Victoria Stock

SER 427 01

October 17, 2017

Observation #4: Nurse

I observed an obstetrics nurse who works in Magee Womens Hospital. Due to the

nature of her job, I couldnt be on site with her. As unfortunate as that was, Brianna was

so helpful in describing everything it is that she does and the environment around her.

She is constantly busy, she can work with up to six mothers and babies at a time! She

works long shifts and is always on her feet running around to do her tasks. It is

imperative that she is able to multitask through out her entire shift in order to keep up

with all of her duties.

Briannas patients come from all sorts of backgrounds. She says it is one of the

things she loves most about her job. Regardless of the many different culture norms of

the people she cares for, she says it is amazing to be apart of another life being welcomed

into the world. Her patients can be both young and old, of any race, and have many

different religious backgrounds. I had the most enjoyable time listening to Brianna

describe her job. This is something I can envision myself doing and loving day in and day

out. I think it is so captivating to be apart of such a unique experience everyday. Working

so closely with mother and baby is something I have always wanted to do. I think it is my

vocation to help be apart of the infants care team.

1. Please describe your typical day.

a. Brianna has an incredibly busy day from the moment she is walking in

until the moment she is walking out. She gets to work early to look up

basic information prior to her receiving her beside report at 7 in the

morning. From there, she orients her patients by who needs her the most.

The sickest patient will be seen first. Brianna can be paired with up to six

couplets (mom and baby) at a time. Once she knows who she is seeing

first, she begins to assess her patients. The assessment times vary on

things like moms who are just out of their cesarean sections or moms who

are post partum. Doctors are also circulating around at this time. It is

important for mom and baby to be seen by the OB/GYN and Pediatrician.

Brianna tries to take her lunch while the doctors are circulating in and out

seeing her patients. She then makes it a priority to help the mothers who

are attempting to breastfeed, since that is the babys main source of food.

She tries to be there for at least one feed per couplet. When she is nearing

the end of her day, she begins to work on medicine administration, feeds,

diaper changing, and ensuring that everyone has seen the doctor. She helps

patients move around and checks their IVs and Foleys. Once the shift is

practically over, she updates the patients and then the doctors and she is

free to go home.

2. What do you enjoy most and least about your job?

a. Brianna and I really related to this question. For her, it was an easy

decision to work with the babies. She said she has always felt like it was
 her calling to assist the newborns. She also loves that she can contact the

doctors whenever they are needed. They are never more than a phone call

away. The thing she dislikes about her job is being able to be paired with

up to 6 couplets. She says that it can be exhausting and she doesnt have as

many opportunities to know the patient like she would have liked to.

3. What are your typical work hours?

a. Brianna works either 7am-7pm or 7pm-7am. These are long hours. She

made a point to say that though they are long and exhausting, it is

extremely rewarding.

4. What can an entry-level worker expect to get paid to do a job such as yours?

a. Brianna suggested that an entry-level worker could expect to earn around

25 dollars an hour or more.

5. What are opportunities for career advancement? How would an entry level

worker get promoted or grow?

a. Brianna explained that there is a neonatal abstinence syndrome nursery

that they can begin to work in after six months of working in obstetrics.

There are also the neonatal assessment nurses that assess the baby

immediately after they are born. It also requires working in obstetrics for 6

months prior. She really praised her manager in how much she helps all

the nurses grow in the field. She does whatever she can for her nurses.
6. What is your educational background? What certifications do you hold? What

degrees or certifications do professionals in this field typically have?

a. Brianna is a Registered Nurse (RN) who graduated from the Citizens

School of Nursing. She is CPR certified and certified in advanced cardiac

life support (ACLS). She said that most of the nurses are either RNs or

BSNs and that LPNs were few and far between.

7. Please comment on diversity within your clientele and work place.

a. Brianna LOVES the diversity within her patients. She went on and on

about the many different cultures she encounters daily. She said when the

mother is very receptive and excited for her child, it makes her job worth

it. She explained that there are tough situations mothers or babies are

placed in, and it can be hard not to be bias. For example, she said it could

be emotionally taxing when a baby is born with withdrawal syndrome and

the mother doesnt truly care for the baby. She said that can be the most

challenging time to remain quiet or unbiased.

8. What is the most challenging part of caring for patients?

a. Brianna said that the most challenging part is making sure you feel like

you accomplished everything you set out to do for on that particular shift.

It is her personal goal to help as many new lives as she can that day. She

wants to succeed with everything she does in that particular shift. She

commented on the challenges she faces, but made sure to mention that it is

so rewarding to receive hugs, compliments, or cards from her patients

thanking her for her hard work. She loves that they appreciate her and how

much she helped them in such a short amount of time.