Thank You!

I want to thank the Bergen Mother Baby Unit and the Labor and Delivery Unit for making my internship at Valley so memorable! It was a great experience! I would like to thank the staff for being very welcoming and teaching me so many new things. I would also like to thank Ms. Annitti and the Career Exploration Internship Program for giving me this opportunity. Thank you!

Baby Crib

This week we helped the staff by organizing the cribs. In the crib's drawer, we added extra fresh new sheets, two clean newborn shirts, diapers, cloths, and burping pads. Inside the crib we put a bed cover with a blanket and a bag of baby essentials. Inside the baby bags we add a hair brush, shampoo, lotion, bandages, gauze, pacifier, and ointments. 

Organizing

This week, as we got accustomed to the new unit's location, we have helped the staff organize their supply room and carts. We neatly assembled all baby and patient supplies like blankets, towels, diapers, bed sheets, etc. to make it easier for nurses to grab supplies quickly. We also traveled back and forth from the Labor and Delivery Unit to the Bergen Mother Baby Unit delivering supplies and papers. In the unit, we went around asking if any of the patients needed water refills as well.

Something New!

This week we were able to watch an Echocardiograph Technician check a baby's heart for any abnormalities. She checked the baby's heart beat with an ultrasound machine, like the one above. She looked at the baby's blood flow, checked for any heart murmurs, etc. The technician was able to teach us about the biology behind a baby's heart and shared with us a lot of information about what she does as an Echocardiograph Technician. It's a very interesting and different career from a Neonatologist. Overall, it was fun learning and watching something new!

It's Official!

I'm committed to Drew University! At Drew I will be majoring in Biology and will take classes that will further benefit me to get into medical school. At first, my top school choice was Rutgers New Brunswick, but my heart has fallen in love with Drew. Not only does Drew University have a beautiful campus, it is a small school, which I much rather prefer. It offers great internships, research, and honors programs. I cannot wait to begin my college life at Drew and take everything that I've learned while being an intern at Valley Hospital.

Back in Business

After a long week off for Spring Break, Monday was a busy day. To start off, we were asked to drop off a blood sample of a newborn baby at the laboratory on the first floor of the hospital. Next, we brought down a family to the main lobby because they were finally able to go home and enjoy parenting their first child. It was nice talking to them, getting to know how the couple met and about the pregnancy. We also got a chance to talk to Katie Miller, as it was her day back from maternity leave. On Tuesday, we sat at the front desk and filed paper work and organized pamphlets for the unit. We also were asked to answer calls and be in charge of buzzing people into the unit.

Short Week

This week the Bergen Mother Baby Unit did not have a lot of patients. On Monday, we assisted the few patients with refills on their waters and provided them with anything they needed. I fixed a room for a patient that was coming in soon. I fixed the bed and added new towels, hand soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, etc. On Tuesday, Anna and I sat at the front desk answering calls and buzzing people into the unit. We also answered the phone from patients in the unit that needed our assistance. On Wednesday, because of the snow storm, internship was cancelled.

Best Moments

This week, a little girl named Eva became a big sister, which reminded me a lot of myself. Watching how happy she was to see her little sister was very heart-warming. It reminded me of the day I became a big sister back in 2012, when my little brother was born. It was such a cherished moment to watch how she jumped up and down and was eager to hold her little sister. Although you have to be really careful handling a newborn, her parents sat her down in the big comfy chair of their room and allowed her to hold her little sister for the first time. You can tell she was ready to perform her big sister duties as soon as they got discharged. It's moments like these that motivate me to pursue neonatology, the care for newborns.

Baby's First Bath

This week, our unit happened to be closed so we went to the Labor and Delivery Unit to help out in the nursery. At the nursery we watched nurses bathe the newborn babies, which was really cute! Just as you see in the picture above, the nurse places the baby in a little tub in the sink of the nursery room. They let us brush the baby's hair and taught us how gentle and careful you have to be with the baby's head because the scalp is not fully formed yet. The baby has a place on his/her head, that is known as the fontanelle, which is just above the newborn's forehead. It is very soft and doesn't close up until the baby is around 6 weeks. Overall, it was really cool learning about the fontanelle because my mom had mentioned it to me before, back when my little brother was born. 

College Decisions

My career plan is to go to college to become a Neonatologist. As of now my top college choice to attend is Rutgers University in New Brunswick School of Arts and Sciences. At college I will major in Biology. At Rutgers they have a huge campus and they are also widely known as a great college for medicine and their great medical schools. They have a pre-medical track that allows you to pursue a medical career in the shortest amount of years possible. They have admission counselors who help you choose the right classes for your major and relieve the stress and nervousness switching transitioning from high school to college. It is a big step and they will help you along the way. 

Transport

This week, since I mentioned our unit is closed due to our moving, I transported patients. Transporting patients is a very easy task and allows you to get to know a little about each patient. Some patients are very talkative and social and like to talk to me about my internship and what I do at the hospital. It is very nice talking to them and getting to know their stories too. Sometimes you also get patients that are very quiet. The only thing to worry about when transporting a patient is not going too fast and not bumping into anything! That is very critical because you don't want them to get injured or feel uncomfortable. Patients usually like when you ask how they're feeling and show an interest in their care. It's always great getting to know someone new.

Moving?!

Our unit is moving its location! Today I was informed by the nurses and staff of the Bergen Mother Baby Unit that we will be moving to the location where the Labor and Delivery Unit was previously located. This is very convenient for the patients and staff because there is more space and rooms at the new location. Patients will not only be more comfortable, but the unit will also be less chaotic and packed when family members come to visit. Our unit will therefore be closed until everything is moved into the new location. I look forward to this new change at the hospital because of the many benefits that will come from it. Patient care is our main priority!

What is an Obstetrician?

An Obstetrician is a surgeon or physician who concentrates on childbirth, pregnancy, and postpartum. They are also combined with the Gynecology field. They deliver babies, perform ultrasounds, and are there for the mothers throughout the entire process of their pregnancy. This week I spent a lot of my time at internship following around and learning from one of the Obstetricians at Valley. He allowed me to watch another circumcision and talked to me about his field. If I were to choose another field to follow it would definitely be Obstetrics. It is a field that interests me immensely and is very similar to Neonatology. I really like working with newborns, and this field specifically works with childbirth and the process of a mother's pregnancy, which I really enjoy. 

Quote of the Day

This quote is very significant to those choosing to pursue a difficult career that requires an abundant amount of work, time and effort. The medical field is a very challenging career to follow along with many other careers, such as law and engineering. It is a career that requires a lot of motivation and a strong passion in helping those in need. I am more than positive that I would love to one day become a Neonatologist and help newborn babies in need. It is a career that will require me to give and put my all. In the long run, when I reach my goal, I will feel accomplished and make my family proud. I've been wanting to enter the medical field ever since the sixth grade. It is something that will definitely not be an easy process, but in the end it will all be worth it. I am determined!

Pass the Scalpel...

This week was a busy week with babies being born left and right. Our unit was full and required a lot of water runs and patient care. With last week being slow, this week totally made up for it. We had family members coming in and out bringing balloons and gifts. It was a busy day for an intern like me, which I'm not complaining about. I love being active and doing things around the unit and the hospital. 

This week, I was able to watch two circumcisions being done on two baby boys that were recently born. It was very scary at first to actually think of what the baby was going through, but the Obstetrician walked me through the whole process. She told me that once she clamps the tip of the baby's penis, the nerves are broken and the baby does not feel any pain, but only pressure. Also the baby's penis is numbed at the beginning of the entire process. I was able to watch the entire procedure on both babies without passing out. It was a great experience that made me learn a lot about the benefits of circumcisions and why some mothers choose to do it and some choose not. Some mothers believe it is unnecessary and think the baby goes through a lot of pain. Most mothers do it to prevent the baby's penis from infections due to the extra skin. Overall, it is a procedure that is totally optional and it's all up to the parents. 

Slow Days

This week there weren't many patients, which usually means an easy week. The nurses asked me to sit at the front desk to answer calls and buzz people in. Every time someone calls I am to answer saying, "Bergen Mother Baby Unit, Cecilia speaking." It's really fun answering the phone because it makes me feel very professional and important. Some calls require me to transfer the call to a nurse, and I was provided with a list of their numbers. Buzzing people into the unit is a very easy task. When someone comes in, which is usually a family member visiting a patient, I help them find the patients room according to the patient's name. It's very straightforward. 

This week I also did hourly water runs with Anna to the four patients we had. We also had one patient being discharged and we walk them downstairs to the main lobby to make things easier for them. We help the patients carry their belongings and always maintain a good conversation with them. We also never forget to congratulate them on their new baby! 

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