Personal Experience: NICU Nurse's Dilemma

As a young child, I was always drawn towards the field of health care. I remember reading about the many options that are held within it and wondering what path it would lead me on. Neonatal nursing was something that always came into my mind, but it was often pushed to the side by people and teachers who thought I should become a pediatrician instead. This became a real struggle for me, but as I grew up and began researching and exploring the health care field I came to a decision for myself. I came to the realization that everyone was wrong. I didn’t want to be a doctor at all. This sudden burst of independence from what everyone else wanted was the first step to reaching my end goal. Along with this, an accelerated education, volunteer

There are more than 70% of premature babies that are born between 34 and 36 weeks gestation a year. When a baby is born early, or born with birth defects, the Neonatal Intensive Care unit is its first home. The nurse’s in the NICU have the difficult job of preparing baby’s and parents for a health life together. A baby who has been put into the NICU will stay there until it is healthy enough to go home.

On Saturday 10/26/2016 at approximately 2328 hours, Security Officers Christopher Paz, Ariel Weiland, Omar Alonso along with Supervisor Steven Evans were dispatched to the EMS Off load Ramp for an incoming (51S) Patient Standby In E.D. Upon arrival at 2328 hours Security met with E.D. Charge Nurse Johnathan Bacal who stated that there was a combative male patient being transported by the Orange County Fire Department. At 2330 hours, the patient, Alan Castillo (DOB: 08/03/84; Fin #86501337) was brought by Orange County EMS (Engine #83) with an escort from Orange County Sheriff's Deputy. He had been combative on the way in and kept stating that he wanted to leave. He was rapidly taken to the Special Care Unit, E.D. room #38 but once inside the

Pursuing a career in nursing brings me an internal satisfaction beyond words. I enjoy being around people and I feel with my caring and empathetic soul, I can use that to heal the mind, body and souls of my patients. My reason for wanting to return to college comes from my desire to be in a position to make an impact on someone’s life. In my current position I provide assistance to individuals on a daily basis, but it is not satisfying my need to help heal. I am currently 30 years old and I love children and I am eager to work with children and when I would like to know about their little bodies so that I can be aware of how to help them. I naturally have the need to nurture and protect others. I have 2 nieces and when each of them was born I was so impressed by the level of care that the NICU nurses provided to

The patient was located on the fifth floor and as I was bringing them down the elevator, there was a family member of a patient in the elevator. Under HIPAA regulations, I cannot allow others to view the patient confidential information that I had in my hand. As we got to our stop I told the patient to follow me through the mechanical doors. I told the patient to wait in cubical 2 and that the nurse will be with then in a few moments. In addition, I will be getting them a warm blanket once I come back. I headed to leave the binder at the receptionist desk in the OR where they had another patient pick-up waiting for me. Before I left, I went to get the patient a warm blanket from the storage area that had temperature control. I gave it to the patient and left. Ronnie saw me and asked me if I did the patient pick-up alone, I said yes and he was surprised. Usually he needed to teach others in order to know what exactly they had to do. The only reason why I knew that I had to do everything that I did was because Ronnie told me everything verbally. He did not have to show me what to

Through the Weissman Scholar program I will finally be able to decide what college I would like to attend and pursue my dream of becoming a Neonatal Nurse. If I were to receive this scholarship it would boost my confidence knowing that I took on the responsibility of starting college with a strong foundation that will help me get on step closer to reaching my career goal. This program will push me forward and give me the ability to obtain a degree in Nursing and help me one day achieve my dream of becoming a Neonatal Nurse. Since very few of my family members went to college I find it very important to receive an education so you can have a brighter future. My parents have always struggled throughout my whole life to find the money to support

Monday morning and I oversleep, I have 30 minutes to get dressed and get on the unit, ready to receive report. I fly into the hospital parking lot, run to the Intensive Care Unit with three minutes to spare. I sit down to receive report from Hazel the hospital hag. Hazel looks at me up and down in her usual haughty fashion and said, "You know your uniform is on wrong side out and your shoes don't match." I looked myself over, smiled and said, "I know." She looked at me like I had thrown bed one's dirty brief at her. I was pleased with myself. I made it through report, ran to the locker room, reversed my scrubs and scurried on to bed one. I walk in the room and noticed Hazel the hag left all the intravenous bags dry. I go into the supply room and collect the necessary intravenous bags, while going back to the unit I hear "Code Blue room 352, Code Blue room 352." I am on the code team so I drop everything and rush to room 352 on the opposite side of the hospital, only to find a code blue had been called in error.

We arrived at Clearview at 2231 Hrs. and took the patient to room 14. I went back outside and began to put our unit back together when Supervisor Carlock approached me and in a very agitated voice said: “WHY DID YOU PULL OFF?” Surprised, I said “What are you talking about?” He said loudly, “I TOLD YOU TO STOP AND YOU DIDN’T!” I replied, “Jeff was telling me not to stop because we had a pulse back.” He said “I DON’T CARE WHAT JEFF SAID, I’M YOUR SUPERVISOR AND I TOLD YOU TO STOP!” I said “Dennis, I think you’re talking to the wrong person, you need to be talking to Jeff, I was doing what he told me to do.” He replied “WHO’S YOUR SUPERVISOR, WHO’S YOUR SUPERVISOR, I AM, NOT JEFF, YOU DO WHAT I SAY!” I said ”yes, you are the supervisor, but at that moment I was doing what the Paramedic in charge of patient care was telling me to do, and what I felt was best for the Pt., since we had a 41 Y/O patient who had a pulse.” He said “I DON’T CARE, YOU DO WHAT I SAY!

SC asked Soon if Pa could stay late on 1/14/2016 for SC to visit and will she be able to provide her with transportation home. Soon stated that she can try by she can’t promise that. SC thanks Soon and told her SC will discuss above information with SCS and call her at a letter time. SC called with Soon 12 minutes. SC consulted with co-worker about the day care policy and she confirmed that after 4.5 hrs a provider can bill for a full day because it includes transportation. This conversation lasted for several minutes. SC tried to find reading martial about this policy but was not very successful. SC placed call to Active Aid Solution and spoke with Tanya who reported that they had received the service order a while back but it did not include an installation. SC informed Tanya that’s SC had completed service order the installation but SC was not able to put it in before 2/1/2016. SC informed Tanya of this and she stated that the device was installed back in October, 2015. So she was asking SC to back date the service order to match the service delivery

When I got on location I saw that Floyd Hill was there as well talking to Terrell make sure he was all right and talk to the shop owner and member trying reassure them Terrell was ok I went straight to Terrell to look at his hand and ask again if he need medical squad he said no at that time his wife pulled up at the gas station and was checking on him he came over and ask what was the next thing I need him to do I said the first thing is to get you to the ER and have your hand check ask if we could go to Urgent Care because his insurance was too high if he went to the ER I said that this was a worker comp and that he need to go to the Miami Valley ER at that time Floyd had put Terrell personal items in to his wife car at that time Floyd said that he got a call and left to run I was trying to find a driver to come and pick up the rollback When Terrell came to me to see if there was anything he could do told him what

missed bed check within a few weeks. Ct understood and accepted the terms. Ct apologized

One of the paramedics massaged Candee’s hands as she breathed. Once they had her calm I answered questions from one of the paramedic regarding the cause. I told them I was in contact with her husband providing updates and I asked if she was going to be taken to hospital. The paramedic stated they did not want to take her for an anxiety attack and asked me if her husband could come and pick her up. I called the husband and he stated 30 – 45 minutes ETA and I relayed that to the paramedics. They were ok with staying with her until her husband showed up. The paramedics and Candee walked to the conference room, a short distance down the hallway, to wait it out and I stayed closed by in the lunch room, across the hallway, to make myself available while providing privacy. After about 25 minutes one of the paramedics informed me that Candee requested to be taken to the hospital and that they have no choice but to take her when she makes a demand. The paramedic said that her husband could follow them there and that Candee was in communication with her husband on her cell phone. They were taking her to Kaiser Oakland as Candee was on the phone while they wheeled her out the

Registrar, registered child (3 year old patient), obtained insurance card and entered demographics. She was then taken to pre-op where the nurse told mother that once in the OR the surgery would take about 45 minutes and then she would go to recovery. The mother informed the pre-op nurse that once her daughter went into the O.R. she needed to run a quick errand involving an older sibling and would return in time to pick her up once she got out of recovery. The mother gave the pre-op nurse her cell phone number phone number with instructions to contact her

On Saturday 12/10/2016 at approximately 2028 hours, East Security staff was dispatched to the Special Care Unit room #40 in reference to a (51S) Patient Standby in ED. Security Officers Omar Alonso and I, Steven Evans responded to the scene. Upon arrival, we made contact with E.D. Nurse Jacquelyn Vaninguen who stated, she needed Security to stand by while she performed an EKG on the patient, Debra Lynn Bolger (DOB: 06/28/58 – Fin #86564069). Nurse Vaninguen entered the room and awoke the Baker Act Patient while Security stood by outside the room. Once EKG completed, upon leaving the patient became irate and attempted to leave her room at which time, I had to physically redirect the patient back to her bed. Nurse Vaninguen stated, she needed

I wanted to have all the ducks in a row and provide you a solution with the problem. I talked with two different staff at the 911 driving school today, they both recommended that I schedule a day to go on route with her, vs. talking with her about hearsay. Just as you and I have talked about in the past, they did not think it was a good idea to talk to her about hearsay. I called Sally about 11:15 and left a message that we had concerns about one of our new drivers and that you and had I talked about the situation in the past and that I would be talking with you again