Catch Up!

Oh, I didn't write last week...time for a catch up!!!

Last week I was working on the postpartum unit in couplet care. My patient was born the day after me, so that was pretty cool. She was really nice, had lots of good questions, and her baby had the longest eyelashes I'd ever seen in my life! This was this young woman's second baby in the past two years...eek! Glad it's not me :)
I finally felt more comfortable working with my patient as far as walking in, assessing, asking questions to get info, etc. It felt good. I even got to do discharge teaching when they left! So now they know all I know about what the mom should be feeling physiologically (vague enough? :D), how to bottle feed so the baby can tolerate it better, side effects of meds, how to get a birth certificate, who to call if they have problems or questions, and all that fun stuff. I felt useful. The nurses all seem really happy and like they enjoy there jobs. However on the other end of the spectrum...........

there's the Pediatrics floor. Not quite filled with as much life. My patient on Wednesday had a really interesting disease process (Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpus)--a hemorrhagic disorder where his blood doesn't clot effectively. These kids are supposed to take it easy and stay away from the rough physical contact that comes along with sports (because they take forever to stop bleeding), however, the dad insisted that he continue playing "PeeWee Football" so he could be a normal kid. How normal is it if you get a paper cut and have massive blood loss? Anyway, he was in the hospital to get loaded up on meds so he could play football. A 7-year-old.
My patient yesterday was really sad. She was 9-years-old and suffered from Cerebral Palsy. She's a Foster Care kid, but didn't have any visitors all day. She laid in her net-covered-crib flopping around a foam puzzle, listening to hospital music for most of the time. I read her a book and talked to her...she looked at me occasionally, but I couldn't tell if she understood anything. I told her she had pretty hair and put my hand on her head, and she moved her hand to her head also. Maybe she understood? I found out that alot of the pedi kids on the floor are in foster care.
On a brighter note, I did go into the Child Life center (the playroom) and met these two boys playing video games. They were sitting in front of the TV, both in blue gowns, both with IV stands behind them. : ) They had just become friends and were going to go in one of the boys' room to continue their party after the playroom closed. That was pretty cool--seeing kids being friends with kids who had some of the same things going on.

I got my paper work done at 4:25...it was due at 4:30. I was so glad to get that out of my hands! :D

Next week I go to Nicu. My impression from classmates is that these babies take your heart. I'm a little nervous...I'm sure there will be sad stories.