Continued Education

As Kraamzorgs we have to continue education throughout our Diplomas lives. As long as you practice and your Diploma remains active, you have to make sure that you update your training and education and stay up-to-date with protocols that change because new finds come to the surface

It so happened that my last family’s baby was diagnosed with Jaundice within the first 12 hours of life. Just last week I cared for a family and a baby with Jaundice. I visited them at the hospital and watched them care for her under the blue lamp in the cocoon. Because the diagnosis came immediately after the birth, she had to be treated under the blue lamp (fototherapy) and wore eye mask protectors. As a family I commend them for how they handled every day, especially being that this is their first baby :-)

Nobody can prepare you for what you will have to deal with immediately after the birth of your baby. Strength comes from somewhere and you find yourself coping with what is at hand. News of jaundice is enough to scare anyone, even as a Kraamzorg I am extra careful not to miss signs of Jaundice in the first week because the consequences of it being undiagnosed and treated on time can be life-changing

As a student I encountered a mega case, the baby almost had to have a full blood transfusion to remove what blood he was born with and get blood donated, and luckily the rates from his blood changed drastically between the medical team for what was the last deciding blood result to the plan of action. The relief even for me who was the person who got the baby tested and then handled by the medical staff was such a relief. I remember going to bed after having had contact with the baby’s father and sending my best wishes, just crying and pleading with God that this child be ok

So when I saw the list of e-learning options available to me and spotted this one about Hyperbilirubinemia it was not a question I would start here :-). This past week I learned so much also and became more alert on what needs to be checked, getting familiar with the bordering numbers from the blood tests and the first plan of action that needs to happen when Jaundice is first diagnosed.

Because I have been busy with Kraamzorg/maternity nursing and taking care of families the last few weeks, I almost missed out on the opportunity to complete this which was only available to me until today (oh dear!). So I am glad I remembered to check. My first trial for the day almost got me at the pass mark but I redid it again and passed :-) (perseverance paid off :-))

I am so glad I did this e-learning and I am going to be more vigilant with everything I learned and continue to learn :-) XXNaomie