sjc80

Quick question, when saying 22 weeks are we talking post-menstrual age or post-conceptual age?

Even if you are 1:1, like some others have said, you still have things to do other than support mom. Charting, getting supplies, dealing with Dr.'s, etc. Also, generally a the doula has gotten to know the mom over the course of a few months so they are better able to offer comfort to her since she knows her. I had a doula at my daughters birth and it was wonderful. The nurse that was there really appreciated my doula as well. I had been working with her since I was 4 months pregnant, so she knew how to help me and was able to do little things like give me sips of water, put a cool cloth on my head, talk quietly in my ear while I was pushing. I didn't want any "information" from my doula I wanted to emotional support. Lastly, she was able to offer support to my husband so that he could support me more effectively.

From my personal experience: Hire a doula and stay at home as long as possible (taking into account how far the hospital is, etc)

So does your facility glove for contact?

"Eating the skin of a kiwi gives you cancer. I had a friend who always ate them and he got cancer." This coming from my mother-in-law who is a former nurse.

I agree. Our unit policy is "bare below the elbows", which is strictly enforced for ANYONE touching the babies, as well has CONSTANT hand washing. Our infection rate is superb, so it obviously works for us. It seems wrong to put on gloves just to turn a baby or something when good hand hygiene is just as good. Baby's need skin to skin contact and like you said, often parents aren't around......

In my hospital the day shift has to call in by 6am (for a 7:30am start) and the night shift has to call in the 2pm (for a 7:30pm start). I find it ridiculous to have to call in a 2pm for a night shift. I normally get up at 5pm for a night, so am I supposed to get up to make sure I'm feeling OK? They say it is so they have time to find staff, but it just seems unfair to night workers.

Called a new resident to get an order for Gravol for a 3 year old who was nauseous. She said "I'll look up the dose and call you back." When she called back she ordered 500mg Gravol IV q4h PRN. I told her that seemed like a bit much. After thinking about it for a few minutes, she agreed and changed it to 25mg. We really do keep doctors from killing patients

While I've never said anything of this nature, too often have I heard nurses telling depressed patients to basically "buck up" or "it's all in your head". Having suffered from depression, it makes me want to SCREAM when I hear these things. Depression is a disease! You wouldn't tell a diabetic that if they tried hard enough they could control their blood sugar.

How about the lowest? I had a baby who had a 0. On repeat she had a 1. I don't even know what that means and I can't find any info about low neonatal bilirubin! Though there is info about low bili and coronary artery disease....... But I don't think that's a problem with a 3 day old!

My newest pet peeve: Pacific, when they mean to say specific. IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE!!!! lol

The medical examiner where I work must be having a fit, lol. As he has said many times "EVERYONE dies of a cardiac arrest. You're not dead if your heart is still beating!" The REAL cause of death is what caused the heart to stop beating. He has the same issue with people saying someone died of respiratory arrest.

So, I've just start in NICU (I graduated a month ago). I was there for 8 weeks as a student and I have just finished my orientation and am now flying "solo". I'm finding my self feeling extremely insecure about my practice. I think I'm doing things write and doing what I should be doing but I don't know. I find the staff and the managers only give feedback when there is something negative. Like, a co-worker would never say "Hey, that's not how we do it, let me help you", they would just tell the manager then during a "chat" the manager tells me about something I've done or didn't do. And during these little "chats" the manager never says "Hey, people have said *insert positive comment here*" Is this the normal way to deal with a new staff member? If not, how can I approach other staff or the manager about giving me more feedback? Help! I love NICU but I am very anxious that I am not fitting in or doing things write!

My feet we very clean and my toe nails were even clipped! lol Thanks Cindy A and Treat et Street, you've made me feel better!

I know all you emerg nurses probably think it's dumb, but I went to emerg today for a dislocated toe. I knew what was wrong with it, but I pulled and pulled and it just wouldn't go back into place. I called my family doctor and they said they wouldn't do anything with it because they couldn't know for sure if it wasn't broken. I felt like an idiot going to emerg (mostly because I've read this post and people have said it's a dumb reason to go in!). The doctor gave it one good tug and it was back in! I still feel like a dumba$$ :-(