nauseated, and I cannot get enough sleep.
2. Might I mention school and lack of sleep doesn’t bode well?
3. School, breastfeeding a new baby, work, pumping, going back to work. I hated this combo when I went back to work last time – and I didn’t have school involved! I would have rather been a stay at home mom while breastfeeding.
4. I hate toilet training. Need I say more?
5. Another kiddo in the house for 18+/- years? Really? Am I nuts?
Saying goodbye to your fertility: it’s not easy to let go. I think of cuddling a newborn, that oh-so-yummy smell, meeting and learning the personality of a new little person, seeing them grow up.
::sigh::
I’m scheduled to have a bilateral tubal ligation this Friday.
Bye bye fertility. I shall miss you.
Posted on February 22, 2010 | Filed under Female Reproduction | Permalink
<— photo of Haggin Dorm at Frontier
My partner and I for ‘History of Midwifery’ submitted our shared endeavor – our history of midwifery paper. It turned out longer than what was expected, but that should be ok. Turned that in last weekend, and still haven’t received a grade back yet. It’s a bit nerve-wracking to wait on a grade! I have to start on another paper for that class, this one is more of a focus on the laws and legislature in my individual state regarding nurse midwifery. Another paper worth 100 points.
Patho — took my test this week in anemias and anomalies of the cardio system. I got an 88% on that test. It was quite another difficult test, but I was still bummed at the grade. Minimum passing on all tests is 80%, so it doesn’t leave much room for error! Next up is studying the pulmonary and renal system disorders. Then taking a test on those. Tests are all online, timed, and are closed book, unless indicated otherwise. The few open book tests are untimed, but are actually more difficult. You can’t just look up the answers – you really need to comprehend what you read.
I did my oral presentation last evening for the History class. I spoke to nursing students about what nurse-midwifery is, and the education required. They were quite the quiet little bunch! I did my talk at the end of their clinical hours, so I think they were just ready to be done and go home. No matter. I have to write up a reaction-type paper and submit it, regarding the presentation that I did.
Only 4 1/2 weeks left in the term!
Posted on February 20, 2010 | Filed under Female Reproduction | Permalink
Dear Doula:
I hated having to tell you that you couldn’t come back to the OR or to the recovery room with the woman you have been supporting all day in her labor. You do realize that I have rules I have to follow?
Screw the rules.
The woman who hired you as her labor support deserves better than what I can give her. She deserves you.
I may not have been able to sneak you into the OR, but I sure as heck can sneak you into the recovery room.
You’re an awesome doula. I hope I see you again soon!
Sincerely,
AtYourCervix
Posted on February 18, 2010 | Filed under Female Reproduction | Permalink
You are not a failure.
It is not your fault for not being able to vaginally birth your baby after a prior c-section.
Your body did not let you down.
You are an amazing woman.
Your strong will and desire to achieve the safest birth for your baby is admirable.
You had excellent support by your side.
You moved freely while laboring stoically.
You kept your energy up by drinking liquids liberally.
You chose excellent care providers who supported you completely.
For whatever reasons, sometimes our best intentions do not conclude the way we hope and anticipate.
Perhaps the passenger (baby) was in a funky position that we couldn’t help rotate.
Perhaps the contractions, although very strong and regular, were not enough to help the baby to descend.
Perhaps there was a short umbilical cord that no one knew about ahead of time, that prohibited the baby from descending any further.
Perhaps there was scar tissue on your cervix that just couldn’t or wouldn’t be broken to allow for dilation.
Perhaps there was something unknown, and we may never know the reason why.
But you are not a failure.
Warm hugs —
AtYourCervix
Posted on February 18, 2010 | Filed under Female Reproduction | Permalink
Hi everyone! It’s been a very busy week, so far.
Work has kept me very, very busy. L&D is just hopping every single day that I am there. Almost every bed has been filled many times. Lots and lots of laboring women! I’ve had at least one birth each shift, plus going into other births as a 2nd RN for several more. Almost caught a baby yesterday! Mom was a multip with a preemie, who rapidly went from 4cm to 10cm and I pretty much caught the baby’s head, until the doc arrived to catch the rest of the baby.
Of course, I’ve bumped heads with several docs in the past few days too. All in the name of patient advocacy. Well, most of the time. One argument was about which group was supposed to be taking care of a walk-in patient with no local prenatal care in the previous several months. The resident was arguing with me on that. Sorry buddy! She’s yours! The no prenatal care ladies default to you. That is your JOB. That is how things are set up here at Big City Hospital.
On the school arena of my life……….
Submitted a paper for my history of midwifery course. I am so glad that we could work with a partner for this paper! It was eating up too much of my time. I’m running a little behind in my pathophysiology course, so I need to get a little more caught up with that. Oh, and there is another paper I need to write for the history of midwifery course, due on 3/22. As well as an oral presentation I’m giving tomorrow.
Needless to say, I am in a chronic state of tired.
Posted on February 17, 2010 | Filed under Female Reproduction | Permalink
“What does it matter, when the c/s rate (for a particular group) was 90% this month? All that matters is that moms and babies are healthy.” ~~ overheard statement by an OB this past month.
WHAT DOES IT MATTER???
I had to bite my tongue, before I would start on a verbal rampage of what it really means to have such a high c/s rate. Yes, it was a fluke that the c/s rate for a particular group of OBs and Midwives was that high for the month. Honestly, this practice is not known for a high c/s rate. So, it was very unusual.
But, the absolute ignorance of that statement, by an OB……..I was so aghast at the nonchalance of his statement.
So what…….as long long as all moms and babies are healthy?
SO WHAT?!?!?!!!!!
Posted on February 13, 2010 | Filed under Female Reproduction | Permalink
Oh what a wicked adventure!
Remember, the snow that was expected to come here in the Northeast? Oh, it arrived, for sure.
In anticipation of more snow coming (in addition to the 2 feet+ we got over the weekend), I hightailed it in to work on Tuesday evening. I didn’t have to work until Wednesday evening, but the snow was coming. I knew it would be too difficult, scratch that – impossible – to drive in the forecasted blizzard on Wednesday.
So, I checked into my suite, complete with cabana boy and pina coladas, at the Big City Hospital. In actuality, it was a patient room on the pediatrics unit. I “slept” in a room with another nurse, next door to a room with a sick and crying baby all night. Sleep? Sure, right. Where was my cabana boy and pina colada??
I putzed around until my shift at 3pm, then proceeded to work a horrendously busy shift. Many nurses couldn’t get in, so we were severely understaffed. Several management people had to stay and work the floor with us (heck, they couldn’t get home, might as well work, right?). Unbelievably, even though major thoroughfares and highways were closed, a state of emergency was declared, and a CIVIL emergency was also declared………….pregnant women still came in. It was busy with a capital “B”! How did they get in? Via ambulance a/k/a taxi service. Some were real medical/labor issues, but some….not so much. How would they get home when there was no medical reason to keep them? Simple. They didn’t. Almost everyone stayed. Super nuts, I tell ya.
I had a birth with some complications afterwards. It looked like a war zone when it was all said and done. Luckily, everyone was nice and stable, after continued care and observation on L&D. Got mom and baby transferred and tucked in for the night, then I was finally DONE.
Ate some cold chinese food. Yep, only the chinese restaurant was open. Nothing else was open. It was like a disaster zone outside the hospital walls. All of the major highways declared closed. In fact, snow plows had piled snow onto the entrance and exit ramps to keep people off of the highways, so the plows could do their job! The snow finally stopped coming down sometime in the evening, but the winds kicked up to 40-50 MPH, so it was blowing all over the place. We received probably another 18-24 inches of snow.
Driving home in that? Nope. I went halfsies (or, foursies) with 3 other staff members on a hotel room across the street! Ahhhhhhh, several drinks in the hotel bar to wind down, then we hit the hotel room. A mighty sweet room it was. They were giving hospital employees an awesomely good rate for the night, since we were all snowed in. $69 for a normally $179+ room per night. Wooooweee!!!
Never realized there was such weird — ummm, crap? —- on cable TV late, late at night. Some super strange sex show on HBO I think? We were up giggling, having a grand old time watching it, before finally conking out to sleep.
Only to be rudely awakened bright and early by……..ding ding ding ding!! EVACUATE!!! Yes, a fire alarm. In our hotel. On minimal sleep for the past 2 nights.
You’ve got to be freaking kidding me, is this for real? Yep. Tossed on clothes, grumbling the whole time. Walked down 6 flights of stairs, to walk outside in the cold and snow. Firetrucks with lights flashing outside. Get out there, only to have them say that it’s all clear and we can go back in. What the heck?!?!?!!
Angry, tired, with a massive headache, we stomped to the service desk. Told them our predicament. Asked kindly for a refund or something (my God, I think I’ve slept less then 5 hrs total in the past 2 nights!). No refund, but free breakfast. And we can keep the room until we have to trudge back to the hospital at 3pm again.
So, here I sit. Telling my tale of fun and excitement of being a nurse while being stuck in a big city, away from my family for 2 days and counting now. My belly is full from an excellent breakfast and coffee (to get rid of my headache). My body is tired but cannot sleep. And to think, I have to go back to work again in 3 more hours?
Being a nurse is so glamorous, eh?
Hugs and kisses……….trying to go take a nap if possible.
Posted on February 12, 2010 | Filed under Female Reproduction | Permalink
Short answer: yes.
Just what the heck am I talking about? I’m talking about the new baby docs that are starting their rotation with us at Big City Hospital. When I refer to new baby docs, I’m not talking about pediatricians. I’m talking about those newly minted MDs that have just graduated from medical school in the past year.
New Baby Doc: (noun) – A physician which has just graduated from medical school within the past year. This is also referred to as the intern or first year resident. These newly graduated physicians have book smarts, but not necessarily clinical smarts.
Ahhh, breaking in the new doctors of tomorrow. What a fun job for nurses! What everyone should know is that these new doctors do not always start their first clinical rotations in July: they sometimes start in the dead of winter. Typically, July 1st is the changeover time for all med students and residents. However, we receive students/residents that share time with another local hospital, so we tend to get newbies all year ’round.
I had the ‘pleasure’ of meeting several newbies recently. There are good newbies, and there are not so good newbies. (I’m trying to be positive here.)
Good newbies: eager to learn, introduce themselves to the nursing and medical staff, ask questions, treat the nurses like co-workers, bring in yummy chocolate.
Not so good newbies: think they know it all, don’t bother looking you in the eye when they need you to come in with them to examine a patient, don’t introduce themselves to you, treat nurses like they are lower than them, order tests for no rhyme or reason, and where-the-freaking-heck-is-the-chocolate???
Ya’ll understand where I’m going with this, right?
Yeah, of course you do!
Newbie #1: no personality, no introduction to nursing staff, very brusque and abrupt. Has no clue when ordering tests/treatment. Very slow to warm up to the nurses. How you gonna learn medicine without the nurses on your side??? This one might not last long in OB.
Newbie #2: looks you in the eye, introduces themself, smiles, presents nurses with yummy chocolate brownies, asks questions, very laid back, talks about their children, sits down with nurses at the nurses’ station. Shows basic knowledge of OB when discussing particulars of a patient situation with the nursing staff. This one is a keeper.
Rule #1: Smile. Introduce yourself.
Rule #2: If you don’t know, ask questions. Don’t just guess.
Rule #3: Know the basics of OB before you walk in the door. We can help you build from that.
Rule #4: The nurses are your friends, not your enemies, and certainly not your subordinates. Respect is mutual.
Rule #5: You chose this specialty. If you don’t like it, it shows.
Rule #6: Bring food. Especially chocolate. And often. We will share our food with you too.
Posted on February 9, 2010 | Filed under Female Reproduction | Permalink
It’s official! My guest post is up at Expecting Words.
How to take charge of your labor and delivery. Check it out!!
Posted on February 9, 2010 | Filed under Female Reproduction | Permalink
Well, we’ve managed to pretty much dig ourselves out of about 2 feet of snow. Hip hip HURRAY!! Now they’re calling for more snow on Tuesday and Wednesday. I heard rumors of another foot or so of the white stuff.
Enough already! I’m ready for spring! Ready to see my bulbs start to shoot their little green sprouts up from the ground! Ready to see some flowers again! Ready to get my pots filled with luscious colorful flowers and greenery!
This is the problem with living in the northeast – it’s cold and snowy for months. Months that seem to just drag on and on. Then spring comes, and it’s like…..ahhhhhhhhhhh!!
It also seems that I complained enough (finally) with the rental management office. They sent a maintenance guy to come fix my front door weather stripping, and also to (hopefully) fix my back screen door: the one that likes to bang open and closed due to the lack of the whojiwab that keeps it from slamming open and closed. The spring thing. You know what I mean.
Posted on February 9, 2010 | Filed under Female Reproduction | Permalink
The front of my house. This was after the walkways were shoveled at least twice.
The back door and porch. The dog took one look at the huge snow pile and thought for just a split second about trying to walk in it to get to “his area” this morning. As you can see, he decided not to even try. Good boy.
Needless to say, I can’t even get to my car, much less attempt to drive to work.
So, unless someone with a 4×4 can come pick me up, I’m not risking life and limb to drive my measly little Saturn. Remember my wreck of 2008? The entire passenger side of my car, from front to back, was damaged. From a 15 MPH wreck into a guardrail. Never again. We were lucky to have escaped injury. Head on would have seen the deployment of airbags and probable injuries to everyone in the car.
Posted on February 6, 2010 | Filed under Female Reproduction | Permalink
Next »
Copyright @ 2001 and Beyond Fertility Portal: Fertility and Infertility Research News
Web Design By Dynamic Creator | Web Hosting by Trade Web Hosting
