Three Weeks Down...and Three to GOOOOOOOOOO!

[MamaNash]

Well ladies, my first rotation is done....praise the lord!  It was multi-patient and it really just reinforced that I DO NOT want to work with big people.  By that I mean I do not want to work with adults (unless they are pregnant women).  Don't get me wrong, it was not that bad, but it is just not my bag.  I have to say the last two days were good.  I had a couple old ladies that were adorable.  One of them was very combative and tried to bite my instructor at first, but by day two she was calling me honey and telling me about her kids.  She was in acute renal failure and had her BUN and Creatinine levels were elevated causing some acute ureamia and making her very confused.  She was a sun-downer so nights were bad and days were better.  Another little old lady was pretty much on her death bed.  She continues to run very low blood sugars and almost landed in a diabetic coma.  She told me she is tired and doesn't know if she has it in her to keep fighting.  It was very hard for me to keep my composure, I really wanted to cry with her.  I just let her talk and stayed by her side.  She was 92, married at age 16, had her first child at 17, and lived an amazing life.  When I left she was heading back to her retirement community/nursing home, so I will probably never know what happens next.  That is the hardest part about being a nurse, you form a connection with some patients and then you just don't know what happens to them.  But, knowing that you made a difference while they were there is what keeps me coming back for more.

 We had an exam last week and it was probably the hardest test I've ever taken.  We have another on Tuesday, so please keep positive energy flowing this way.  I have to do well.  

I did get my tentative schedule for preceptorship and I'll be working days which is good.  7 am to 730ish pm, three days a week.  I hope that I can maintain my milk supply while doing this.  I'm a little nervous about that.  I may ask my husband to bring Syd to me at the hospital for the evening feeding.  I don't think keeping her awake until I get home around 8 is a good idea.  Then again maybe she will be up for staying awake a little longer at night.  I don't know.  

 Any other pumping nurse mama's out there?  How many times a shift do you pump?

I can't wait to start preceptorship.  I love those little tiny babies!!!  NICU here I come! 

[tabtabmom]

May. 30, 2008 at 8:49 PM I worked with the elderly and loved it. It can be challenging though.

[Boomom034]

May. 30, 2008 at 8:53 PM Sun downers can be  kinda fun. LOL! When I had my first child, I would have my mother or husband bring her to work and I would feed her on my break. I only worked part time so it wasn't to bad. She was easy to feed and I was so fortunate with my milk, I didn't pump while on shift. When I got home, I would feel like I was going to explode. Looking back, it probably wasn't very healthy to expose her to the germs at work. She turned out great.

[AsiaA.]

May. 31, 2008 at 3:38 AM

I work in the ICU for adults, yea I know, when do I pump? but I had good luck with it so far. I work 12 hour shifts so I pump 4 times, 3 times if I am really busy, but I pump every 3 hours when I am away from my son which is only 2 days a week so thats ok I guess! But now he doesnt drink the milk from his bottle anymore so I am telling my husband to offer in a sippy cup but my husband says that he only drinks like once or twice when I am away!! So when I get home in the morning my son jumps on me right away! LOL.

[aggiewife]

Jun. 1, 2008 at 8:07 AM

i'm sooo happy for you...3 more you can do it you can do it! 

as for the pumping...don't look at me....i never pumped but those first 2 weeks to help w/engorgement!  ;o) 

[averiesmomma]

Jun. 2, 2008 at 4:28 PM i only work 10-6 but i can say to pump like clockwork.  any pumping is better than no pumping.  even if you can only squeeze in a 10 min session do it.  i have been pumping forever so let me know if you need any tips or encouragement!  it can get tough.  but its so worth it.