Ok...this did not happen in the NICU, but I felt it was important to post it so that I would never forget it, and so I could share this story with those who read this blog. This event takes place while I was working as a nurse extern at a hospital in Dallas, Texas this past summer.
My preceptor and I have a 7 day old patient that was admitted for neonatal fever yesterday. She is on the teaching service so she has an attending physician, residents, interns, and med students. The team decided that the baby needed a lumbar puncture scheduled for after lunch. I went with my preceptor to the patients room and carried the patient to the treatment room. while my preceptor was getting the room ready for the procedure, I was left alone for a few minutes holding the patient. I took advantage of this time to prepare the patient for the procedure. I verbally spoke to the patient about what to expect during the procedure. I told the patient that the procedure would hurt, but that we would be there to take care of her. I also told her that when they stuck her with the needle to make her body go numb. (I borrowed from you and your story about your sister's chest tubes.) The patient had refused her pacifier all day as a means of consolation up to this point. As the procedure began we dipped her pacifier in Sweeties and she began to suck vigorously on it. To complicate things, a new intern was going to perform the procedure under the guidance of a resident and an attending, and this was the intern's first time to perform this procedure. The patient only cried briefly when they actually poked her. She did not cry at all during the preparation for the procedure, even though she had been irritable all day when being moved or touched. When the intern actually stuck her with the needle, I told her in my head to go numb. To my amazement the intern was successful in her first attempt and only had to stick the baby once. The baby also did not cry throughout the duration of the procedure. This is just another example of how connected we can be to our patients.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
The Least of These
So...I am about to begin a new chapter in my life: my career. I never thought I'd be here but now I am, facing the unknown. I am about to begin my life as a nurse, and more specifically a neonatal intensive care nurse. Part of me cannot wait to jump right in and get started. The other part of me is wondering what exactly it is that I have gotten myself into. I seek refuge in my favorite scripture that has guided me through nursing school and has outlined my mission for my life as a professional nurse:
"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
"The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.' " Matthew 25:31-40
So...my question is who exactly are "the least of these"? I hope to seek out the least of these as a neonatal nurse. I hope to love and comfort them the way that Jesus would want to be loved and comforted. I know that the Lord has put me at this post for a reason, and I intend to serve him to my utmost ability. Thank you to all those who have supported and loved me throughout nursing school. I hope to use this blog to provide you with little moments from my journey as a NICU nurse.
"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
"The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.' " Matthew 25:31-40
So...my question is who exactly are "the least of these"? I hope to seek out the least of these as a neonatal nurse. I hope to love and comfort them the way that Jesus would want to be loved and comforted. I know that the Lord has put me at this post for a reason, and I intend to serve him to my utmost ability. Thank you to all those who have supported and loved me throughout nursing school. I hope to use this blog to provide you with little moments from my journey as a NICU nurse.
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