We had to meet at the hospital at 0730, at which point we took a tour of the hospital. Our instructor showed us the best door to come in at, the best place to park, as well as the locker rooms we were to use. Then, she took us up to the triage area, where women are monitored to see if they are in labor. If they are, they are transferred to an actual labor room on that same floor. And, if they are discovered to need a C-section, they are taken straight to the operating room on that same floor--right down the hall, actually.
We got to see one of the labor rooms. What an amazing thing! It looks very comfortable, but if you move some of the paintings and open some of the cupboards, they reveal the suctioning and oxygen equipment, as well as some other medical equipment to use when the baby comes!
After a few hours in the labor area, mothers are then moved up to their family suite in the postpartum unit on a different floor. We got to tour this area next, as this is where we would be spending most of our clinical time. This floor is incredibly secure, with only one door in or out for family and guests. All other doors require a staff badge to open. The nursery is the central hub. Infants have a two hospital bands, and one third band that has a security tag, which I would equate to those tags on the expensive clothing at department stores. Except it doesn't explode ink on the baby when it gets near the door; it sets off the alarm system on the floor, and the entire floor shuts down. So, basically, it's an infant security system. Also, the mother of the infant will have a matching tag sort of thing that, when mother and baby unite, it sings a little lullaby--another way to ensure the right mom is with the right baby.
Then, we had to do a scavenger hunt on the floor, and then do our check-offs. I did pretty well, considering I was really nervous about doing it--seeing as how we just learned the information this week! But, I am authorized to begin my clinicals on the floor next week!
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