Fertility Forward

Ep 16: Fertility Nursing with Eliza Ferstendig

April 23, 2020 Rena Gower & Dara Godfrey Season 1 Episode 16
Fertility Forward
Ep 16: Fertility Nursing with Eliza Ferstendig
Show Notes Transcript

Being a fertility nurse is not an easy job. You often have to see patients go through great difficulties while remaining a positive, upbeat presence in their lives. The upside, however, is that you get to build great relationships with them, and you have the chance to pass on some of the best news they could ever receive. Eliza Ferstendig, a fertility nurse at RMA New York, is an extraordinary person whose passion for her job is contagious. She has been in the position for five years and doesn’t plan on leaving anytime soon. In this episode, we pull back the curtain to get an inside look into a fertility clinic and a day in the life of a fertility nurse. Eliza shares how she found the profession, despite having an initial aversion to anything science-related. She could not have dreamed up a more fulfilling career and feels grateful to have found her calling.

spk_0:   0:14
everyone, We're green and era and welcome to fertility. Ford were part of the wellness team at Army of New York, a fertility clinic affiliated with Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. Our fertility for a podcast brings together advice for medical professionals, mental health specialists, wellness experts and patients because knowledge is power and you're your own best advocate. Oh, Liza, First Ending has been a fertility nurse at our mayor of New York for five years. In this episode, we talk about what exactly a fertility nurse does. We get an inside look at a fertility clinic, and we talk about the very important burning question of Is there really a rhyme or reason for the time of day? You get that phone call with the results, Stay tuned. So, Liza, thank you so much for being on our podcast. They were so excited Thio for having

spk_2:   1:05
me. I can't wait.

spk_0:   1:07
That medication favorite here are thinking, hoping I'll tell lots of insider insights into what goes on behind the scenes as a fertility nurse.

spk_1:   1:17
But let's start from the beginning. What made you want to go into this field? Whether nursing and, more specifically, reproductive endocrinology

spk_2:   1:25
So I actually started very far from nursing. When I was in college, I said I wanted to do anything that wasn't related to science. Okay? Yes, exactly. And as I went through schooling and I majored in English literature and communications, Anything not related. And in my last semester, I decided that that wasn't gonna cut it for me. I didn't feel like it was gonna make me feel full built. So then I turned to nursing and I went back to school, did all my post that classes went to nursing school. And I did feel like going through nursing school. I wanted to do women's health. I loved my paternity rotations. I was very fortunate to get a job right out of school in labor and delivery and postpartum in a hospital. So that was great. And I love the experience. But the reason I wanted to be a nurse is because I'm a people person and I love people. And although I felt I was making an acute difference in the moment, I wanted something that felt like they could extend a bit further. So thankfully, this job happened. Tough fall in my lap. A friend that I knew worked here. She told me about it and I was fortunate to get this position. And it was exactly what I was looking for in here for almost five years and never leave it. So

spk_0:   2:34
it sounds like for sure, you know, you really love what you do.

spk_2:   2:37
Yes, I definitely love what I do. I remember coming from the first day of starting this job, and my dad asked me how was work. And I said it was great and he was like, What was

spk_1:   2:47
good for you that you figured it out a little bit later That it wasn't right off the bat. It wasn't first year in college and you took that time and look what you found some of that you're passionate about, and that's great. But when you're passionate about something, people see and people get better care that way.

spk_2:   3:04
So yeah, it's really great. And although obviously even in the best job that you love their days, that you're tired, I don't want to come to work. But I never feel, thankfully that I'm just dreading coming to work because I really do love the patient centered care and getting to meet new people and interact with them and really feeling like you're making a difference on a daily basis, huh? So what do you love most about the job? I think I love just making the long term connections with the patients. So really getting to see them on a daily basis. Their patients that have been here for years, they come back for baby number 23 I talked to them with me. Talk to the family. You know, you really just make these long term connections with patients that I think meeting other aspects of medicine. You don't always get the chance to d'oh. And to me, that's really the most meaningful.

spk_1:   3:49
It's interesting that you say that when I trained Manta and I one of the area that was really challenging for me. And it sounds similar to you is you know, you're in a hospital environment and you're seeing a patient, What for? All of 5 10 minutes and maybe for you as a nurse, you probably do interacts them a little bit more betting on how long their stay is. Then you send them off. That's it. And you don't really get that long term connection, and it's nice that you found a place where you actually get thio form that relationship, form that connection that goes well beyond then being active patients.

spk_2:   4:24
Yeah, I think fertility is one of those areas of medicine, whether be fortunate or unfortunate, because most of the time it is a little bit of a longer process than other a wave of medicine. But I think it really does lend a lot more to make connections with patients. I make a difference in things other than just the medicine aspect of it

spk_0:   4:42
in what is the hardest parts of your job.

spk_2:   4:46
Well, with all those great parts of making those connections, it's obviously very emotionally taxing. You get very close to your patients in a good way, but you also do You have to take a step back, and with all the good sometimes there are some that outcomes, and you have to try not to take that home and take it to heart because you have to keep moving on, and you also have to be the one that's the positive one and the positive support for the patient. So I think that's the hardest part is kind of making that connection, but also being able to separate and be that positive kind of side for them.

spk_1:   5:18
So are you the point person to call it the patient? Tell them their results.

spk_2:   5:22
Yeah. I mean, thankfully, the nurses usually get something. Most of the good results. But obviously there are some times, and we have to call with the negative results, but yeah, as in general, I mean, the doctors are doing procedures daily and other tasks. So, you know the nurses as the general, the ones calling you with your medication instructions, your results. It's a lot of education explaining how to do your injections explaining why you're doing it. Why the juicing of etcetera? So, you know, if you were in that cycle, you could be speaking to the nurse. Every debt

spk_0:   5:51
is one of the things that patients always ask me. They think they're sort of secret timing around the phone calls. You know, if the phone rings after 12 it's gonna be bad that first morning. So can you help dispel any myth around the phone call? Tell us what that's it.

spk_2:   6:07
Yes. So one of the main things about the time of the phone calls about what time the blood results come in and that we have no

spk_0:   6:15
going for all you listeners.

spk_1:   6:18
Don't think about the time. It doesn't really matter. There's no rhyme or reason, necessarily whether you get a good result or about results or that phone call.

spk_2:   6:27
Correct. And sometimes the let's come back early. Some things they come back late. There was an issue with the machine, and we have no control over that. And once the results come in, we also have to have a physician review the results on the plan. So if they're with patients all day and they don't get a chance reviewed until a little bit later, that would be a reason why a patient We get a phone call later, not because results are good or bad, not because we like a patient more than another PUC. It's kind of just the luck of the draw when the results come in and they

spk_1:   6:51
reviewed I was first in the morning for good and not

spk_0:   6:53
sad. Great down, really freak. That's so you can share this.

spk_2:   6:59
Yeah, definitely. Yeah, to spell any theories, A lot of

spk_0:   7:03
factors that go into the call

spk_1:   7:04
so besides that, take us through a typical day or other areas that you work with in terms of patients and their colleagues.

spk_2:   7:12
So typical day for a nurse would be. You know, the patients are coming in in the morning for bloodwork ultrasounds, kind of routine monitoring, depending on what type of cycle there in. So in the morning you're meeting with patients going through any instructions they need at that time, or potential instructions making sure they have the right medications. Enough medications. So that's usually the morning monitoring kind of process. After day goes on, you're going to see new patients are going to see follow patients that come in to see your position. They'll be patients that need to come into some consents to learn how to do medications throughout the day. You'll be reviewing results. Basic diagnostic results results from the day. Medication instructions. Sometimes we'll be doing in person medication teaching, so that's the General Day. It will change with each day and with each team, depending on how that day is set out on your schedule. But as a general, those air the basic tests you're doing.

spk_1:   8:05
I know when I was a patient almost 10 years ago, there was a video that we have to watch the beginning. That kind of gave us an outline of the steps that we have to go if we're doing IVF, is it still a video? Is it a handout? Isn't one on one.

spk_2:   8:19
So we're proceeding with ivy after they're gonna need with an idea coordinator who's gonna give you all the basic information, your basic timeline, A handbook about the things we do here. Once you've decided that that's the protocol you're moving forward with, that we don't have a series of video is that you have to watch about in general the whole process of IVF, the whole physiologic behind it, the medications and all those things. And you'll do that before you sign any type of consent forms to really so that we know that you really have informed consent. You know what the entire process will be like. And then we're actually now currently working on creating new videos, medication videos that we do here because although there are a lot of really good videos out there every day, facility does things a little bit differently. So we're actually working on specializing them to exactly what we do here. What our physicians do you hear?

spk_1:   9:07
That is so great. I remember when I was going through the shots, there wasn't a specific video and, you know, we're all different. Have to learn her. Some people like to read it on a piece of paper. Some people like to listen to it. Some people are visual learners. I'm definitely a visual learner. And I ended up YouTube ing asking over how to do the progesterone injection and had no idea. And also, it's true the videos depending where you go or depending the protocol. It's very different, so it's nice to be able to have a place to streamline it for our patients.

spk_2:   9:39
And the good thing also is now. It used to be that they would expire after a certain time. We step in person classes, which was a one time thing rooted potentially a lot of other couples. You may not feel comfortable, you know, expressing your questions or concerns Now the class in videos that we have the vision of access to at all times throughout the cycle so you can always watch a medication, but right before you do it. You can look it over, call back with any questions. So I think they have a bit more interactive access to everything now, which is good.

spk_0:   10:05
It's great. And I think, you know, I have patients tell me they started wept, and many of them, they here witnesses, voice and every night because they want to video over and over and over. So, you

spk_1:   10:15
know, it helps comin down. You sure? Even something that's constant?

spk_0:   10:19
Yeah. I think the last time she will feel very overwhelmed and, like, you know, why don't I understand this? The mixing the injections and so hard And you know that you went to school for this, right? Yes. Was training for it. It is difficult, you know, giving people not in the medical field the responsibility of next medications and injections. It's a lot to handle. Yeah.

spk_2:   10:37
I mean, I always try to tell patients when they start freaking out about it. I say, if I wasn't a medical professional, I would also be freaking out about this. I remember the first time he gave an injection. The hospital. My hand was shaking. So much patient is probably freaking out. But we don't expect patients to walk through the door and everyone to have medical knowledge and know how to do things. But what I try to stress to people is that most of the medications they're such a small margin of error. And if itwas such a big deal and you could mess it up so much, we wouldn't allow the patients to do it on the right. It was nice to they're all here. So that's what I try to express to them, that they're very few ways that you could really do them completely wrong. And they're coming in so frequently that as long as they don't feel embarrassed to ask which I then Florida Brunton not always ask questions. You know you can call office at any time. Next, have you come and ask? The doctor asked the nurse. And you never have to feel embarrassed. Any mistake you've made, everyone's made it

spk_1:   11:30
worse, and also probably not. The first person asking that question is

spk_2:   11:33
actually also it helps us. Any questions you ask. Sometimes maybe you found something that we never even thought of or no one brought to our attention and then moving forward, we could make sure that we clarify that so no one else has. But it shows,

spk_1:   11:45
and I also think that it comes toh injections. The hardest part is the first time because it's the unknown on. And that's what I try to tell patients when they ask me about my personal experience. One of the first things I say is the unknown is scary, but especially with injections after the first time, and you kind of realize Okay, may not have felt amazing, but you can do it. Take your time, there's no rush. And after you got the first time, it gets that much easier, just like with everything else. Yeah,

spk_2:   12:12
I always stressed the anticipation is always works. Just thinking about the concept of trying to think of mixing and reconstituting medication is so daunting, and that on top of then also having yourself purchased the need on all these things, and I always tell them this and I always check in with them when they come back, you know, after doing it for a few days and they're like, You know what, You're right. Once we

spk_0:   12:31
did it, it was fine, just like with anything

spk_2:   12:33
beyond don't want, it's scary.

spk_0:   12:34
It's hard, I think. Look, you know your apartment. All the nets kind of looks like a 23 in your refrigerators filled with many. Think for Lackey. Well, they may be past, you know, triggers or trauma experience. Whatever. You know, in a medical setting, it's very scary. But as you said, you know the unknown and once you do it, I'm a bright staff there. Have my mom come over my first injection. My mom's a nurse, but I wanted to do it myself because I wanted to feel in control. And I sat there for an hour and I just held the needle there and I couldn't do it. And she's like, Well, commander wanted Come on things to Dio and literally an hour. I sat there. Finally I did, and as ago that was no big deal, right? You wouldn't

spk_2:   13:15
have known until you did it. Very scary. I usually equate it thio, at least for me. If I was thinking about like jumping off a waterfall like I went to Costa Rica, me, like, jumped off these waterfalls. It's like you're standing on the edge or sitting on the edge of, say, 123123 But you can't get yourself to jump and then finally jump. You're like, Oh, that wasn't But it took you, like, 45 minutes to get your to jump off.

spk_1:   13:35
And I think part also that you can get some support to be there. Even for the first time. I had a friend who came in for freezing and she contact me. She's like Tara, I'm really afraid I'm not a science person. I'm afraid of needles. Can you come over, Weaken, Walk me through it together? I'm gonna do it on my own. But I want you to be there. And I think the idea of trying to reach out to someone, especially for that first time who you feel comfortable and confident with.

spk_0:   13:59
I love that and I think a couple things I want is you have patients. You know, Jeff, for support from doorman, their training sort of anybody. I mean, this is a very humanistic thing. You know, Asking for help is a very human saying being vulnerable is scary, but it really appeals to humanity. So I think you know, that's what it is. But that's hard for people. Sometimes it can be. And so I think you know that's not comfortable. You know, there are other ways to find that word, you know, fruitful fertility. We're gonna have their founder on on a couple of weeks, and they're kind of a mentorship program. You can sign up online. You could be matched with somebody else. Is either gone through the process. We're going through it. So that's a way to meet somebody. You know, their various groups, you conjoined. And there's all sorts of ways to meet people and get help. And I think someone's asking for help, really, is the hardest part.

spk_2:   14:44
Yeah, I think you're right gets in whatever way you feel. I've had patients who just will have a friend sit there with them and just watch me do it just to have, like, the mall support of someone sitting there. Sometimes they want someone to know how to do the medication, just in case they mess up. So in whatever way you need to support. If it's someone who's nice, that someone who's done it before you

spk_0:   15:00
have someone on face time, I have something on speakerphone, whatever. Like what you said.

spk_1:   15:05
Rina doesn't have to be a friend to be someone who you don't really know. We've met through a support group who can give you that support that you need

spk_0:   15:14
just somebody. And I found myself a big sort of silver lining from this process was meeting other people go into it. And once I started opening up about my experience in what I was going through, you know, people really came out of the woodwork, and I'm really experienced nothing but kindness and the wonderful connections. It really is a unique, shared experience, You know, you. So I say it's like the sorority. You never wanted to join you, but you're in it, you know, you find other people, other people understand, and it really is. It's very strong connection.

spk_2:   15:41
And I think in general, obviously it's a very stressful process and overwhelming to begin with. So I mean the best thing you can have a support and also to feel like there are other people going through the same thing that you are understanding your struggle. You know, it's a lonely process to begin with, so I think the more people in whatever way that means to you that you can surround yourself with just even just to make yourself feel more comfortable. I think that will help you a long life. But

spk_1:   16:06
you should start so lucky to have you Really Your positivity and your support. I have such an affinity for nurses training at the hospital and dies. Do so much and give so much love That's remarkable. So outside of work, what do you like to dio what you do when you're not at our mate?

spk_2:   16:24
Great. Listen, e I I'm not I love music and I love movies. Like going to a concert for the movie theater is my happy place A very simple make me happy

spk_1:   16:37
way Have this bond over the bachelor

spk_2:   16:40
as well. I was gonna say this is my first town. Didn't want about the bachelor re front like a big patch, you know, way too many details that were saying before, but yeah, I mean, also I think when you love your job, especially if it has any emotional component. Sometimes it's nice to come home and kind of be able Thio separate that definitely watching the best way

spk_1:   17:05
reality eso We always end our podcast with words of gratitude and and we wanted to ask you what you are most grateful for today or right at this moment.

spk_2:   17:19
I know it's gonna sound cheesing, and I think I'm making it up, but you can ask anyone my life. But it's true that I always say you really I'm so, so fortunate for this job every single day. You know, I did work in the hospital and I got a lot of experience that I couldn't get anywhere else. So I'm happy for that experience. But it definitely wasn't the place for me, and I definitely came to a point where I was questioning if nursing was even my path. And then I got this job and I really felt like this is what I was meant to do. And I feel so fortunate that I get to do it every day with people that I love coworkers of doctors that I respect. I get to meet amazing people and really feel like I'm making a difference on a daily basis

spk_0:   17:57
that so the stars really line and you will be able to

spk_1:   18:01
find your passion. 15. You're passionate about something. It really does emanate towards everyone around. You know, we're the lucky ones first. Um, what am I lucky for? Right at the second. I'm looking for the change in seasons, and I always thought in the past that summer was my season. But I'm so happy that I was getting into the cooler months appreciating the change in season. Yeah, that's something very random. But that's what I'm grateful for at this moment. What about you? You

spk_0:   18:35
know, you know, I love that. That made me think this morning I was running in Central Park and I smelled apple cider and was the first time this season I smell that I knew you were coming for Smelled so so that I was still grateful in that moment to be smelling Apple Slater running outside, being able to run. So I'm gonna say that your best life waking up at five going way

spk_1:   19:02
really are so grateful to have you on today. Really? You are a breath of fresh air. Your patients are the luckiest patients,

spk_0:   19:10
the leftist, and I'm moving for. That's right. And you think it would be for T mobile phone? Thank

spk_2:   19:22
you. Well, thank you so much for having me. I loved being here. Hope to do it against it.

spk_1:   19:26
Thank you so much for listening today. And always remember, practice gratitude. Give a little love to someone else and yourself. And remember, you are not alone. Find us on Instagram at fertility. Underscore forward. And if you're looking for more support, visit us at www dot r m a n y dot com and tune in next week for more fertility forward.