My confidence derailed
Saturday, March 8, 2008 at 01:50AM It is almost 2 am. I should be snoozing now because we might get another call before the night is over. We just got back from a long one. And here, my story begins.
It's a 22-day old neonate in respiratory distress. En route, I start reviewing in my head and with the help of my loyal friend, my Palm, the things that could go very wrong with this child, the steps I'd have to take, and the equipment I will need. I have no experience whatsoever with very sick neonates. I went over the ventilator check yesterday morning. I thought I knew the monitor and the thermostat since I have used similar equipment in the past.
We arrive at the sending facility. The baby, fortunately, looks great. Dad is feeding him and he is gobbling up the milk hungrily. Very good sign. However, the doctor did say that the patient looks fine now, but had a "scary episode" before we arrived. Hmm . . . have to be careful. My partner takes report and gathers the paperwork. I have the responsibility of getting the baby ready for transport.
Okay. At this point, I'm nervous. Sick kid - very little kid. Dad watching like a hawk. Everyone (nurses, doctors, paramedics) all watching eagerly. Me - nerve-wracked, getting nauseous, close to fainting, afraid to touch the baby. You know, I don't know why. I really don't because I have taken cared of babies before (okay, not all the time), but patients are patients.
I had to stick the baby's heel twice to get a blood sugar so I made him scream. I couldn't find the dang connectors for the cardiac monitor. I wrapped up the baby like a tight burrito and forgot to attach the skin temperature probe so my partner had to reconfigure. The cardiac monitor that I thought I knew, I didn't. The patient was on the monitor, except I couldn't remember where the power button was, I forgot how to use the print EKG function and printed seven vital signs history (probably used up all the paper), and I didn't remember how to check the baby's temperature on the monitor.
Just when I thought I was getting better at this new job, a situation like tonight's reminds me of how much I have yet to learn and experience. I was warned by many in the company, though. "Just when you thought you were getting comfortable, something comes along and humbles you." That's the statement I heard many times.
I think I'll get some sleep now and play with the equipment tomorrow. No, I won't cry myself to sleep, but I surely am going to refamiliarize myself with the cardiac and temperature monitors. I am not giving up.
Reader Comments (2)
I just 'discovered' your blog....god did I need this delightful, witty, diversion...
thanks for providing this comic relief
Thank you, Criss. I appreciate your sentiments. Please come back often.