NICU

Me on my first night shift in front of the U of U Hospital that's almost done being remodeled.

Wow, what a week! I started my first week at the Newborn ICU at the U of U. Before I started I had tons of questions like will I get to hold the babies very much? Is working straight night shifts hard? Here are some thoughts I've had over my first 36 hours working there:

• I hold babies every shift, sometimes 10-15 times a night!
• You get to know the babies real quick and you bond with them...you know what works and what doesn't.
• There are a few "fussy" babies that need comforting all night. They are usually the older ones who were born at 23 weeks and they are now just past full-term. I would be sick of being there too if it were me!
• Most of the babies calm down the moment they can tell you're going to pick them up and you haven't even touched them yet...best part in the WHOLE WORLD is when they snuggle up to you and fall right asleep once they get some lovin'.
• One baby on the floor has a really hard time being soothed and she cries much of the night. It's a huge success when you get her to fall asleep (I did it last night - we're tight now).
• The nurses are a-m-a-z-i-n-g. They know more and do more than any of the parents will ever know. I totally respect and look up to them. I hope to be like them someday (in about 2 years to be exact).
• I can't believe how close the brand-new babies are to death's door - they have one foot in life and one foot in death, yet modern miracles and skillful nurses keep them alive every minute of every day until they can survive on their own.
• Yes, I do get somewhat sick of the crying and holding sometimes, but I wouldn't be normal if I didn't.
• I quickly get over being sick of it and think about the individual babies constantly when I'm not with them.
• Most of my job actually consists of restocking supplies, getting the beds set up for new admits, cleaning, running errands, organizing the linen room. I just help the nurses as needed. Sometimes I'm helping the nurses all night with fussy babies, sometimes they don't need my help at all. (I don't like those nights as much!)
• Working nights is easier than I thought as far as being tired (except for the 1st night, I thought I was going to pass out).
• Much to my surprise, it actually gets easier the 2nd and 3rd shift in a row because you've slept that day after you're previous night shift.
• My back, legs and feet do get tired from walking so much, but my breaks usually make that go away.
• I feel like I'm dead to the world because I'm awake when everyone is asleep and sleeping during the day when you're awake.
• I have my window all blacked out with blankets and pillows. This helps me sleep about 4-5 hours and then I'm pretty much done and can't sleep any more since my brain knows it's really daytime. So far it's been enough sleep.
• I feel like I've already worked there my whole life.
• I plan to work very hard so they can't live without me and hire me as a nurse when I graduate. :) So that means working the full 12 hours to get everything in tip top shape and no laziness or sleeping, etc. like a couple of CNA's do.
• The hardest part for me so far is to see the babies with brain damage and know they will have difficulties their whole lives. There are two on our floor right now. It's interesting to me that as babies, they still act the same and need the same things the other babies do - food, warmth and love.
• I will see death unfortunately. They have to take one of the babies off life-support on Monday. She has a twin brother who is thriving very well though.
• I don't really get to touch the brand-new ones, but I will when they get more to be 35+ weeks and they're moved to the other side of the unit. It's amazing how small they are. There is a 23-weeker who is on an oscillating machine that vibrates oxygen into her lungs over 600 times a minute!
• On the one hand it makes me totally baby hungry and then totally glad I don't have kids on the other!
• I can't wait to have one of my very own and see what he or she is like!
• The only bad thing about holding the babies is none of them know how to smile yet. They make cute noises and mouth movements, but not a ton of eye contact. -Even if they're over 6 weeks old because technically they're just barely reaching what would have been full-term.
• I really don't do anything over the 3 days I'm working...just sleeping or resting then go to work. It's quite the routine change! I will now just have to do all my errands, chores and homework during the latter part of the week. James has been great to do the dishes and run errands for me to pick up the slack.
• Oh....speaking of James....ahhhh....I miss him!!!! Between my chemistry class and his job and my night shifts, I've only seen him a total of an hour since Monday!! I love his guts and can't wait to see him for the next 4 days. I miss him so much, I started crying when I found his Costco card unexpectantly and looked at his picture on the back....

Well that's all I can think of for now! Feel free to ask any questions and I'll answer them in another post. I will keep you posted!