Kaitlyn Cerne's 6th blog- Friday

Last Friday, I was able to shadow a nurse on both the neonatal care unit floor as well as the step down from the neo natal care unit. In my observational expereinces, I was able to watch one small baby recieve a heart echogram. The echo procedure was like a watching an ultra sound. The baby was wrapped up in a blanket and placed in a dark room. The nurse comforted the baby during this procedure by dipping his pacifier in a sweet liquid to ease his pain. The baby was not in any physical distress, but the cold gel made him cry a little. The heart echo took about one hour to complete. The baby's echo was interpreted well according the the attending doctor and he would soon be set for dicharge after a long stay in the hopsital. Many of the babies on these floors of the hospital were born premature. Some were born at only 30 weeks. They needed intensive care in order to survive. In the Nicu, the baby is placed in an incubator to regulate their temperature and make them feel cozy. It is important to help the baby feel as if it is still in the mother's stomach. These small premie babies were too adorable! Once the babies start to grow and can come off of a venalator, they are able to be transfereed to the step down unit of Rainbow Babies and Children's Hosiptal. In the step down unit, I was able to feed a little baby who was born at 33 weeks, but was doing very well.