End of Orientation...Finally!

We have finally finished the very long orientation process, and on Monday I start bright and early on the labor and delivery floor! I found out today that the hospital delivers over 3,500 babies per year which is about 10 per day! I can't wait to participate in the labor and delivery process.

The past two days we finished learning about policies at the hospital and learned which skills we can perform as externs and which we cannot. We started today with Nurse Extern Boot Camp which was essentially a skills check off. It wasn't as stressful as I thought it would be and it gave a boost of confidence that I remembered skills that I had learned over a year ago. As externs I think one of the most "advanced" skills we can perform is inserting a Foley catheter. (Seasoned nurses would probably laugh that I consider this advanced) Apparently on L & D and in the OR Foley's are put in all the time so I hope to actually perform this on a human being in the coming weeks, rather than a mannequin!

We also took a tour of the hospital today so we would know where to go when we started working and I was amazed at the size and diversity of the floors of the hospital. There is essentially a unit for any complication or illness, and every employee we passed seemed busy but happy. The Pediatric Oncology floor was very cool because it had a giant fish tank as a wall in front of the nurses station and tiny trikes and big wheels in the hallway for the kids to play with! When we were walking through the ER we saw a trauma patient coming in from the helicopter with the team of flight nurses which was a very intense looking situation. We also passed by the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) where there are 3 OR's on the floor (as opposed to the OR floor) just for that unit. We happened to see a surgical team running from the OR into the NICU pushing a tiny tiny tiny baby in an incubator. It was obviously sad because the baby was premature and had other complications, but it's pretty amazing to think that there is such advanced technology and capable people that can save the babies life!

This whole week has been very educational but very tiring as well! I can't wait to not set an alarm tomorrow, enjoy the weekend and get refreshed for Monday!