Found my FAVORITE rotation!

Ok, so I know, I know, I always say each week that the particular rotation I'm in is my favorite. But now that I've been in all but one of my rotations, I can easily say that I have actually found my favorite rotation.

The neonatal ICU.

It's by far my favorite. These little babies are no more than a few weeks old and are so tiny, and they have the most complex nutritional state of any patient I've seen this entire year. While their nutritional status is so complex and mostly all require TPN, it's also very standardized as far as what to do next. Yet since the patients are newborns, they have clean slates. No complex history but with a million times more potential for improvement. 

Not to mention, the preceptor for this rotation is one of the most challenging. I have daily homework and case studies, as well as daily lectures on topics such as formula feedings for premature babies, to TPN, to specific disease states, etc. The preceptor challenges me, has me talk up to attending doctors and residents during rounds, and even teach the medical interns how to do TPN. There's seriously no faster way to learn TPN than to have to teach it to medical school graduates! But, yet again it's very rewarding and assuring about how much I have really learned this year. Before this year, well, in the last few months really, I was so unsure about TPN calculations. It's easily one of the most difficult things to do in dietetics. I really always wonder if I would have gotten this much experience at another hospital.

Anywho, if anyone is wondering (is anyone out there?!), my presentation on argininosuccinic aciduria went well. I'm so happy it's over, and I can finally have one more thing on my list checked off. The  next thing I have to work on is my written case study, which is due on the last day of my entire clinical rotation, so the end of April. Needless to say, I'm going to take the weekend off...well, besides my homework/case studies/reading for the NICU.

Happy almost Friday! 99 days left!