Life has just been way to busy and intense. I had an amazing experience in my labor and delivery rotation. Before the rotation even started I prayed every day to not be the nursing student that passed out during a birth. I just wasn't sure how I would handle it. Watching babies come out on the television is one thing...but standing right there watching is completely different. It was a very busy day, and I finally had time to grab a bite of dinner. I had only had two bites of my dinner when my professor burst in the room and asked if I was busy. Of course, I put my food down immediately and she asked if I wanted to see a C-section in the operating room. I changed into different scrubs, washed up and put on a hair cover, shoe covers, and eye protection. When I got into the OR the nurse told me not to touch anything blue or she would have to kill me. The spinal block was first...and it looked extremely painful. Mom was a trooper though and didn't even flinch. The C-section was amazing! I was about 6 feet away and it was full of spurting blood and amniotic fluid. After they cut all the way through the layers of the abdomen and the uterus was exposed both doctors got up on their step stools, looked at each other, and pulled her apart on the count of three! That would be why women are so sore afterwards! The mom had twins and they were both perfect! After they got the placenta out and plopped it into a bucket I double gloved myself and explored it! I didn't want to miss a thing, and as they were stitching her up my professor came in and said "I know you're having a great time, but there's another lady whose about to have a vaginal birth, do you want to watch?" And I was off! The vaginal birth was incredible! Mom and dad were Hispanic and did not speak any English. The poor lady wasn't pushing very well because of the communication barrier and we tried all sorts of positions with her, and we even did tug-of-war with a sheet to try to help her push better...nothing worked. Two hours of active pushing later, the interpreter finally came in. The doctor told him exactly how she should be pushing and two pushes later baby was out! I was holding mom's leg and had a front row seat. It was so amazing and beautiful and I cried a little bit. I have NO idea why some women choose to have a C-section over a vaginal birth. Needless to say, my prayers were answered and I didn't even get a little bit light headed.
Finals week came and went and I ended up doing pretty well in my classes! I got all A's and one lousy B+. The next day I flew to Hawaii to see the love of my life and his family! Hawaii was fantastic and it was probably the most relaxing, wonderful break I could ever ask for! We went to the beach a ton, we played games, we drank wine, we went to Waikiki, we ate shave ice, we surfed, we hiked...we pretty much did it all! One of my favorite Hawaii moments was when we got kicked out of the private beach. The gate was locked, and one of Liz's friend was with us and swore that it was usually open...so we decided to just jump the fence. It was a wonderful beach, and not surprisingly, we were the only people there. We managed to get a good three hours or so of beach time in and we were all taking a nap when the unfamiliar voice of a police office awakend us.
"How did you guys get in here?"
We all looked awkwardly at each other, and finally Nick's mom, Sheli, responded:"We jumped the fence. It's usually unlocked."
"No it isn't."
"...oh."
Fortunately he was nice and just made us leave. He even unlocked the gate so we didn't have to jump back over the fence. we managed to hold our laughter back until we made it to the car.
It was extremely painful to come back to Omaha.
While I was in Hawaii I received some very very exciting news! For the last 7 weeks of nursing school we work directly with one nurse, working all the hours they work. It's called our preceptorship. We can work at any hospital we want to, as long as they have a contract with Creighton. Nick convinced me to try and set up my preceptorship in Oregon. I didn't think it would work out, but I agreed to try. While in Hawaii I got the wonderful news that they have a spot saved for me at the OHSU medical center in Portland! I'm in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and I will be working day shifts! Nick's other mom, Paula, volunteered to let me live with her! When I read the happy email we had just got back from dropping Nick off at the airport. I was sad on the car ride home...but all my sadness went away after reading my good news! Knowing that I was going to home to Oregon 2 months earlier than I thought made it much more bearable to return to Omaha.
Unfortunately my first week back in class started off horribly. I had jet lag, I was missing my Hawaiian family, and school was just way too much too soon. One morning I was completely doubting myself and questioning why on earth I was even putting myself through this. My Grandma made me a wonderful calendar for Christmas with pictures of everyone in my family. I keep it in my bathroom so I can see the happy pictures when I'm getting ready for my day. On the bottom of the calendar was exactly what I needed to see. "I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation...I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:12-13" I made it through that day...and a couple more since then! Thanks, Grandma!
Right now I'm in my mental health rotation. It's only been one week and the rotation is more challenging than I ever dreamed. I was told by a therapist in a very unprofessional, condescending manner that I am "way too cute and adolescent looking" to be working with my patient, and she forbade me to talk to him. Fortunately my professor overrode her. Later that day a frantic 9-year old was experienceing some separation anxiety after her mom left and was running around screaming bloody murder for about 45 minutes straight. I was sitting in a chair watching the commotion (we are mostly there to observe because we aren't trained to deal with those types of situations quite yet) and she ran up to me and grabbed me around the neck and would not let go. It took three nurses to pry her off of my neck. Then a 14 year old girl freaked out because all the yelling from the other girl triggered past memories and she started yelling and cursing and crying. Then a 10-year old boy got upset and started screaming and chucking every object possible out of his room at the nurses who were trying to calm him down. Basically it was a traumatic experience and I will most likely never be working on a mental health unit. Maybe being cute and adolescent looking won't matter so much when working with little babies. =)
Well Omaha is finally pretty, and it's been in the 80's almost every day I have been back. I spend my weekends studying at the pool and drinking iced coffee. I might as well soak up a little sun and knowledge at the same time!
