N95 Respirators

We recently had a staff meeting on my floor and were told we all had to be fit tested for N95 respirator masks which are used to TB and possibly the flu if necessary. So, this morning, I filled out the form and went to go be tested.

Well, the directions weren't clear and I was supposed to fax the form to occupational health first and receive a confirmation back before going. One of the other nurses found the occupational health fax number by calling the hospital operator.

After going down to the testing area, I was told to go back and wait for my confirmation. Well, it never came and I asked another nurse if she knew the fax number. She told me a different number! So, I called the operator and asked if she knew where the first number we were told actually went to. She looked it up and told me it was the fax to infectious disease. I then called infectious disease and asked if she had received a fax. Well, turns out that the fax number didn't belong to them either!

I began getting upset and worried because on the form was my name, address, DOB, and social security number! It was out there in the world and I didn't know where it was! So, I called the operator back and asked if she would find out the correct location of the fax machine. She then told me that it was the main fax machine at the psychiatric hospital that is associated with our hospital. So, I called them and figures... it wasn't there either.

At this point I wasn't even sure what to do. I was overwhelmed and scared that my identity was going to be stolen! I decided to call the operator one last time. This time it was a different woman and she was sweet and gave me one last place to try... the other office for occupational health.

After waiting on hold for almost 10 minutes, I got through to the other office of occupational health and the secretary helped me immensely. He checked the fax machine and found our paperwork! He said he would shred it immediately! I was so thankful.

I am now mad at the operators and will most likely not ask them for a phone number again. I can't believe how many wrong locations they told me. I mean, I have never been in their office but how hard could it be to locate the fax machine with that specific number? It isn't even that it was hard, but they kept giving me random locations to call!

Anyway, today was stressful. I am glad my info is safe.

My Patients

I feel like I have been starting every post with how tired I am. But seriously, I have never been this tired... ever. I worked M/Tu/Th/Fri last week and this week I am on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. That is just a ridiculous schedule.

Here is a quick list of things that I don't like seeing regarding my patients. (WARNING: This may be judgemental).
1) 16 year olds who are pregnant for the 4th time.
2) Moms with newly diagnosed cancers
3) FOBs who aren't around because they are dead.
4) FOBs who aren't around because they are in jail.
5) Antepartum patients who don't seem to care about the health of their baby or babies.

It is been an interesting few weeks. I am still loving every moment and learning tons. There are just some patient situations that shock you.

Tomorrow I will start my nursery training and will take a break from mother/baby. I am really excited about this. I seriously want to spend all day holding and feeding babies :)

Preceptors.

The last few days have been spent on the unit just doing procedures and taking on more and more patients. I am now taking care of approximately 2 mother/baby couplets. Sometimes more, sometimes less depending on my preceptor.

Speaking of preceptors... I love the two preceptors that are assigned to me. However, there have been two different occasions where they were unavailable and I was placed with someone else. The first time that this happened, my preceptor wasn't helpful at all and basically left me on my own. I was terrified, especially giving medications on the bar coding system. It doesn't always work correctly and that makes me nervous.

The second time I was with a different preceptor was today and I felt like she was looking down on me. It was a little nerve wracking. Then, of course, with my luck and my nerves, I dropped a narcotic and it had to be wasted. I felt so dumb.

Other than those things, I am loving every minute on the floor!

H1N1 Shot

I finally got my H1N1 vaccine. I really wanted the intranasal vaccine but because I have asthma, they wouldn't allow me to get it. I was about to leave but quickly decided just to let the nurse give me the shot.

It hurts like a b*tch! It was horrible going in but now it feels even worse! My whole arm feels dead... blah.

But, I am glad I got it. I get every sickness that goes around so hopefully I won't get this one!

Firsts

I had a couple of firsts today! I spent the day on the unit today and was able to care for one of my own patients! According to the graduate nurse residency program, I should be up to 2-3 but I am a week behind because of the two days that I spent in the library doing educational stuff.

I took complete care of one mother/baby couplet along with helping my preceptor with two other patients. My patient had delivered a little less than 24 hours prior, so once she turned 24 hours, I was able to do all kinds of things for her baby. I drew my first PKU/CF from the baby along with testing the transcutaneous bilirubin and giving the hepatitis B vaccine. These are all completely routine things that I'm sure I will be so completely used to doing. But, this was my first time!

I am spending tomorrow and Saturday on the unit. Hopefully more fun things will happen!

Parking Ticket

I got my first parking ticket last week. I was absolutely devastated and furious at the same time. I have never done anything wrong driving wise in my life. I consider myself a great driver and always try to follow the rules.

I had no idea that I wasn't supposed to park on this street. I didn't see any signs. If I had, I wouldn't have parked there. I was going out to a bar with some friends from work and there wasn't a parking lot for this bar so all 6 of us parked on the street. Not one person noticed a sign...

I was really thinking about fighting it. It is a $45 ticket!! That is a lot of money. But, no one else is going to fight it so I wouldn't get anywhere. I did go back to that street and I found a sign behind a tree. Whatever though, I'm sure fighting it wouldn't work and then I would have points on my license.

Blah.

Moms and Babies

I have been so exhausted which is why I haven't posted in a while. I really wanted to though. I finally got on the floor! I worked 12 hours on Sunday and Monday and 8 on Thursday. I also spent 8 hours in a classroom on Tuesday.

"Are you sure you are a new grad? You seem like you have been doing this for a long time."

Someone said that to me... it made me feel so good! I felt really confident on the floor. The only things that made me nervous were the computer systems and giving meds with their bar code med charting system. I haven't learned the computer systems complete yet so it scares me that I am going to make a mistake.

Overall, though, I am loving it. I met one of my preceptors and I absolutely love her. She is amazing and is a great teacher. We took care of some great patients together and I learned a lot already. I am so excited to be finally working with moms and babies again!

All of the other staff are wonderful and were really helpful. I feel like I am going to fit in well with them. My other preceptor has been on vacation so I won't meet her for a while.

That is all for now. I have 4 days off which is nice. I don't have plans yet but hope to do something fun. I will be back on the floor next Wednesday. Stories to come :)