High Risk Weekend

Last week while working there was a slow period one night, so I got out my notebook (I keep a notebook at work with helpful reminders, policies, etc for easy reference)... I was making a "wish list" of sorts of things I wanted to get more experience with and reviewing them for when the time came. I wanted to care for a pre-ecclamptic mom and I wanted to be in on an emergency cesarean for the experience of having to work quickly and to sharpen my skills.

Well, not more than a few days later, both of those "requests" were fulfilled. I had a weekend that could own no other name than "My High Risk Weekend" because of the high-risk patients I was fortunate enough to care for.

Friday night I arrived and was assigned to an outpatient who just arrived from the Dr. Office with uncontrolled pressures. So, she was fresh...nothing done yet... a great starting point. It turned out her pressures spiked super high and we had to admit her and start her on Mag. !!!! I WAS THRILLED!!! Not, of course, because she had to have Mag, but that I was the nurse assigned to her and I was going to start and run the Mag... What a great experience!! I had run Mag before, but it was already started then and the woman was half way delivered before I took her over.

So, having just reviewed the protocol and mathematical equations needed to run Mag for the loading dose, maintaince dose, etc... I was READY!! I even surprised myself at how quickly I figured out the correct flow rate, etc... Anyway, then we had to induce her as well... So all night long I ran the mag, monitored her response to it and managed her induction hand in hand.

She didn't end up delivering on my shift, but I didn't feel slighted at all.... I was simply grateful for the high risk experience I was able to gain. Then the next night I was assigned to her again...she was postpartum now but still on Mag.... So, I cared for her and her "mag baby" - both who were tired and "mag'ed out" - another good experience.

Then, as if it could get any better, My last night of the weekend, Sunday, I was happily caring for a SROM mom who was in labor...Lovely couple. She was progressing beautifully, then we got word on our unit from the EMS that they were bringing a 30 week mom in with massive vaginal bleeding after drug use. I would never normally do this, but I actually chose and was allowed to give up my lovely labor patient for this potential abruption.

And, it WAS a massive placental abruption!!!! I've only read about them... But I actually was able to be involved in caring for her during diagnosis and during her emergency cesarean section. Both mom and baby are stable....And, I am all the more richer for the experience.

It was a physically and mentally challenging and draining weekend. It was awesome.