What did you learn at work today?

I guess right now I am trying to unlearn and undo some really angry feelings I felt for my "ghetto" mama of 17 years old. This "mother" was young, poor, uneducated/drop out-that happened before the pregnancy, hx of std's, refused to bath because our bathroom was "too nasty", uninterested in baby care/instructions, etc. I understand totally that most was due to her age and maturity but I have taken care of younger pts that were more mature. I had to give her an injection and it took me almost 5 minutes to do it. She hated needles. She kept flinching and MOVING. I told her if I stuck myself with the needle that there would be LOTS of sticking as she would have to get blood draws to test for all types of diseases. Anyway...I was very professional but all I could think about was how sad for that baby...probably not much chance for that kid..

BUT a few doors down I took care of the most WONDERFUL HISPANIC FAMILY. They were from Mexico, all illegals, but you could see the love/caring/concern on the face of that father--concern for both mom and baby. Through the interpreter dad/mom ask lots of questions. Dad spoke very little English but we could communicate-enough to make sure baby and mom were taken care of but not enough to explain discharge care, etc. I was so proud to take care of them.

I guess I learned that care and compassion goes a long way..The Hispanic family expressed to me that they appreciated everything I did for them--told through the interpreter and the 17 year old and family only used me to "fetch" Sprites/Orange Drinks and pain medication.

PS-Lets not make this an "illegal alien" debate. Just comparing what I learned this week. We could all learn a little from cultures different than our own.

Don't put hydrocortisone creme in the microwave. It will blow up.

Our pharmacist came over to heat up some cortisone creme to mix with something. And it blew up. All over the microwave.

Breast milk can and will squirt you in the eye. :barf02:GROSS!

I learned to follow my instincts.

I recently started on a post partum floor. I have experience as a doula and in out of hospital birth settings; now I work in a very conservative environment.

I had a mom who couldn't pee postpartum. We give them 2-4 hours and then straight cath. I picked her up from another nurse who was adament I needed to go in a straight cath her, right away, as it had been 6 hours since her foley was removed (she had an epidural).

I talked to the mom, she really really didn't want to be cathed. Her fundus was u/2, midline, and her bleeding was scant, so I really didn't feel like her bladder was too full.

The other nurse was pretty firm and aggressive about my needing to cath her. The mom used to work with me, and she said, "Don't you have any of your birth center tricks up your sleeve?" So I put her in the tub, filled it with water, and she peed in the tub about two minutes after she got relaxed. When I asked the nurse at the desk whether this was okay (I'm still learning our protocols and stuff) she said, Well, I guess so. I've never put anyone in the tub to pee before, but I suppose if you want to you can.

I'm learning to integrate my noninterventive techniques with a more conservative, traditional approach. They can compliment each other nicely in the hospital environment, I think.

I also learned how to finger feed a baby using an SNS; I've never done it quite like that before. I also learned how to cup feed a baby recently. I've never done that before at all--I've always just dropped a little tube or syringe in the side of the mouth while on the breast, or used the syringe to just slowly squirt formula/EBM in.

Most of what I am learning right now is paperwork and facility specific protocol. But I really am learning so much every day. It's cool.

Oh, one other thing I learned yesterday. Bilibabies' poop looks bloody under bililights.

Well, its not really something new, but its these sort of days that reaffirm for me that the less we fiddle with labour, the better woman do. Had a primip admitted with prelabour SROM, some niggles. Sent to the ward having very mild contractions. She comes back two hours later, things are hotting up. Shes in the shower doing fab, within half an hour things are obviously rocketing along. I VE her and shes 6cm with a deflexed ROP at the spines. Half an hour later (still in the shower) she says "The babys head is THERE!" 40 minutes later she delivers on all fours over an intact peri........

I learned to follow my instincts.

:yelclap::yelclap::yelclap::yelclap:

Well done queenjean, for listening to your gut and your patient! And for thinkin' outside the square. Top care!