The Arnolds

I have found my passion. I was definitely born to be a labor and delivery nurse. I know because when I go to clinical, it doesn't feel like hell. I know because I LOVE IT and made an A on my first test. I love reading about it, learning about it, doing it and being on the unit.

Here are the FEW reasons I know L&D is for me:
1. You don't give a lot of medications. I am super afraid of killing someone with the wrong dosage or medication. Luckily, in L&D you don't have to worry about that as much as if you were on a Med Surg floor.
2. It is a state of wellness. MOST laboring moms come in in generally good health.
3. There is variety. Up until this point, being in the Operating Room was my favorite rotation. L&D has babies! (SOOO CUTE!), and operations!, and excitement!
4. Did I mention babies? My first day in clinical I gave a 7 pound BRAND new baby a Vitamin K shot (all babies receive these because they don't have the flora in their gut yet and for blood clotting reasons), checked his blood sugar, cut his umbilical cord (did you know, you can actually feel the baby's heartbeat through the cord if you put it between your fingers!), put antibiotics in his poor little eyes, gave him a bath and his first bottle, then burped him! Here is the thing: I always thought that handling these little guys was going to be awkward for me. What I found: that it came so natural for me to scoop him up and touch all over him. I just jumped in and did it without any hesitation and love it.
5. You get to see a life being born daily. I cried the first time I saw a baby come out of a c-section. You could actually see the little thing kick when the doctor got to the last layer (uterus)! It was like a sci fi movie because the baby kicked really hard and you could see the tissue move all around (when I told my mom, she threw up her turkey sandwich).
6. Any time I hear a baby cry (on the unit) I smile
7. Newborns are so innocent and new. I love kids don't get me wrong but there is just something so pure about a newborn. They are so little and are in a state of loveliness. I have a thing for newborns specifically. I love babies in general but newborns are something else.

There are more. Many more. I have clinical tomorrow from 6:30 AM - 6:30 PM and I am excited. I hope there are a lot of mom's laboring tomorrow!

Love,
ALMOST Nurse Lolly - 99 days!

I can't wait until 5/6/11. (it's when I finish nursing school hell).

This year is hopefully going to be great.

At least today is cool: 1/1/11.

The end.