One of those weeks

Specialties NICU

Published

So in the past week, we've had:

A former 36wk TGA who was grown for a while, full feeds, used to take him off the monitor and walk him around. Then we did his arterial switch. Died suddenly just after the OR.

A harlequin ichthyosis. Died.

Conjoined twins who shared a liver and one three-chambered heart. Died.

A growing preemie who went from full feeds to his intestines in a silo, they're all dead and the surgeons couldn't fit them back in. Peeing bright red blood, K+ of 9 with rhythm changes. Gonna die.

A 6mo old with MAPCAS who was initially deemed unrepairable, then decided to take him to the OR but with a 40% chance he'd make it off the table, made it through, been two months since then, got a Nissen a week ago, was sitting in his stroller today on room air, shrieked once, asystole, coded, shocked, lido, epi. Died.

Whiskey. Tango. Foxtrot.

Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

:icon_hug:, 'Lizabells.

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Specializes in NICU.

Yuck. I feel your pain. Last week was horrible up in my neck of the woods as well. Every admit we get is as sick as can be. We are stretched for space and equipment beyond belief.

Hopefully you (and I) will have a better week.

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Whisky Tango Foxtrot is right! When it rains it pours sometimes. Sorry about your cruddy week. I'm actually impressd you had a harlequin ichthyosis. I've only seen one in 7 years.

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Specializes in NICU.

Jesus mercy. Now we have a neonatal leukemia.

Our fellow told me today we've had fourteen deaths this month. The NEC kid died. We got another bad, bad NEC from an OSH a few days ago, and today they brought in her twin, also with terrible NEC. The hell is going on out there?

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Specializes in Cardiac Nursing.
Jesus mercy. Now we have a neonatal leukemia.

Our fellow told me today we've had fourteen deaths this month. The NEC kid died. We got another bad, bad NEC from an OSH a few days ago, and today they brought in her twin, also with terrible NEC. The hell is going on out there?

((((((((((((lizabells)))))))))))))) I'm not in NICU yet. Hopefully things will turn around. I'm with you though, what the heck....I know things go in spurts but sheesh.

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I'm sorry.

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Specializes in LTC.

*hugs* Your an amazing person to put up with all this stress!

Keep up the good work and things will eventually get better.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, ER.

Good Lord! I thought it was a bad week for my hospital. Two stillbirths and a 6 year old came in D.O.A. after drowning in his pool. They coded him forever and couldn't get the slightest response. I'm not sure there's ever a point where you can just turn your emotions off, but that's what makes NICU/pedi nurses so special...we're not afraid to emotionally invest. Hang in there, if you ever come to Mass I'll buy you a round!

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That sounds really rough. I hope that this bad spell is over soon for your unit.

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Specializes in ICN.

Just horrible. Give yourself whatever makes you the most happy--chocolate, a massage, and then bring a big bag of candy in for the whole unit.

It's weird how the deaths seem to all come together. Months go by without losing a single baby and then, wham. They all go together. We had a December like that several years ago. Six babies--all in December. I thought I was coping and then I went shopping the day after Christmas to return something--and when the sales lady said the item was unreturnable, I started crying. Uncontrollable crying, just screaming--I grabbed my stunned daughter and ran out of the store. Wow, when it hits, it really hits.

Dawn

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Specializes in NICU, adult med-tele.
Jesus mercy. Now we have a neonatal leukemia.

Our fellow told me today we've had fourteen deaths this month. The NEC kid died. We got another bad, bad NEC from an OSH a few days ago, and today they brought in her twin, also with terrible NEC. The hell is going on out there?

:crying2:So sorry about your black cloud... Hope it goes away soon!

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Specializes in NICU, adult med-tele.
Just horrible. Give yourself whatever makes you the most happy--chocolate, a massage, and then bring a big bag of candy in for the whole unit.

It's weird how the deaths seem to all come together. Months go by without losing a single baby and then, wham. They all go together. We had a December like that several years ago. Six babies--all in December.

Dawn

Ooooooh 3 Novembers ago it was like that for us. Just unrelenting. :crying2:

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