mermette

Where there's a will, there's a way! I'm 38 years old and started working night shift a year ago when I got my first nursing job. I had a three month old at home at the time who we just didn't want to put into daycare. I worked the weekends and came home on Monday morning (after 3 twelves in a row) to stay up with my son all day - my husband left for work as I walked through the door. It was dreadful for the first few months, but I adjusted to it. Just like a previous poster suggested, nap when you can (especially a few hours on the day you start your run). If you can't out-and-out nap, at least lie down and RELAX! Only sleep three to four hours after your last shift and go to bed early that night to get back to a normal schedule. Keep healthy snacks with you and drink plenty of water. Coffee can be a god-send and a curse - do what works for you, but try to avoid it after 3 AM because it can really hose up your sleep. :smilecoffeecup: It will take you a little while to figure out what your stomach will tolerate at night (for me it's breakfast foods), but make sure you eat (you'll need the energy). Take your vitamins! Last, but not least - have FUN. I have oriented on days and wouldn't do it for anything - the nightshift is just different, you'll see what I mean. It will take a few months (probably), but you'll adjust! Enjoy your new position and good luck.

I agree. It can definitely be done. I was pregnant through the last two semesters of my ASN and I took my boards three weeks before giving birth. I had an extremely easy pregnancy; I managed to go to school, work full-time and be pregnant. It's not going to be easy, by any stretch, but if you want it bad enough you can do it! Congratulations and good luck.

Congratulations! My baby was born with a perfectly round head that flattened out nicely from all the back sleeping! The pediatrician sent us for some mild physical therapy (his case is not bad), but also said that the head shape can change up to two years of age. The process of brain growth help to "move" things into place. I would suggest (as the previous poster did) that you talk with the pediatrician (repeatedly, if necessary to feel confident that everything possible is being done). Good luck to the new family.

Hi All - Thanks to everyone who responded - the information was helpful. We saw the PT on Wednesday and she's going to do a combination of neck massage and exercise to strengthen the neck and shoulder muscles evenly (she says there is an almost imperceptable torticollis). She's also going to use cranio therapy (manipulating the skull bones) to help them to reposition. Manipulating the skull makes me nervous, but she has a ton of experience. I explained what we were doing for repositioning during sleep, etc. so no changes there. I'm very comfortable with her and my son had a blast with her! She says that the case is so mild that 6 - 8 sessions should do it. As well, he doesn't really need the full time with her, so we're going to do some other exercises/play to help encourage crawling, etc. Overall...he's quite a normal baby with overly nervous parents! :chuckle Thanks again...take care. Missy

Siri - Thanks so much for your reponse...I looked at the links you provided. My son is 6 monts old and he actually has what I would say is brachycephaly - a very mild case. The doc states that his sutures are still open and the anterior fontanelle is still open. He believes that the situation would probably take care of itself, but is using massage as a means of "pushing things in the right direction" (no pun intended). He doesn't feel there's any need for a helmet or band. I had been unable to find any info online about massage for treatment, so I was wondering what it really entailed. I called the PT today and she's supposed to call me tomorrow to give me more info about the specifics of the treatment, the goals, etc. It should be interesting. Thanks again for your response.

Hi All - My son was diagnosed yesterday with a borderline case of positional plagiocephaly and the doctor ordered physical therapy as treatment. I'm wondering if any of you have seen this ordered and what the actual treatment is? I understand that it's some form of massage, but I'm wondering if it's maybe more placebo for the parents (everytime we've been in to the doc, I've asked about it)? :) He has no facial, ear asymmetry, it's really just that the back of his head is flat (although it's rounding out with some repositioning we've been doing). Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much...Missy

I graduated in May, passed my boards in June. I applied for a position in mid-August with BIDMC in Boston (down near Fenway) - I had a baby in July, so I decided to wait to apply anywhere. I interviewed and was offered a position within a week of contacting HR. I'm on of 5 from my graduating class that is working at that facility. They're great to deal with and very supportive.

I am in the last semester of an ADN program and I'll be 32 weeks along with my first baby at graduation. In addition, I work a full-time job as a project manager. I'm managing to survive, but it's NOT easy. I didn't plan it this way, it kinda "happened", but at 36 years old, I certainly wasn't disappointed! Everyone thought it was great timing, but I'm not so sure. I was lucky enough to be with the same clinical group throughout the entire program so we've gotten pretty close and everyone was happy to help, but I've been somewhat limited in what I can do (I just don't have the energy I did before getting pregnant and there are just some things I CAN'T be around - I'm on an oncology floor which limits the patient's I can have). Doing the studying is a grind - I'd rather be shopping for baby things and planning for his arrival, but studying has to come first. Not to mention, pregnancy gives you jellybrain as the little one steals every decent brain cell you've ever had (I didn't believe people, but it's true). Add to that - there's that little NCLEX thing to study for - that requires ambition and a clear head (not something your guaranteed to have while pregnant). After graduation, I'll be about to deliver, thus I won't be able to start a job with all the other new grads - I'll be waiting at least a few months until the baby is older. It can make it more difficult to get into a good introductory program. The list goes on... If I can give you any advice - graduate, get a job and work for at least a year. You have PLENTY of time to have a baby AFTER you've finished school, passed boards and established yourself at work. Also, that will give you plenty of time to "enjoy" your pregnancy without the distractions. Good luck with whatever decision you make - Missy

You're not alone - I've placed multiple orders with them and received everything within days. Not a single problem yet! I have to admit, I'll be a little more cautious now...

Actually, he's still legally married to Terri. Florida does not recognize common law marriage. According to the following website (and a couple of others) http://usmarriagelaws.com/search/alternative_lifestyles/common_law_marriages/index.shtml, there are only 11 states that do. It doesn't matter that he's started another relationship/family, he's still legally entitled to be Terri's representative.

I just completed my clinical rotation in OB in December. Our facility requires that the car seat be brought into the hospital, the baby placed in the seat by Mom or Dad and then the nurse does safety checks to ensure that all is correct. Then, we walked them out to the car and checked the installation of the base before they left. As well, the parents had to sign stating that they understood the rules/laws about seats in the state and that they were liable for any problems. We also recommended that they have the seat safety checked by the local police who will do a full inspection for free to be sure that installation is correct. I'm having my baby at the same hospital in July and I'm very thankful they do checks because just after giving birth, I'll want all the help I can get. It doesn't matter how trained I am - it's a first baby for me and thus still a learning process!

i'm graduating in may and one of the things i have on my wishlist is an electronic stethoscope. i talked with one nurse this weekend who had one and she said that she didn't get what she was hoping for. so, here's what i would like to know: if you have an electronic stethscope, what kind to you have? what do you think of it? if you had the choice to make again, would you still buy it? thanks! :)

rninmay2005 "though i'm not a nurse yet, i am a senior nursing student (graduate in 3 months, but back to the topic...). a pregnant senior nursing student. i have been told by my program head that there is no such thing as light duty and i have to do everything that everyone else does. i dont ask for special treatment. my clinical mates didn't get me pregnant and aren't responsible for my safety, and i don't expect them to pick up my slack. i work just as hard as before i got pregnant. just now i eat more at lunch, pee more, and nap more at home. but, i am a healthy pg woman. no bp probs, no gd, no nausea. i think when i get out to work, i'd be wiling to help a pregnant nurse out, within reason. not so she would get to sit on her orifice while i worked mine off, not so my work would suffer, but if she needed something, i'd try to help. jsut like i'd do for anyone else doesn't sound like your nurse has a pregnant problem, sounds like she has an attitude/motivational problem independent of her pregnancy, she is just using this as an excuse. don't blast all pregnant nurses, we're not all lazy!" amen, i'm also a pregnant senior nursing student with one clinical rotation left. i'm assigned to an oncology floor - my program said my limitations are up to my ob. after talking to the doc, i can do everything i used to except handle chemo (which i can't do anyway) and i have to avoid radiation patients. otherwise - standard precautions. i plan on working just as hard as i always have - i can recover when i'm home (buried under my books). my clinical group has been together for two years and almost every single one of my classmates said "no lifting - we'll all pitch in to help you". so while you're right, they didn't get me pregnant, they believe that we're a team and should work together. i guess it comes down to the fact that i've always worked hard and supported all members of my clinical group, so they don't mind doing extra to ensure i'm safe. while this nurse is using her pregnancy as an excuse, it's just an excuse to hide behind so she can continue with her laziness and lack of work ethic. this problem is bigger than the baby she's carrying and will last long after the pregnancy is done!

Thanks to everyone for their replies. I have received the OK from my OB to proceed - I'm to avoid handling chemo (which I'm aware I can't do anyway - although, someday I'd like to) and I can't work with radiation patients. Otherwise, it's standard precautions. I'm going ahead and will take care with both myself and my baby! I'm really excited to be able to stay on the floor - I'm interested in oncology and the nurses are overjoyed to have students on the floor with them which will be nice change (but that's another dicussion entirely). Thanks again to all the responded!