Baby Touches a Dr's Heart

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Specializes in NICU.

Hey,

This may seem silly to some, but I'm a newbie. I graduated in May and have been working in a Level III NICU since August.

Last night I worked, I was first admit. The Dr. came in for the admit (the baby was okay. 30 weeker/girl...grunting, retracting, flaring.) The plan was to intubate to surf her, then place her on NCPAP.

So...my charge nurse was at the bedside helping me. The dr. said he would like her to intubate. So, she was trying, but was not succeeding. The dr. was a little annoyed and finally said, "Just let me do it. Step aside."

So, he takes the charge nurse's place and picks up the laryngoscope and has his hand around the baby's face. She reaches up and grabs hold of his finger. He surprises us all by coming out of his grouch state and saying "Aw...you're holding my hand!" like he realized just for the first time it was actually a baby in front of him.

It was cute. I guess our doctors are always about the business and rarely are they in house....so...this was a nice change of pace to witness. Just thought I'd share.

I really love my job and it's hard to explain how your heart skips a beat when you go to peek at your baby in it's Giraffe bed and it's wide awake fixated right upon your face, or when they grab your finger, or when you can make all the difference in their de-satting or restlessness simply by re-nesting them....Awesome!

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Specializes in Onc/Hem, School/Community.
Hey,

This may seem silly to some, but I'm a newbie. I graduated in May and have been working in a Level III NICU since August.

Last night I worked, I was first admit. The Dr. came in for the admit (the baby was okay. 30 weeker/girl...grunting, retracting, flaring.) The plan was to intubate to surf her, then place her on NCPAP.

So...my charge nurse was at the bedside helping me. The dr. said he would like her to intubate. So, she was trying, but was not succeeding. The dr. was a little annoyed and finally said, "Just let me do it. Step aside."

So, he takes the charge nurse's place and picks up the laryngoscope and has his hand around the baby's face. She reaches up and grabs hold of his finger. He surprises us all by coming out of his grouch state and saying "Aw...you're holding my hand!" like he realized just for the first time it was actually a baby in front of him.

It was cute. I guess our doctors are always about the business and rarely are they in house....so...this was a nice change of pace to witness. Just thought I'd share.

I really love my job and it's hard to explain how your heart skips a beat when you go to peek at your baby in it's Giraffe bed and it's wide awake fixated right upon your face, or when they grab your finger, or when you can make all the difference in their de-satting or restlessness simply by re-nesting them....Awesome!

Thanks for such a touching story. Its one of the reasons I would like to do NICU nursing. :mad:

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Thank you for this wonderful post! I am in my second semester of NS and my clinical rotation right now is Labor & Delivery/nursery. I know it is not the NICU but I can't wait for my rotation there! I must say I love the nursery! I thought that seeing some of the sick ones might get to me a little (and I am sure it will) but it hasn't upset me too bad yet! I just really want to help these babies! I loved your post and appreciate you sharing!

Tanya

Future RN Class of 2007

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Specializes in Neonatal ICU (Cardiothoracic).

I had a similar experience this week too....I also graduated relatively recently [last May]. I was po feeding this scrappy 3lb 14 oz little-old-man looking 34 weeker [born at 28 weeks]. I was sleepy, so I just held him on my chest after he was finished. I kind of spaced out, but snapped back into consciousness to find him reaching up and feeling the 5am stubble on my chin, staring intently at me! I couldn't believe it! Sometimes you forget that your patients are real babies, and not just "dolls" you feed and medicate. MAN, I LOVE MY JOB!!!!

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Specializes in NICU.

man, I love babies. I'm in my L&D rotation right now in postpartum, and I am in freakin heaven. Can't wait to graduate and hang out with babies all day. I know the NICU is not about playing with babies - I've spent some time there. I just like being around them for any reason.

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