Monday, February 8, 2010

Nursing Boot Camp

Maybe not nursing boot camp, maybe just CNA boot camp, or nursing tech boot camp. Whatever it was, John and I spent the week there. We learned about Ammon's NJ tube (feeding), how to give meds through it so they don't interact before they get to his intestines and when to give them (all day long), CPR training, the dietician talked to us about Ammon's nutritional needs, a visit from the lactation lady, the speech therapist talked to us about exercises to do each day so he will be able to pass his swallow study in two weeks, how to give a sub-q injection, oxygen tank safety, how to change the settings on his ridiculously overcomplicated pulse ox, the chaplin came to check on my mental stability (at least I FINALLY seem to have escaped the social workers), car seat safety, Ammon's schedule (going to have to do a major modification there), and yesterday I got to read six pages of info on how to use and take care of his PICC line (which he was supposed to get this morning, but has been pushed to Tuesday). After we pass the PICC line stuff off tomorrow, they will watch it for 24-48 hours and send him home! At least as long as nothing else comes up... and then the home health care nurse will come to the house and finish additional training on how to work the feeding pump and another lecture on PICC line dressing changes and giving IV meds through it.

Its all actually pretty easy, it just a lot to get done each day so our schedule might be a little tight until we get into a rhythm. His blood infection is clearing up, but they (I mean we) are going to give him six weeks of two super strong antibiotics in case there is bacteria lurking in his clot, in case he has another clot somewhere that they don't know about, and to treat for possible meningitis. I feel much better about taking care of him at home after being able to spend more time with him, and getting to know him as well as warning signs of possible heart trouble, withdrawls, illness, etc. I'm excited to be able to get him home and have all of our family in the same place at one time.

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