Be prepared for an overload, I started orienting in the NICU this last week... And a nice little lullaby to set the mood :)
When I worked in Idaho, one of the charge nurses arranged during my orientation for me to watch an emergency c-section of a 27-week gestation baby. It was the coolest thing I've ever seen. This little baby was barely past the age of viability...most little kiddos born before 24 weeks of gestation just aren't developed enough to survive, and even at 24 weeks it's going to be a long, long road. So there I stood in the stabilization room and watched as the OR team passed this teeny tiny baby through a window in the OR to the NICU team in the stabilization room. Work immediately commenced to intubate, start an IV, draw labs, and various other tasks to stabilize the baby. She did surprisingly well, but I remember standing in awe as I looked around at this team of people - two NICU nurses, a neonatal nurse practitioner, a neonatologist, a pharmacist, a respiratory therapist, a radiology tech and nurse's aide - all coordinating their care so smoothly to make sure everything went as it was supposed to. It was like watching a really well-coordinated dance. Everyone knew their part and they just did it, and they knew what to do to save this little girl's life. I already wanted to work in the NICU, but I really fell in love with it that day.
I was elated to start a new float job in Utah where part of my assignments would be in the NICU. I started this last week, and it has been quite the adventure. I knew things were different than my term-babies and there were special considerations to take into account for preemies, but it has been surprisingly difficult to change diapers, swaddle, and move babies for bottle feeding. You have to get as much done as you can with as little movement and stimulation as possible, and it is quite the task!
But after a week I'm finally starting to feel a little more comfortable. Not that I'm good at it yet, but I don't feel so much like a fish out of water in the NICU.
This is what I get to see at work :)
The last couple of days I got to take care of the same three kiddos, including a set of twins. All three babies were born about two months early, they were darling. It was amazing to me to see these tiny little babies wake up and interact with you even though they shouldn't have been born until August...I could still definitely see character and personality in all three of them. To me, it just helped me realize what a true miracle each and every life is, and how precious they really are.
We worked a lot - a lot - on feedings since their reflexes to suck and swallow weren't developed when they were born. As their brain continues to grow and develop, we have to help them learn those things that full-term babies come wired to do. Most preemies have feeding tubes to help them get adequate nutrition.
Towards the end of my shift last night I was getting ready to do cares and start the last feeding of one of the twins. She definitely was the strongest and most feisty of the two, even though she was only four pounds. As I went to unwrap her, I noticed her feeding tube was gone. I looked through her blankets and all over her crib for it until I finally found it on the floor. Not only had she yanked it out, she managed somehow to get it on the floor! My preceptor and I had a pretty good laugh at that. Not surprisingly, this little babe didn't appreciate me putting a new feeding tube put in...hopefully she doesn't pull it out again!
My preceptor and I finished what needed to get done a little bit early before we had to give report to the oncoming nurse, so she took me over to give me a tour of the critical care side of the NICU. Most of those babies were on breathing machines as big as I was, with several different monitors and leads and IV drips hanging. Those nurses were pretty busy since there were 5 baby codes on Labor & Delivery that night. It is amazing to me what can be done to help all these little, little babies. Honestly and truly, some of them looked not much bigger than my hand.
Anyway. I apologize for my rambling words, but I wish you could all see what I get to see by being a nurse! The hospital is an amazing place. Truth be told, I even kind of miss med-surg sometimes. I would never work there, but there are a lot of miracles that go on there too, and very special people. Even though it's often stressful, the hospital is like a second home to me. Even with all the beeping and noises from the different machines and monitors, it is a reverent and sacred place. It's all about taking care of people, and that's a great line of work to be in.
Love to you all.
