It's one step forward

One and a half steps back. At least in terms of my technical skills. Take, for example, cervical checks. For every elusive cervix I find, there's one check that I'm not sure about. And those gosh-darn IV starts. Let's just say after having four days off, I've been a bit off my IV game.

Things are still going well, though. I find myself spending much more time with my patients in their rooms. It seems like many of the more experienced nurses think it's because my patients are needy, but I get such joy from answering my patient's questions and helping them try different labor positions. 

I've had a couple of kind of scary delivery moments that made me very thankful that I am still orienting to the unit. Each day, though, I strive to be more independent than the day before. My preceptor says I'm doing a great work. I'm just trying to keep it up!

I have officially been baptized

in amniotic fluid.

I consider this a labor and delivery rite of passage.

In other news, I am much more confident in my ability to find the elusive cervix in the early stages of dilation. Effacement (thickness) and station (how high -- or low -- the baby's head is in the mom's pelvis) are coming along nicely, too.

Now if I could just master the consistent IV start and the best way to communicate with physicians, I'll be set!