[NICUandLearning]

So the other night I had one of those nights.... The nights when you think I am here doing this for what, what was I thinking. I had a 25 weeker (5 days old) on HFOV and having diminished breath sounds and needed orders that should have been there and a near 25 weeker (25 days old) that was 2 days post PDA ligation and having frequent decels and desats with care and/or stimulation and needed new orders for a medication. There were so many things that I could tell were put aside by others because it could be done later that I had to have done now because I needed to. I felt like every time I wanted to do something I had to do something else. I was feeling like I could not get my thoughts straight or my self organized. I walked out of my shift 2 hours late and having to write an occurance report. As I walking out of the shift the day shift nurse was saying how she could not do this for all day and needed help when I just did that for 12 hours plus 2 hours extra 14 hours. I was so overstimulated and wanting to just have time to collect my thoughts and organize.
I walked out of my shift and walked over to the starbucks and got a chai tea latte and a coffee cake and sat in my car to process before I could leave. I told my family that I had a bad night they were sorry for me but did not understand but that was ok because they were there but I still did not get to sleep for hours.

[SteveRN21]

I hear you. I've had a critical patient on HFOV for the last 3 nights, and have worked my tail off. PLUS I had an additional new naughty 29 weeker on triple photo who almost bought himself an exchange transfusion. Of course the day shift nurse all 3 days only had the one HFOV pt. I had both. I didn't get a break for 3 nights, got out late 2 mornings because I had to give report to a new person every time. I also stopped at Starbucks, and sat in my car to decompress.

[RainDreamer]

((((HUGS))))) for you! That's a tough assignment. Our new micros are all 1:1 for the first week (sometimes it's BORING, especially during the honeymoon .... but there are times that we're thankful for it, as they can obviously be busy busy). So I sympathize that you had a new micro and a post-PDA, that's tough.

Are the assignments always like that?

I hope you were finally able to get some sleep and relax a bit.

[NICUandLearning]

Originally Posted by RainDreamer

((((HUGS))))) for you! That's a tough assignment. Our new micros are all 1:1 for the first week (sometimes it's BORING, especially during the honeymoon .... but there are times that we're thankful for it, as they can obviously be busy busy). So I sympathize that you had a new micro and a post-PDA, that's tough.

Are the assignments always like that?

I hope you were finally able to get some sleep and relax a bit.

No the assignments are not always like that, but our census is very high right now and I was the lucky winner for that assignment... lol

Yes I did get sleep and relaxed and did some activities like scrapbooking and dinner with family that helped.