Busy Busy

Time moves differently when you work the night shift. At least I think the shift is to blame, though some might argue that age has something to do with it too... Time seems to move by in weeks instead of hours. The last thing I remember was the NAMI walks, and then I think I worked a night, had a few off...what on earth did I do? Homework maybe, and more trying on of bridesmaid dresses, drinks with friends? I know that I worked my first 3-in-a-row over the weekend. The first two nights were kind of dull, I'll admit, because our census is low and we have mostly "feeder-growers" that aren't medically very interesting- cute, sure, but not exciting. Then Sunday night I was "first admit" (meaning if we got a new baby, it was my patient). After the midnight feeding, I was just finishing the online portion of my re-certification of NRP (Neonatal Resuscitation Program) when we got a call that they were doing a c-section. It was the first one I went to without my preceptor. And the attending on-call that night was one who isn't a regular at our hospital, he just comes once a month or so (and sub-sequentially, does not know me, and did not know it was my first time and I was nervous!) But I've been to plenty of c-sections, and 95% of them are so routine I could probably do what I need to with my eyes closed. Of course this particular case just had to be one of the other 5%. The scary kind. The kind where the baby comes out blue, not breathing, floppy, with a low low heart rate. The kind where I can hear my heart pounding in my ears and I have to turn my back to the dad so he doesn't see the fear in my face. It ended up being totally fine- don't worry- but I almost had a heart attack! And next time, I will be more prepared. And less freaked out. Hopefully. And now, the baby looks like this(not exactly this, that would violate HIPPA laws, but you get the point):

Photo Credit Here

Last night Julia and I went out to Big Star- a delish taco place I've been attempting to go to since I moved here. And then we went to the Violet Hour. It's a secret sort of speak-easy type bar with no signs and an unmarked location. So fun! And they have fancy drinks-I had something with bourbon and grapefruit that came in a tiny carafe- and Julia had a drink that had a whole egg in it! Yowsers!
Today I went to Rush University Medical Center for a class on Neo-natal transport. What torture. What inspiration! The class was informative and good- despite having taken it once two years ago- I feel like I really learned it this time! The hard part was being awake during the day for 8 straight hours! SO HARD! (I did the awkward head-bob on multiple occasions!) But the hospital- I was in awe-it was like being at nursing Mecca- SO BEAUTIFUL! They are finishing up a $900 million new hospital project- check this out:
It both infuriated me all over again-that they wouldn't even LOOK at my application because my bachelor's degree doesn't matter (it's not a BSN)-and motivated me- to study study study- fly through the BSN program ASAP and MAKE THEM HIRE ME! (not that I don't still love my current job-but- MECCA!) Exciting things for the future!

NAMI WALK

Proof of the NAMI walk- despite the rain, it was a pretty good turn-out and it was fun to walk around the museum campus by the lake.

Typical

This is what work looks like from the outside. I work on the fourth floor, which in addition to the NICU houses the Labor and Delivery and Mother-Baby units.

I arrive (either by bus or by car) around 6:45 pm, go to the locker room, and change into hospital scrubs. Then I go into the NICU and after checking out the assignment book, I scrub in and get report. Our average census is between 8 and 15 babies, and our average load in 2-3 babies a piece, depending on how sick the babies are. If I just have "feeder-growers" (babies that just need to eat and get bigger before they can go home), I spend a few minutes filling all of the bottles or syringes for the night and stocking the fridge. If the baby can not tolerate or is too little to eat from a bottle, they eat from a tube in their nose or mouth, called an NG (naso-gastric) or OG (orogastric) tube. For those babies the formula or breast milk goes through a syringe into the tube.Photo Credit Here

Then we nurses sit around for a little while and drink some coffee. Seriously though. Preemies can't handle too much stimulation, so the whole unit runs on what's referred to as "clustered care". We only touch the babies every three hours: at 9, 12, 3, and 6. Of course there are times in between (diaper changes, emergencies, pacifier re-insertions), but for the most part we leave them alone in between feedings. At the 9pm feed, we also change bed linens and give baths. After the midnight assessment, I write my patient care notes, which does take a while considering I can't use a computer to do it! Then we all sit around and eat... Occasionally there are unexpected c-sections, or deliveries to go to, which breaks up the schedule. About an hour before the 6am assessment we draw any labs that need to be done for the day. And at 7 we get to give report, change, and go home to bed! Exciting, right?!

Days Off

This weekend was my "long stretch" that I get once a month where I have five days off in a row. Friday was girls night, Saturday was a former co-worker's wedding, and yesterday I walked with Julia, Ari, Ari's mom, friend Sarah, and Ashley in the NAMIWALK. NAMI is the "National Alliance for Mental Illness", and Julia is doing an internship there this semester. The walk yesterday was a 5K fundraiser to raise money and awareness. Today, I slept in (due to a new found late night obsession with the show Misfits) and then went to the Lincoln Park Zoo and Conservatory. Some of my favorite places in the city.

There are some strange plants in there... like this "Sausage Tree"...

Girls Night

On Friday, we had our first (of many) girls nights. The ladies all came over to our house for dinner, and then we all went to Bar Deville for yummy drinks and dancing. Although, to be fair, there was dancing at our place first:
That last one was while waiting for the cab. We found a pretty great radio station- something to the effect of "ThrowbackJamz". Just couldn't help ourselves-had to dance!
We had such a great time, and we're really looking forward to the next one!

An Update

Bangers and Lace was delicious- I had a fancy corn dog and a fancy beer! Yum! Contagion was kind of scary (in the potential-for-real-life factor) and kinda of dumb (too many story lines, too fantastical). But a good time with good friends! I am having so much fun with all there is to do in the city- sometimes I feel like there isn't enough time for all I want to do!
It seems that no matter how hard I try, working the night shift still makes me feel a little...unbalanced. It's like my body knows that I'm going against nature! Many night shifters suffer from insomnia. That's not a problem for me at all- I seldom go with less than 8 hours or more that 10 hours of sleep. I am a GREAT sleeper! Or they suffer from isolation being on different schedules than everyone else in their lives. This isn't really a huge problem for me either. My friends all work 9-5 jobs, and I sleep when they are at work and am awake by the time they are home and ready to go out. For me, the hardest part is the time in the middle of the night on my nights off. My roommate usually goes to bed by 10 so she can get up at 5:30 to get ready for work. Even if I go out with other friends, they usually need to be home by 12 or 1 at the very latest. So that leaves 4 hours at the least, 7-8 at the most that goes by, where even if I find something good to watch on tv, or do lots of chemistry homework, I don't get to talk to any one. Most of you know me- not talking for 1 hour- let alone 8- is difficult for me. That is what makes me feel crazy. That's what makes me feel unbalanced.

When I'm at work, it's great! I am so loving my job, it doesn't even seem fair sometimes. I do admit that I miss the mommas sometimes, but it's already to the point where I can't imagine doing anything else. My 12-year-old dreams have come true--I have a job where I get to hold babies and get paid for it! Get paid really well for it! It's not all cuddling, and there are parts that are scary, and parts that are sad, but mostly there are parts that are sweet, and parts that are amazing. In my next post, I'll give you a play-by-play of a typical night shift at Saint Joseph's NICU.Photo Credit

Change is Good

Finally! A new blog! Sorry to keep switching it up on you loyal (but few) followers, but it was time to move on from the WardsonWilliam blog. One of the Wards is in the big city and this blog is all about that new life I live. Hopefully I will keep posting more frequently, but city life is so busy! Will write more later tonight, Julia, Ari and I are going to this restaurant, Bangers & Lace for dinner and then to see Contagion. After I vacuum the whole apartment in preparation for our dinner party for girls night on Friday! Yay!