·        Responsibilities: none; only observing

 

·        New knowledge: I learned about how nurses chart mothers, and what happens while mother is in labor

·        Best thing: Getting an idea how women prepare to give birth

·        Worst thing: Didn’t get to actually watch a patient due to mothers wanting to be alone

·        Overall: fair , didn’t get to actually see much only hear scenarios

 

·        While in labor and delivery most nurses were charting mother and baby.  They had many monitors that were able to watch mother and the baby that was soon to be welcomed into the world. The nurse informed me where the pads were placed on mother in order to tell them all the info the needed. There was a really neat device that was able to find veins fast and easy. All you had to do was hover over the skin and you could see every vein in the body making it easier to draw blood. All nurses thought this was very useful.

·        There was no diagnostic procedure that I got to experience while I was there. Nurses told me there are treatments that can be used to stop premature labor. The also told me that the opposite of that would be prolonged labor which was labor that does not progress as fast as it should.

·        Nurse told me they keep good communication with the mothers doctors. If necessary doctors will give IV fluids to keep mother from getting dehydrated. If the mother isn’t contracting the way she should doctors will give mother a drug called oxytocin. Other options doctors will give is if mother will need a c section if cervix stops dilating.

·        There were no diseases or disorders I heard of or got to experience.

·        Oxytocin- drug that promotes stronger contractions

Amniotomy- defined as the artificially rupturing of the membranes.  ( breaking mothers water)

 

 

 

1.      The labor and delivery was different from other units. You first had to be buzzed in if you wanted to go pass the double doors. The nurses here always had to be on call in case the mother needed something right away. If any monitors would go off the nurse was sure to quickly figure out the problem.  While at the nurses’ station the nurse would keep a close watch at the mother’s monitors and contraction to see how far apart they were. And also note any abnormities.

2.      The nurses communicated well in this unit making sure all the mothers were taken care of. They also had good communication with the doctors in case mother was ready to push any second. This unit was sure to be relaxing in order to keep mothers calm. All the nurses seemed enjoy and liked to be there and help each other and the mothers.

3.      I learned that delivering a baby is a very painful thing but also is a great blessing giving life. The health care professional job was to make that whole process a great experience with not much pain and discomfort. I can see how the oxytocin was a very useful drug for the mother in order to speed up the process. The doctors had an estimated time they would want mother to give birth and if they did not start by that time the doctor would take measures that would speed up this process.

4.      This was a great area in the medical field I would considered looking at even more and research more on or even shadow a labor and delivery doctor. I think a lot of the nurses on this unit cam relate to many of the mothers and I believe many of the mothers can relate to the nurse because that have gone through similar situations.

 

                                                                            GRACE CARE:

The Older Americans Act that gives authority for grants to states for community planning, social services, research and development projects, and training on aging related issues.

The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation act of 1987 is an way to protect the rights of patients in long-term care facilities such as nursing homes, and assisted living homes. This act gave the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services and the authority to enact key measures to reduce unnecessary costs while improving the quality of patient care in these facilities.

Ombudsman- a government official who hears and investigates complaints by private citizens against other officials or government agencies.