So far so good

 As I near the middle of this journey( in about 5 shifts). I am more confident, much relaxed, and finally getting the hang of the hectic and wonderful world of L and D. I am really enjoying this final step towards a goal that has been in my heart for more than 15 years!
 I am learning a lot. Juggling family centred care, charting and vigilance. Being an advocate for the  patient, and establishing a relationship with the MD team ( be it OB or GP) is a very important part of L and D nursing. recognizing patterns that will have an impact on the labour process. Preventing Labour Dystocia( failure to progress). Implementing coping mechanisms for pain management, and transition to parenthood. This is the nursing I am meant to do.
 Don't get me wrong, I love the many branches of nursing, and the variety of specialties, and I know I can be a good nurse anywhere, anytime. But I am 1000% sure labour and delivery is the place I want to be!!
 In the family front, my guys are doing very well adjusting to the 12 hour shifts on days and nights. The older boys are helping with getting the little ones ready for school, with cleaning( even if not mom standards) and even if I get mad at them at times. They are always wishing me a good shift or asking how was work?? Giving me hugs, space and time to sleep. My Neil is amazing and has been there for me all this time, and going above and beyond and doing and going to kids things more than me! I think sometimes people might think he is a single dad- he might hate football by the end of this fall. One thing I know- he is proud of me and loves me!! And I love him and have a great deal of respect for him, and for allowing me to have this "ME" time and change of career!
 Now I have applied for graduation, I did it last week, and took a picture and sent it to Neil! I can't process this yet haha!! I am also in the process of applying for graduate nurse status, and registering for CRNE (Canadian Registered Nurse Exam). It seems so surreal, and so rewarding, and so exciting!!!

WOW

Almost 100 hours in of my 348 to become a graduate nurse. My preceptor is awesome!!!!! Miss M is a great teacher a hard worker, and a just a fantastic lady!! she is patient, even if she tells me its hard to let go haha!!! I'm having a great learning experience. I cant believe I am a almost at 100 hours!!!
I have done IV's and PACU( recovery room) post c-section, and have been a labour coach, support and have done tons of teaching!!!
I SURVIVED 12 hour night shifts. They were not as bad as I thought. I actually stayed up all night, and was able to drive home safely. I  do have to say that as soon as hit the pillow I was dead to the world. Funny story, Neil was home sick with a cold and I asked him to wake me at 1230 so I could be awake and in bed a t regular time. So being the wonderful husband he is proceeded to wake me at my request. If you know you know I don't swear ( swear often) so I told him to leave me the "F" alone I just wanted to sleep!! Poor guy, I guess he laughed and almost wished he would have had his iPhone handy to take a video!!! I felt so bad for him, and would love to seen myself being  a complete jerk!!!!He said it was funny!!
L and D is fascinating, thrilling, and fast paced I love it!!!! I'm starting to feel more comfortable with my charting and my time management, although there are times when I feel so slow!! The unit is great the nursing team is very welcoming, and the doctors are great, and the clinical clerks are kind of funny you can smell their fear haha!! I wonder if the nurses can smell my fear- probably.
I feel at home in L and D. I just hope I can make a good impression and show my passion and drive and get a job there!

It has began!!!!!

 I have met my preceptor, a great nurse whom I will call M. She is so very nice. She actually had a meeting with me and my advisor on campus to meet. I have my schedule figured out to get all my hours in.  I have done two shifts and learned so much, and done so much!!! I have successfully started IV's and been  labour support, and charting and doing all kinds of great things!! 12 hour shifts go by fast, but by the time I get home I am very tired haha!! Tomorrow I will be doing my first  12 hour night shift- Oh MY that might kill me. But in labour and delivery nights might be a bit crazy- all my babies came at night!!
M is an awesome teacher, and very patient with me!!! I am still second guessing myself at some things, but for the most part I am doing alright- getting the hang of things!!!!
One of the things I'm working on is Fetal Heart Monitor Tracing(FHMT). This is a machine that reads fetal heart rate and contractions, and even though not 100% accurate it can give the nursing staff and the rest of the obstetrics team a picture of how the baby is handling the labour process. It is specially used when  when things are happening such as mom getting an epidural. Epidurals can cause baby to have bradycardia (low heart rate [HR]).  I have attached some pictures I found on the web. FHMT is complex and I could write for days. The reader's digest version is: There are two  separate strips on the pictures( below) the top is the babies heart rate, and the bottom is the moms contractions. Our Job is to watch  how the contractions are affecting the baby.  First there is a baseline this is where the baby's HR trending or averaging at. There should  accelerations( heart rate going above baseline) and decelerations( below baseline).  We want to watch changes for example decelerations that occur with the contraction are normal, specially if the heart rate bounces back up to the base line . There are a lot of things we need to take into consideration when reading the strip, and sometimes to the untrained eye it may look bad, when in fact it is not. That is what I am trying to accomplish this week!! I can now read the strips, but I am not very fast at charting the haha!! Charting- that is something that requires it's own blog!!
Wish me luck tomorrow!!

tomorrow is the day

i feel like a little kid on christmas eve. i don't think i will be able to sleep. i'm excited for tomorrow! i get to find out what my preceptorship will like. i will learn the name of my preceptor, and hopefully make contact with her and get things rolling. if you recall i said earlier that i need 378 hours before i become a graduate nurse. this means 30 hours on campus for seminar this entails 12 weeks of 2.5 hrs per week. that leaves me with 348 hours which translates to 29 12 hr shifts. i have from sept 10- dec 6 to finish.  with that being said an average of 10ish shifts per month. or 15 in two months and i can be done by nov. i will see what life has in store and wait to see what happens.

one picture to share. my new shoes. i hope i get to wear the unit scrubs which are purple and issued by the hospital!!

till next time

my dream is coming true

It has been  a long long time since I even looked at my blog, or even had the time to think about writing. So here it is!!!

On January, 2012 i embarked on a new journey. I started nursing school.  After a wonderful 15 years of being a stayhome mom i need to get back to what I left behind to be the best mom I could be for my kids!

It is now September 2013 and I am 378 hours from becoming a graduate nurse!! I just can not believe i have made it this far. Many long nights studying, many trials and tribulations, and many hours away from my family are paying off.

A bit of background- why nursing?

I love babies and teaching, and have always loved healthcare, medicine, and specially maternal health.  So I looked into midwifery, medicine and nursing, I researched the different professions and nursing fit me like a glove.  

So in 2009 i started taking some classes that were pre- requisites for the nursing transfer program.

I applied for Sept. 2011 entry, but due to budget  cuts and and a crazy GPA (3.85) I didn't get in. But I believe things happen for a reason, and now I can see it! I was meant to start Jan 2012.

Nursing School- Well it has been a lot of hard work, and great experiences, I have met many great people, and have made some awesome friends, I never expected to forge such great friendships. I have found many great mentors, I have been partnered with some great nurses, and some not so great ones, but I have learnt from all of them. I have community and acute care experience. I have done clinical placements in mental health, cardiac, neuro, and maternal health.  I was always told not hold on to the L&D dream, as I would find other branches in nursing I would like, and would change my mind many times before deciding where I would work! I have to say that I loved all my placements, but L&D has been my love for a long time!

I have learnt many skills and Increased my critical thinking..... Yes that nursing talk haha

 The bottom line-I have always wanted to be in maternal health. So I went into nursing to be a labour and delivery nurse.  I am starting a final preceptorship( practicum) in L and D.   I am so excited and nervous, but I know I can do it!! I have gotten this far, I can see the finish line.

Next tuesday I have my orientation, I will find out who my preceptor will be,  and will figure out the last three months of my nursing undergrad!!! Oh and I have a UNE( undergraduate nursing employee) job in the immunization clinics this fall!!

So I decided to document this nerve wrecking most exciting phase in my life!

I have to Thank my fabulous husband who does the laundry and deals with my craziness, my children Wesley who is now starting university after a year off from grade 12  grad. I thank him for driving his brothers and doing some of the house work even if slowly haha! To Ethan my "helper" as his abuela( grandma in spanish)  calls him. He is my right hand when it come to cleaning and cooking. And to the little ones Noah and Luke for being so cool and sharing their mom with Lizette's dream!!

So here I go- wish me luck!!

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