Today was my first day on Labor and Delivery and I loved every minute of it! Before I get too excited and just ramble on, let me walk you through the highlights of my day...
I got to the hospital around 6:15 in the morning which is 45 minutes too early but luckily my mentor (we will call her T) was there. I changed into the hospital scrubs because the L & D floor tries to be as sterile as possible, and T showed me around. T has worked at this hospital on the L & D floor for over 30 years so she really knows what she is talking about. I'm lucky to have someone like her take me under her wing.
We began prepping rooms for two incoming pregnant ladies. During this time a very nice nurse asked if I wanted to watch a C-Section so I ran with her to the OR and watched the procedure. It was amazing to see a baby emerge from someone's abdomen, blue and screaming, and then all of a sudden turn a nice pink color and settle down. I started to feel lightheaded during the procedure but I didn't want to be "that girl" so I put my hands on my knees and bent down as if I was looking intensely at the surgery (Veryyy tricky).
I then went with T to visit our two patients, one of which didn't speak any English so I was able to communicate briefly with her in my broken Spanish before the interpreter arrived. My other patient was a nurse, as was her husband, and they were very open to letting me help and observe.
I was able to put in 2 Foley Catheter's which turned out to be pretty easy, but exciting, and later I inserted an IV and was able to draw blood. For the rest of the day I saw 1 more C-Section and 2 more births which lasted only about 10 minutes each because the babies were so tiny!
The real exciting and most special part of my day occurred around 6 PM, an hour before my shift ended. T and I had been with the pregnant lady who was a nurse since 7 AM and she was finally ready to start pushing! Her husband and I got on either side of her and helped her push while T prepared the room. She pushed for 1 hour and 20 minutes before her baby was born and I know I shouldn't be talking but I was so sore from helping her! When the baby was finally born I almost started crying but I didn't want to be "that girl" either so I refrained. (If it were up to me I'd be in that baby's first picture, smiling between her mom and dad, ha ha).
The baby was then cleaned, suctioned (they have a surprising amount of gunk in their throat from the amniotic fluid) and swaddled. It was so cool to be a part of that entire experience. I know this was my first day and my first rotation but I can't see myself ever getting tired of helping/watching babies be born. I can't wait until tomorrow, but for now, I'm exhausted!
Monday, May 28, 2012
Friday, May 25, 2012
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!
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!
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Orientation Continues
Today continued with Extern Orientation, 2 more days and we are done! Today was better than the previous days because the information applied directly to our program, I had more interaction with the other externs and I began the day with a Grande Vanilla Latte from Starbucks. You determine which reason was more influential...
Anyways, we met some of the head nursing staff at the hospital and learned some nursing specific policies. We also learned the computer documentation system (paper charts are so 2010), how to label specimen per protocol and did basic training with the glucometer which reads patient's blood sugar levels.
I learned something else that stuck with me today and I hope to use this concept when I begin working on Monday. The hospital I am working at is beginning a new initiative to "take the mystery out of medicine" for the patient's which I think is a great idea because unless you are educated in medical terminology, let alone medicine, you probably don't understand half of what is said in a health care setting. So basically the hospital is hoping by explaining everything to the patient clearly and involving them in their treatment, there will be less confusion and anxiety from the moment they are admitted. I had never really thought about this but when you tell a patient that the Doctor put in an order for an X-ray for them they assume that they will be taken to radiology in the next hour or so. However, behind the scenes we know that means that realistically tomorrow morning they will be taken for an X-ray. If we communicate this to the patient from the beginning then there will be considerably less frustration on their end and it will enhance the nurse-patient relationship.
I will meet my first mentor tomorrow afternoon at a reception we will have at the end of the day and like I mentioned above I will begin work this Monday on the Labor and Delivery floor! I am very very excited but I am assuming I will see a live birth that day for my first time so I may rent "The Miracle of Life" this weekend to prepare myself (You probably think I am kidding but I am definitely not).
Anyways, time to relax for the rest of the night and get ready for tomorrow!
Anyways, we met some of the head nursing staff at the hospital and learned some nursing specific policies. We also learned the computer documentation system (paper charts are so 2010), how to label specimen per protocol and did basic training with the glucometer which reads patient's blood sugar levels.
I learned something else that stuck with me today and I hope to use this concept when I begin working on Monday. The hospital I am working at is beginning a new initiative to "take the mystery out of medicine" for the patient's which I think is a great idea because unless you are educated in medical terminology, let alone medicine, you probably don't understand half of what is said in a health care setting. So basically the hospital is hoping by explaining everything to the patient clearly and involving them in their treatment, there will be less confusion and anxiety from the moment they are admitted. I had never really thought about this but when you tell a patient that the Doctor put in an order for an X-ray for them they assume that they will be taken to radiology in the next hour or so. However, behind the scenes we know that means that realistically tomorrow morning they will be taken for an X-ray. If we communicate this to the patient from the beginning then there will be considerably less frustration on their end and it will enhance the nurse-patient relationship.
I will meet my first mentor tomorrow afternoon at a reception we will have at the end of the day and like I mentioned above I will begin work this Monday on the Labor and Delivery floor! I am very very excited but I am assuming I will see a live birth that day for my first time so I may rent "The Miracle of Life" this weekend to prepare myself (You probably think I am kidding but I am definitely not).
Anyways, time to relax for the rest of the night and get ready for tomorrow!
Monday, May 21, 2012
Orientation
I'm back in the South (Carolina, not of California) and have already had one busy day of work. Today was day 1 of New Employee Orientation where we learned basic information about the hospital, it's policies and what are our expectations as employees. The day began with a visit from the CEO of the hospital. Apparently he comes to 98% of New Employee Orientations which occur every Monday and Tuesday, 51 weeks out of the year! For such a busy person, that is a lot of time welcoming new employees. He was a great speaker and shared his mission and goals for the hospital, which were inspiring and realistic. The day continued with many different speakers from areas of the hospital such as Worker's Compensation, Diversity, Employee Health and Wellness and Employee Benefits (how grown up do I sound?!).
It was an interesting assortment of presentations although most of it didn't quite apply to my program since it is only a summer job, but it was still interesting to hear and important to know down the road. The entire day I kept asking the other externs whether or not they knew when we'd get our schedules, when we'd be working, which floors would we be working on, etc. No one else knew, but everyone was as excited as I was to find out! Well...we finally did! This summer I will be spending my first three weeks on Labor and Delivery (L&D), my second three weeks on Women's Speciality Obstetrics (this is for high risk pregnancies and severe gynecological issues) and my last three weeks in the operating room (OR). I am so so excited for this summer to really start because these are all areas that I'm very interested. Tomorrow we continue on with New Employee Orientation and Wednesday-Friday we learn more about the Nurse Extern program specifically.
It was an interesting assortment of presentations although most of it didn't quite apply to my program since it is only a summer job, but it was still interesting to hear and important to know down the road. The entire day I kept asking the other externs whether or not they knew when we'd get our schedules, when we'd be working, which floors would we be working on, etc. No one else knew, but everyone was as excited as I was to find out! Well...we finally did! This summer I will be spending my first three weeks on Labor and Delivery (L&D), my second three weeks on Women's Speciality Obstetrics (this is for high risk pregnancies and severe gynecological issues) and my last three weeks in the operating room (OR). I am so so excited for this summer to really start because these are all areas that I'm very interested. Tomorrow we continue on with New Employee Orientation and Wednesday-Friday we learn more about the Nurse Extern program specifically.
Monday, May 14, 2012
Anticipation
I have been home in Orange County, California for about a week and a half and I am getting very excited for my externship to begin in South Carolina on the 21st. If you know me at all you know I have a minor (major?) obsession with organization, itinerizing and planning ahead. For that reason I am having a very hard time relaxing at home when I don't know exactly what I'll be doing this summer. Since we have 3 different clinical rotations there are so many options of what I could be doing this summer. I am hoping that I get my first choice which is Labor and Delivery (babies!!!!) but I won't find out for a week or so and it is driving me insane!
In the meantime I've purchased new scrubs (white bottoms, brown tops...brown, really?!) and new shoes (the comfiest I could find, 12 hour shifts!!). I've also entertained myself on websites such as: http://
In the meantime I've purchased new scrubs (white bottoms, brown tops...brown, really?!) and new shoes (the comfiest I could find, 12 hour shifts!!). I've also entertained myself on websites such as: http://
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Intro
I am a rising Senior Nursing Student at Clemson University from Orange County, California and this blog is about my summer as a Nurse Extern at a hospital in South Carolina. An externship is basically an internship, but in the hospital setting they use the term extern to differentiate nurses from doctors (interns). Also, externs are more supervised than interns. I will have a preceptor during each clinical rotation who I will follow around and learn from. As externs we technically aren't allowed to perform many skills or administer medication but hopefully I will gain the trust of my preceptor and be able to do something!
My externship is 9 weeks long in addition to a 1 week orientation and 1 week vacation for the 4th of July. The Nurse Extern Program allows us to work for 3 weeks on 3 different floors of the hospital to experience as much as possible. We will work 36 hours a week during the day shift which will allow me to enjoy the hot South Carolina summer and hopefully visit some friends and family!
I have many reasons for writing this blog...First, I have strange, funny and touching encounters with my patients on a day to day basis and I like to share these stories with my family and friends. Second, it is hard to respond succinctly when people say, "Tell me about your summer!" So now, in a true a 21st century manner, I can just give them a link to my blog. Conversation over. And finally, and on a more serious note, I want to use this blog in the future when I desire to reflect on my experience. I anticipate this summer to be challenging both emotionally and mentally, but also rewarding, and I want to remember every detail!
**To protect the identity and information of my patients, I won't reveal the name of the hospital or any identifying information about the patients.
My externship is 9 weeks long in addition to a 1 week orientation and 1 week vacation for the 4th of July. The Nurse Extern Program allows us to work for 3 weeks on 3 different floors of the hospital to experience as much as possible. We will work 36 hours a week during the day shift which will allow me to enjoy the hot South Carolina summer and hopefully visit some friends and family!
I have many reasons for writing this blog...First, I have strange, funny and touching encounters with my patients on a day to day basis and I like to share these stories with my family and friends. Second, it is hard to respond succinctly when people say, "Tell me about your summer!" So now, in a true a 21st century manner, I can just give them a link to my blog. Conversation over. And finally, and on a more serious note, I want to use this blog in the future when I desire to reflect on my experience. I anticipate this summer to be challenging both emotionally and mentally, but also rewarding, and I want to remember every detail!
**To protect the identity and information of my patients, I won't reveal the name of the hospital or any identifying information about the patients.
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