[nursprl]

You know you're a peds nurse when you look for scalp veins in a newborn at home.

You know you're a peds nurse when you feed your niece facing you in your lap and burp her using the chin hold (this is true with me and my cousin who is also a ped nurse..we have pictures).

You know you're a peds nurse when adults ask you for medical advice, you tell them they are out of your age range.

[kessadawn]

*you have at least 3 different techniques for cutting the taste of liquid PO prednisone...



Mind sharing those techniques? I'm more than tired of smelling like orapred every AM on my way home from work!

[WarEagle4Life]

your neuro assessment includes "Who is SpongeBob's best friend & where does he live?"

[may8755]

I am not a pediatric nurse yet, but I must say, this is VERY INSPIRATIONAL. All the things I have read are amazing. I am just starting nursing school, and I want to be a pediatric nurse. This gives me even more to look forward to! Thanks!

dancing with excitement,
may

[AliRae]

You know you're a peds nurse when ...

... the size of a grownup vent circuit totally freaks you out ... so much dead space!

... the morning dilemma is a tough one: dr. seuss or shrek scrubs?

... you can produce that one specific Barney video for a cranky postop heart cath in record time (and if you can't find it, you have methods of keeping their legs straight that involve baby blankets and lots of tape)

... you have a "postop scoli" mix on your ipod, full of sothing music, to play for your patients who are waiting for their families to bring back their own music

... when playing hide and seek, the first place you look is behind the code cart

... you have no idea what the names of your patients' parents are ... you just call them "mom" and "dad"

... you can juggle a foley, pulse ox, IV pole and little red wagon while taking a jaunt around the unit with your little king or queen reclining in style

... you have about 15 stock nicknames for small people to use when you forget their names (things like sweetpea, bubba or lovebug)

... you have no children of your own, but still browse the aisles looking for baby clothes on sale

... your stethoscope has more than 1 animal sticker on it

... you keep finger puppets in your bag of tricks and frequently rely on them to "help" with assessments

... you schedule "snuggle time" on your daily to-do list

That's all I can think of for the moment ... I love being a PICU nurse!

[mindyg22]

Reading these are making me want to work Pediactrics after nursing school.

[navynurse06]

I got more...
....when you can still hear kids crying after you leave the hosptial.....and you have know kids of your own.
....when you get home and you talk to your husband in that voice you use with the 5 yr old (some times this may be required though!).

[nurs4kids]

Those are great!
..when you are out in public and you suspect the large-headed toddler may have hydrocephalus.
...when you try to figure out what syndrome the kid in the grocery line has by the way he looks.
...when your own children beg to just once be allowed to do something unsafe.
...when your 7 year old begs you to stop cutting her weinners into lengthwise-quarters.
...when your own child is sick with a cold and you get up several times a night to check for respirations.
..when you know the address of every kid-oriented website.
...when your children have no clue what to do with a medicine spoon, they are only familiar with taking meds from a syringe.
...when you've ordered chicken fingers and fries from dietary four times in one shift.
...when you've tripped over toys in the floor or become entangeled in balloons while trying to do an assessment.
...when you have no patience with healthy-bratty children
...when you've been strangled with your own stethescope, by a smiling patient.

[MissJoRN]

You have ever been taped snuggly to a kids IV because your friend was so eager to secure it before the wailing toddler dislodged it or because he was thrashing so hard she couldn't even see where she was taping. Either way, frget the armboard. You are attached to him now and you're considering just staying that way until he goes home because it would be easier than risking a restart!

[AliRae]

Originally Posted by MissJoRN

You have ever been taped snuggly to a kids IV because your friend was so eager to secure it before the wailing toddler dislodged it or because he was thrashing so hard she couldn't even see where she was taping. Either way, frget the armboard. You are attached to him now and you're considering just staying that way until he goes home because it would be easier than risking a restart!

I laughed out loud when I read that ... It just happened to me yesterday!