[Faeriewand]

I love that pep talk. My next clinical rotation isn't ED but is in peds. I should write that down anyway.

With my first child I couldn't understand why doctors often thought I would be upset when I would bring my child into emergency for something. I was concerned so maybe I wasn't aware of the look on my face? But I never said anything or freaked out. They would have me sit down and I didn't argue. No point in explaining to them that I didn't need to sit.

But then I had recently finished working at so many rock concerts and saw so much that the procedures going on the the ER just didn't bother me.

[`seagull]

The problem in nursing are the adult. In pediatric nursing the children are no problem. Only the Parents. In adult nursing the adult is also the problem. When they are sick they act like babies. You have to get to use to these in order to survive in bedside nursing.

[GoLytely]

Originally Posted by Hellllllo Nurse

So many people who are really not cut out to be parents have kids. I mean, if a mother totally freaks out over her kid getting a shot, how is she going to be there for her child if something serious ever happens to him?

I don't like to think I'm not cut out to be a parent, but I'm not exactly good at emergencies, especially when it involves my children. I'm the type to run out the door and start running around and around the house when something happens. When my two oldest were toddlers one slammed the other's finger in a door. I saw the blood and bone (nearly chopped it off) and I just totally flipped out, grabbed a towel, my husband had to hold the towel over baby's finger while I drove to the ER and I couldn't look at it the whole time I sat and held her while they worked on it. I was a nervous wreck. I was like, just help my baby, PLEASE!
Then, my son walked under a piece of farm equipment and hit his head. Blood all over the place and I totally flipped out and wouldn't even look at it. My husband looked at it and it was just a scratch, thank goodness.

But even I have to say, this mother went above and beyond flipping out. My children have had to have blood work done and it did bother me but at the same time I knew it was for their own good. Someone should have reminded Mom, hey, you brought your kid to us, remember???

[dawngloves]

Originally Posted by RoxanRN2003

When I worked in the ER, I would always take Mom and Dad aside to explain what was going to happen. At the top of my list was "Junior takes his cues from you. If you freak out, he'll freak out. If you are calm, cool, and collected, he will find it much easier to be calm, cool and collected. If you feel like you are going to lose it, that's ok; just step outside the room first." I usually didn't have much problem with the parents who received this 'pep talk.'

I am a cool cuecumber when my kids get hurt. But nothing short of Ativan will calm them down. My son is very familiar with the Papoose.