Maternity Experience

Hi followers!

This week I had the opportunity to shadow the position of a labor and delivery nurse in the operating room. In the morning, I was introduced to a 38 year-old patient awaiting a cesarean section for her third child. I was initially nervous, because thus far in my clinical experience I have had minimal exposure to the female population. My first semester, I cared for two females and last semester I worked solely with men at the VA in West Roxbury. Fortunately, I worked closely with a labor and delivery nurse who has been at Newton Wellesley for over 26 years. She showed me how to properly document all vital signs, medications, and other patient information prior to entering the operating room. While in the operating room I watched this nurse not only set up for the procedure, but also, calm the nerves of her patient while she was undergoing an epidural. The staff were personable and enthusiastically explained everything going on during the operation. (They also checked on me several times to make sure I wasn't going to pass out!) 


I had a million feelings running through me, and before I knew it a beautiful baby was born into the world. Under my mask, my jaw fell straight to the ground when I heard the baby's first cry. The best part about viewing the c-section was the look on both parents' faces when they saw their child for the first time. The labor and delivery nurse then showed me how to quickly wipe down the baby to reduce heat loss, check vital signs, and obtain an APGAR score at 1 and 5 minutes after birth. I also took a peek at the umbilical cord to assess if two healthy arteries and one vein were there. After completion of the c-section, the mother was moved to the recovery room and the same nurse provided care for her. I enjoyed this aspect of the labor and delivery nurse, as she was able to follow her patient antepartum and post partum. Today was an incredible experience, and I have a strong feeling maternity is an area of nursing I would like to pursue one day.  I'll keep you posted on future clinical days :)


Until next time,


Katie

BABIES EVERYWHERE!!! Amelia & I after I swaddled her like a burrito!  Practicing my skills back home...

FIRST YEAR DONE!

                             Hi All,

I have made it through my first year of the GM program and passed all my classes! This semester was definitely a ton of work, but it feels amazing when you receive your final grades and can breathe a sigh of relief! Seeing a grade of 80 or above makes you feel on top of the world. Now I have one week of vacation until Summer Session I starts up... :-)

Summer Session I, I will be taking two courses -- "Illness and Aging" and "Family and Maternity Nursing". I'm very excited as I will be spending Thursdays 7am-7pm on a maternity unit at Newton Wellesley Hospital for the first half of the summer. I've heard that this rotation is fun and will keep you posted on my experiences there. I will also be working as a school nurse on Fridays 8am-2pm for three weeks at Wayland Public Schools. Definitely cannot wait to relive my elementary school days, and see what life as a school nurse is like! Until the summer semester starts up, I will be relaxing on my couch at home catching up on all my DVR'd reality shows (haha) and enjoying some rest and relaxation! I can't believe how fast spring semester flew by, and in less then a year I will be sitting for the NCLEX.  CAN'T BELIEVE IT! 

Also, as a side note I have been receiving many emails regarding the GM program and would be more than happy to answer any specific questions you may have... You can reach me at ktava775@regiscollege.edu

Best,

Katie T.