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?