Attitudes

This week in clinical one of my fellow students had a newborn w/respiratory distress. The parents were 16 and 17 & the grandparents who were arguing over custody were also in & out.

My classmate walked around all day with a wrinkled nose, snide comments and so many deep sighs I thought they might hyperventilate at any second.

When they say in class to leave your attitude at the door, that's exactly what it sounds like it means. What they should say is leave it at home. It shows in the hallway, at the nurse's station and in the med room. It effects everyone around and is transferred from one shift to the next. Though I wasn't in the room, I can't believe it didn't show in the care provided.

Is it any wonder that people act the way everyone expects them to? Teenage parents are still teenagers. They still act like the world revolves around them though they look like adults. If I don't even know if that is my child then how am I supposed to know how to act?

Even worse I'm a teenage father (maybe) and there is something wrong with this little tiny thing that I am supposed to take care of. I may even be afraid to pick the baby up. Many grown men have that very same fear.

As my child's nurse shouldn't you be teaching me how to do these things (since you are doing my child's ADLs anyway)? Can't you involve me in giving the baby a bath? or Teach me how to hold my baby while giving a bottle?

I even found some patient ed materials to give the mom & dad. The student took the materials, wadded them up & put them in their pocket, and said that dad was too busy sleeping and mom was nowhere to be found. Uh - maybe baby is in the hospital and mom and dad are exhausted (Duh!)?

I really wanted to say something but wasn't sure what. Am I overreacting?

5th Quarter - Peds

Gotta admit I'm a little apprehensive about this quarter. Pediatrics is probably not going to be my specialty but I am trying to keep an open mind.

We toured the unit where I will be for the next 8 weeks and I am looking at vent and trach kids. Not a picker-upper for sure. I am definitely going to review my suctioning skills and see what I can find out about CF.

We'll see how it goes... 2 more quarters after this one (!?!)

Med Surg - Quarter 2 done!

Finished my second med surg quarter and I gotta say - it wasn't bad at all. As a matter of fact, I would say I was blessed to have had the instructor everyone dreaded. Really, if you were on top of your routine, she was very pleasant to work with. I'm glad I didn't let the rumor mill do any more than scare me (warn me)?

Don't get me wrong -all that paperwork took forever! But I think I will be able to function much faster than other students just because of all the preplanning she made us do. She also used the Socratic method where she quizzed you and put you on the spot right in front of the patient. (whew!) I don't know which was harder answering the question she asked or figuring out the answer she was looking for. The questions were so vague!

I am really glad I got to work with her.