“Life is great...”

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2069

Abstract

. Typical tasks on the unit are monitoring babies' observations, including their heart rate, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation levels, supporting parents with cares, e.g., feeding, bathing, changing nappies, and doing a shit tonne of paperwork. We also have babies arriving from theatre (C-sections) or delivery (vaginal deliveries) who have differing issues transitioning from life inside the uterus to outside the uterus. For instance, some babies have fluid remaining in their lungs, which causes breathing problems, while others have feeding difficulties resulting in low blood sugar levels. I’m learning every single day, and I suppose I will never stop learning.</p><figure id="379d"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/0*XCnh1AdOF09b89Kw"><figcaption>Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@dx_www?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral">东旭王</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure><h1 id="d018">What I’ve learned</h1><p id="f1cc">Speaking of learning, I thought I’d add something I’ve learned in each of these blogs. I’m a lover of learning and think it’s an essential and constant part of life. <b>Recently, I learned how to set up the CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine competently and confidently. </b>Babies who present with signs of respiratory distress are commenced on CPAP to help maintain a positive pressure in the lungs which prevents atelectasis or lung collapse. Setting up CPAP is an excellent way to understand the machine and all of its complicated components. I’m stoked to be able to do this one simple thing and look forward to learning so much more.</p><h1 id="2ff5">What I’m proud of</h1><p id="e996">I will also be adding a section about what I am proud of in each of my blogs; it could be something big or small, as long as it was meaningful. I have struggled pretty much my whole life with shyness and total awkwardness in making conversation. Communication is probably one of my most significant weaknesses,

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and I am entirely aware of it. Unfortunately, communication is an integral part of nursing and the health sector in general, and yesterday I was very nervous about handing over to the doctor. I created a template to compile and memorise the necessary information logically and improve my handover skills. <b>I am proud of giving a smooth handover to the doctor about the baby I was caring for on my shift.</b> It is something simple that I will need to do a lot of throughout my career, and I am sure my skills will only improve.</p><h1 id="13b1">Healthy habits</h1><p id="2de2">This section could include anything from exercising, eating something fulfilling, or simply doing something that makes me happy; anything that enhances my holistic health — physical, emotional, social, and spiritual. <b>My healthy habit for the day was calling my mum and chatting for a good couple of hours. </b>It’s always good to catch up with family, especially when you’re working shift work and don’t always have the time to visit. My brother is settling into his new daycare well, and my sister had her first experience with a bully at school. Also, my other sister is getting her first covid jab today. It’s insane how much you miss when you’re not always around, and it was lovely to have a catch-up, even if just over the phone. Also, mum bought some scales, and mum has put on some weight while my sister found out she hasn’t (she was positive that she had). All the information you didn’t know you needed to know; I must call mum more often.</p><h1 id="62ee">Thanks for reading</h1><p id="5cb7">To wrap things up, I have an incredible, supportive family, including the love of my life. I love my job, and I’m always learning and improving myself. <b>Life is great</b> at the moment; it is full of blessings that I appreciate every day. I am also inspired to add more healthy habits into my life. Speaking of healthy habits, I’m off for a midday nap in preparation for a PM shift (3 pm-11 pm) tonight. Thanks for reading, and I shall see you at the next blog.</p></article></body>

Who am I?

I am a brand spanking new neonatal nurse, pictured above with my cheesy arse grin (picture removed for anonymity). I started my dream job a few weeks ago and feel blessed to work alongside and learn from the incredible nurses in the special care baby unit. I am an older sister of four crazy and amazingly awesome in their own way individuals and a daughter of the most loving and supportive mum in the world. The world's greatest dad, my dad, passed away a few years back from an incurable degenerative illness Motor Neuron Disease. I miss him every day and am equally grateful to have had such a great dad. My two youngest siblings have a completely non-existent dad (he is alive but not bothered to be a part of their lives), which is another level of sadness and reminds me to appreciate the dad we had, even though he left our lives far too soon. I also have a loving partner of almost seven years who has supported me emotionally and financially on my journey to becoming a neonatal nurse.

What I’ve been up to

As mentioned above, I have recently started my dream job as a neonatal nurse in a special care baby unit. For the first six weeks, I will be working alongside a preceptor to find my feet and my place in the team. The staff are super friendly and welcoming, and I am gradually gaining confidence in my practice. Typical tasks on the unit are monitoring babies' observations, including their heart rate, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation levels, supporting parents with cares, e.g., feeding, bathing, changing nappies, and doing a shit tonne of paperwork. We also have babies arriving from theatre (C-sections) or delivery (vaginal deliveries) who have differing issues transitioning from life inside the uterus to outside the uterus. For instance, some babies have fluid remaining in their lungs, which causes breathing problems, while others have feeding difficulties resulting in low blood sugar levels. I’m learning every single day, and I suppose I will never stop learning.

What I’ve learned

Speaking of learning, I thought I’d add something I’ve learned in each of these blogs. I’m a lover of learning and think it’s an essential and constant part of life. Recently, I learned how to set up the CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine competently and confidently. Babies who present with signs of respiratory distress are commenced on CPAP to help maintain a positive pressure in the lungs which prevents atelectasis or lung collapse. Setting up CPAP is an excellent way to understand the machine and all of its complicated components. I’m stoked to be able to do this one simple thing and look forward to learning so much more.

What I’m proud of

I will also be adding a section about what I am proud of in each of my blogs; it could be something big or small, as long as it was meaningful. I have struggled pretty much my whole life with shyness and total awkwardness in making conversation. Communication is probably one of my most significant weaknesses, and I am entirely aware of it. Unfortunately, communication is an integral part of nursing and the health sector in general, and yesterday I was very nervous about handing over to the doctor. I created a template to compile and memorise the necessary information logically and improve my handover skills. I am proud of giving a smooth handover to the doctor about the baby I was caring for on my shift. It is something simple that I will need to do a lot of throughout my career, and I am sure my skills will only improve.

Healthy habits

This section could include anything from exercising, eating something fulfilling, or simply doing something that makes me happy; anything that enhances my holistic health — physical, emotional, social, and spiritual. My healthy habit for the day was calling my mum and chatting for a good couple of hours. It’s always good to catch up with family, especially when you’re working shift work and don’t always have the time to visit. My brother is settling into his new daycare well, and my sister had her first experience with a bully at school. Also, my other sister is getting her first covid jab today. It’s insane how much you miss when you’re not always around, and it was lovely to have a catch-up, even if just over the phone. Also, mum bought some scales, and mum has put on some weight while my sister found out she hasn’t (she was positive that she had). All the information you didn’t know you needed to know; I must call mum more often.

Thanks for reading

To wrap things up, I have an incredible, supportive family, including the love of my life. I love my job, and I’m always learning and improving myself. Life is great at the moment; it is full of blessings that I appreciate every day. I am also inspired to add more healthy habits into my life. Speaking of healthy habits, I’m off for a midday nap in preparation for a PM shift (3 pm-11 pm) tonight. Thanks for reading, and I shall see you at the next blog.

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