News From the Nursery Lab 2008-2

Things have been pretty quiet on the NICU front this week. But, we're coming up to full moon and I expect that to change. Seems of late we are getting a boatload of babies in the few-days-before-to-few-days-after. Doesn't surprise me. The Moon is definitely a woman's planet.

Remember the baby whose nurse thought makeup was more important than giving some comfort to her?

After a very rough time, she's been released to another hospital who can meet her needs till she is ready to return home. What I didn't know when she was a patient with us is that she will be going to a foster home when she's well. Her mother has some issues and couldn't even be in the room with her without security present. I hope she is in a wonderful foster home who will nurture her till decisions are made for her permanent home.

The little boy who came in last week with hydrocephalus is slowly being weaned from his drug-induced state. He even opened his eyes a couple of times this week! He's flat on his belly all the time.

The bandages covering his back were not what I thought. I thought he had spina bifida, or if not that, was some sort of epidural. Instead, it turns out that not only does he have this other situation, he was also born with his spine protruding through his skin. It's not spina bifida, it's just a very serious birth defect. Whether correction can be done has not been determined at this time. Please remember this little guy in your thoughts and prayers, folks. He needs the kind of prayers for "best outcome" whatever that means for him.

I work overnight tonight for MLK's birthday/holiday. I think this will be the last night for awhile. Interviews have begun for filling the overnight spot. I hope someone is picked who won't be alarmed by all the strong personalities he or she will have to work with. The first one interviewed was a weenie. I helped interview him. I'm glad my boss got the same impression that I did and weeded him out of the mix.

The guy gave me the creeps, actually. He was TOO anxious, if that makes any sense. I was sitting where I could hear bits and pieces of my boss's interview. The guy was oh-so-willing to work EVERY holiday, do whatever it took to fill in the gaps in the schedule, and so on. It sounded as though he had been in a failed marriage and I couldn't help but think from some of his other comments that it was a good thing for his partner that it was a failure.

Ugh. Just talking about it makes me want to go shower. *shudders*

Another bit of good news, though, is that one of my dear friends from adult phlebotomy is going to be starting in the 6 a.m. slot this week. I'm hoping to have lunch with her today and give her the scoop on some of the personalities she will be encountering.

And, it's time to give her a call, so I'd best get to it.

Till next time!