Students and Teachers

I come from a long line of teachers. My grandmother taught school in a one-room schoolhouse on the Nebraska prairie. I have cousins who are teachers, friends who are teachers. Really, my life is full of all sorts of teachers. Even my daughter is a teacher. I have been a teacher, too.

When I first went into nursing, I was pleased to realize there was a lot of teaching in the profession of nursing. I have taught fellow nurses, patients and classes full of expectant parents. I have taught paramedics, community classes and grade school kids. When I finished my degree as a family nurse practitioner, I became part of the University of Kansas Graduate School staff, and spent 4 1/2 years teaching NP students and med students. I really, for the most part, enjoyed it.

So, as I sit here tonight, waiting for another baby, I feel sort of guilty. I have a midwifery student right now, and I didn't call her for this delivery. Well, the deal is, she doesn't know this patient, and I really don't want her here. She hasn't even met the girl, and the student wants to end her call shift at midnight. This patient is going to deliver, but it is going to be after midnight. And I just don't have the energy tonight. It is really hard to have midwifery students. It took me what felt like forever to adjust to Jayme last summer, but I finally did. And I really didn't want another integration student, but here she is. She isn't as good as Jayme was. At least Jayme could do a very good physical and pap when she started with us. This girl is such a klutz with a speculum, I had to actually raise my voice at her and tell her to put the speculum down and let me do it. I would never let her touch me, or anyone I cared about. She just doesn't have the touch. I am really a possessive person, too, I hate sharing my patients. It is really hard for me to let go of that. One part of me thinks it's really nervey of her to think she should waltz in, never having met the patient, and I should let her do the delivery...Another part of me thinks I am really rude to not give her the opportunity to learn.

Well, it's too late tonight to worry about it. I need a serious attitude adjustment, but it ain't happenin' now.

How Old Do You Have To Be to Be Mature?

I was just wondering how old you have to be before you become mature? Consider: Adults who gossip, lie and decieve...just how mature is that behavior?
How is one supposed to react to that sort of behavior anyway? If you ignore it, you fall victim to the deceit, and suffer those consequences. If you take the information to those in charge, you are something of a tattle-tale. If you confront the offender, what then? What does it accomplish?
AAAAACK. I HATE drama. I really HATE it. It's enough to make me look for another job.
Speaking of which, I searched midwifejobs.com and found several things in western Mass. Hmmm, very interesting. I wonder what they'd offer if I sent a resume. Hmmm, maybe I'll see.

Welcome 2006

Where did 2005 go anyway?

It really flew by, didn't it? Le me try and review a bit. What have I done? Worked....slept....worked...didn't sleep....
My new partner at work, Pam, started delivering babies in February, so I got a tiny bit more sleep.
My back went out, and I have periodically argued with it ever since. I imagine that will continue indefinitely.
I had a few short vacations. Took a trip to Kansas, had a nice visit.
Ellie and Eunice came to visit over the summer, that was really nice. I introduced them to jewelry making, uh-oh. That turned out to be expensive, at least for Erik and Eunice...but wow, does she do AMAZING work. I think she needs to think about design as a profession.
I treated Mom to a trip to Mass and VA to see the kids over Thanksgiving. She had a great time, came home and sprained her ankle in the Ohare Airport. Oh My God.
Kids all came for Christmas. Awesome.
And me...I worked, slept, worked......

And how did 2006 start? I worked....Baby #1 was born at 2:06 a.m., "Aiden Patrick" 5 lbs, 12 oz., cord around the neck x 1 (that was for you Pam), meconium (pooped before birth), crummy heart tones that necessitated an (OH MY GOD,NO) an epis. But, all in all, apgars of 8 & 9 (good scores for those of you who don't understand anything I just said). Not the "New Year Baby" in Rockford--missed it by an hour. But the NYB at OSF, and for Cornerstone.

What will 2006 bring? Good things for everyone, I hope. 2005 was pretty rough for a lot of folks--Tsunami, hurricaines. Let's not do that again.