Clinicals

I am now half way through my graduate program. And, with that starts clinicals. While I do not feel I know half as much as is necessary to become a midwife, I believe my learning will grow exponentially during my clinical training because I am a hands on learner. I learn by doing - and by doing things wrong... I learn from mistakes.

The program I am completing is designed to have all of our preliminary classes like pathophysiology, research, statistics, ect. done at this point. Now we begin the meat and potatoes as I call it. Classes on women's health and pregnancy and labor... what I really am excited to learn.... All while I'm attending clinicals now, too... So, with all of that going on, I've decided to go part time at my place of employment as of January 1st. It is a challenge financially... But is a blessing to be able to do it. I do not feel overwhelmed. I am completing my course work and my clinical work on time... But, never early. I am always doing work for school... So, I do have doubts whether I would have been able to do this without cutting back at work. In March my clinical hours more than double what they are now.. So, we will see if I will be able to continue working then. I sure hope I can. But am not sure. We will see when we get there, I suppose.

I put a lot of thought into choosing the place I wanted to do my clinicals at. It is a large hospital with several midwives... a two hour drive, one way for me. But, it was what I thought was best for my learning experience... But, when it was time for my clinicals to start, the contract was not worked out between my school and the large hospital. It came down to the very last day... I either had to drop my classes for the term and wait until next term when the contract was able to be worked out or I had to come up with another preceptor willing to take me - one who already had an existing contract with my school. I had been given the name of a clinic that had an existing contract with my school... and I had made telephone calls and sent emails to the clinic... all to no avail...

It was the day before I had to drop my courses and I just couldn't sit and do nothing. So, my dear husband took the day off of work and drove me 3 hours to the clinic in a major city. I prayed several times on the way down and when I walked into the clinic, I know God walked in with me.... Because the nurse practitioner who was working at the clinic that day smiled at me and when I explained who I was and my situation, she was very receptive and willing to help me out. She asked when I started my clinical hours and I said, "This week... well, actually last week. I can be here Thursday." She chuckled and filled out all of the necessary paperwork and faxed it to my school the next day... It was a blessing, indeed.

Well, the clinic I am doing my first rotation at is actually perfect. Our first rotation is focused on "Primary Care." General illnesses like sinusitis, bronchitis, etc. All the things someone may come to an ob appt and say to their midwife, "Oh, by the way, I think I have a sinus infection." And all of the illnesses a midwife has to co-manage because the women is not just pregnant, she is human. For example, asthma, thyroid issues and migraines.

So, It is a walk in clinic in a major city. Anyone can come in with anything.. and believe me, they do! My biggest source of discomfort going into this clinic was working with men. Since I graduated from Nursing school, I went straight to maternity. I've never had to work with men. And, the one ailment I hate dealing with the most is a skin rash. So, guess who was my first patient? A man with a skin rash. God is funny! It was like he was saying... Here you go. Tackle your worst fear first.. then it will be all down hill. :)

I've been really learning a ton! It took me a while to be able to do little things like successfully locating the tympanic membrane.... No, it's not a straight shot in, like I thought! But, I'm progressing and the last day I was there I successfully diagnosed a few patients and even selected the correct medications for them. My preceptor is a good teacher. She asks me questions right in front of the patient. Asks me to tell her what medications would work best on the patient and why. It really puts the pressure on me to know "my stuff." I am glad. This is a great way for me to learn.

So, life is crazy. But, I am ok with that because I have a feeling someone is looking out for me and it will all be over soon!