ShannonC

I did the job shadow thing once but it was for a non-nursing job, back in my old life. I got the job in question and after the fact, asked about the purpose and they told me it is largely social. In other words, they hang out with you so that they can see if you're decent to be around. So, my advice is to be friendly, easy to be with, not too serious, but not an airhead. Be yourself, for certain, but be your best self. I'd say don't worry too much about impressing them with you many many skills, be more concerned about being pleasant. Good luck! I haven't been on these boards in ages, so I don't have the benefit of knowing you, but I sure hope you get the job.

I am madly in love with this entire post! Very well said and I totally agree.

I think I have a soft spot for this Dad, because I remember being sort of in his and his wife's shoes. This is the scenario: you read the hard stats, you get all informed, but then you want to just hear from real life people... he seems like a smart enough fellow to know that the best we can offer is anecdotal info, but sometimes it's just really nice to have a "real person" behind the stats. Or maybe I'm totally wrong :) (been known to happen). But BetsRN has a point--there IS something to be said for letting go of the stats and just peacefully waiting... MUCH easier said than done though!

From my experience, what I have seen in my particular hospital,my "X" here is 34 weeks and my "Y" is 33. To me that fits the bill--33 weekers almost always turn out fine, albeit with a short stay in the NICU. Most of our 34 weekers are in the NICU for only a day or so. I had a 34 week/1 day baby last weekend who was in the NICU for all of 3 hours. And then I have my own personal experience with my own children who were 34 weekers who went home with me right away when I was discharged. Of course, I feel obliged to say, StressedDadtoBe, that (and you know this of course) we can't ever be certain until baby is out. Sadly, there are some cases where even 36 weekers(or more) have trouble. But, from my experience, we barely blink anymore at 34-35 weeks.

Though you may have to wait for a missed period, it might help to logic this out some... when did you have sex? At what point in your cycle? Are you regular with your periods? Are they often the same length? Was there a birth control method? Even if things are in perfect alignment, that doesn't mean you're pregnant, but knowing more details might help you have some relief from the crazy-going!

Blood tests can be done before the home tests, but not a huge amount sooner. These days the home tests are so good, very reliable.

I think I was the one who introduced the word barbaric to the thread... I do really apologize to anyone I offended. I'm not trying to make some huge point or change anyone's mind. That's just the way I feel, the word "barbaric" comes to me when I close my eyes and picture the procedure. Just an emotional response. As far as religion, for me, I'm less apt to argue the point when someone cites religion, but I am still bothered by it. Just because something is done in the name of religon or tradition doesn't make it okay... There are tons of examples for that.

You know, this has got me thinking, and feeling sort of "second-guess"ish about when I state my opinion. I mean, okay, it's not like I am out there campaigning for new parents to leave their boys intact. BUT, if a patient or her husband says to me about a circ "we haven't decided what to do yet. What did you do, and why?" or if they ask me "what do you think?", I respond with the honest way that I feel. I say "I didn't circ. my son based on the research showing that there was no strong medical need. That combined with years of seeing the procedure done and seeing how much pain the babies go through made the decision easy for me." Perhaps, though, I need to just leave the way *I* feel about it out if it, even if they ask. Like, maybe I need to fudge it and tell them something neutral. I don't know... it seems like a personal opinion was asked for, so I give it. But this has me wondering if I need to be adament about keeping it to myself. It's an interesting issue--sort of like names. If parents are deciding which name to name their child and they throw options at me, I hesitate to offer my opinion because it's so personal. I don't know... I guess I'm just pondering out loud!

I so totally agree with you! It's interesting what you have studied. It's too bad that this wonderful tradition of midwives got effectively extinguished... I hope it comes back full force! My hope is that everyone have a full range of choices and that women take back the power of choice when it comes to childbirth!

I am learning so much on this board! I am curious, SmilingBluEyes, if the patient doesn't push it out during pushing, when do you routinely d/c the Foley? For us, we d/c the Foley on everyone at some point during the pushing phase, and everyone, epidural or not, is escorted to the bathroom at 2-2 1/2 hours post partum (unless there are complications). So I am just wondering how long your Foleys are left in. Thanks in advance!

Wow... interesting thread. For me (have been an L&D nurse in Southern California for 7 years), I see the doctor as part of the patients' team. I am an important part, and so is the OB. I have caught some babies, but I always prefer it when the doctor is there. What if something goes wrong that I am not qualified to handle? What if she bleeds and I can't stop it? What if there is some unforeseen complication that only presents itself at delivery? Rare, I know, but if it happens, I want someone with an M and a D after their name present. That said, I totally agree that there are many patients don't take the responsibility to get themselves educated. They blindly follow their doctor and don't understand what is happening to them. Some don't care. Last weekend we had 4 (or was it 5?) inductions scheduled in a 12 hour period for the same doctor. I asked my patient why she was being induced and she said "Oh, Dr. D has a conference to go to and she wants me delivered before she goes". This was perfectly okay with my patient. I think for some people, from what I see in my fairly affulent patient population, there is this idea of the doctor as the person they have "hired" to "take care" of the delivery, much like you'd hire a caterer for a party. They just want to turn all the decision making over to the doctor and leave it at that. And if that is what they want, so be it. It sits funny with me on some level, but another way to look at it is that it is the other extreme of letting someone have the kind of birth she wants. If a patient wants to not think about anything, not have to decide, wants to leave all the choices to someone else and have a completely medical birth, that is her choice here in 2005. Like I said, it's not the way I would do it, but I gotta respect her wish. What a great topic. I wonder how the OBs would feel if they knew we dicussed their relative usefulness. LOL! :) -Shannon

Well, shoot. I totally messed up my reply just now. I tried to quote and reply to different sections, but ended up just making it all messed up. My responses are in italics, making it look like they were part of the original quote. Then I tried to go fix it but wasn't able to... Sorry for the mess!

Agreed, 100%, like I said above. But if my patients ASK ME, I'll tell them how I feel. It's why they asked. Also, play nice, please. :)

Yay!! Things sound really good for you guys. I myself had my twins at 34 weeks and 3 days... and they came home from the hospital with me. They weighed 4-5 and 4-8. No o2 needed, no IVs, no big problems. Just some difficulty getting them to suck vigourously, but other than that, perfectly healthy little babies! And now, at almost 5 years old, I can't imagine them being more perfect. I am so happy and touched that you are coming back to give these updates. I only get to come on here periodically but when I get a chance to read your updates, I am so happy. Keep up the good work! -Shannon

I vividly remember freaking out about test scores during nursing school. But, and fellow RNs back me up on this, my grades never had anything at all to do with one MINUTE of my nursing career. It is far more important to have the knack for it. And if the nurses on the floor were complimenting you, well, I'd take that information far more to heart than the test score. You're going to be fine, just keep believing! Memories of school... :::shudder:::