Vent about the oldest gripe around!!

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I was in clinicals today on the post-partum floor when it happened "if you don't stop crying that nurse is going to give you a shot!" (This was said to a "big brother", around 2yo.)

WHY WHY WHY do people do this to their kids??? I would never dream of purposely making my kids afraid of doctors, nurses, lawyers - well, maybe lawyers...;)

:angryfire

Specializes in Education, Acute, Med/Surg, Tele, etc.

When I had to give peds shots...I took them aside and told them about the 'secret mission" we were doing! Yep..the secret mission!

You see...(dependant on age) we have a spy in the midst, and I need to get the secret plans on how to find them to the brain..but I can't do it via the mouth because that route is expected...and the other way...ummmm you don't want to go the bum route today...so lets just sneek the liquid messages to the bodies army..called white blood cells because they are like white ninja dudes...by a 1.5 second shot..and we will give you a fake plan via your mouth so the spy thinks all is okay (usually the old sucker bit...heck with the dental for one shot huh?!?!? LOL!).

Worked!!!!!!!!!!

I would talk to parents in advanced of this plan..and usually they would laugh and giggle and support me on this 'secret mission impossible".

But those times where a patient's parent said that I would take them aside and explain why that is SO WRONG!!!!!! Most didn't think about it...so they were so ashamed and really tried to correct it at home or even in the office...

And I would tell the kids..."no, I don't give shots for being 'bad' (or whatever phrase they used)...I give them as part of my 'secret mission white ninja support plan', and I will tell you what thats about if you want...and it is so secret that you have to promice you won't tell anyone okay???". That usually changed the subject into something fun, proactive and well...silly...I like silly!!!!!!!!!

When I had to give peds shots...I took them aside and told them about the 'secret mission" we were doing! Yep..the secret mission!

You see...(dependant on age) we have a spy in the midst, and I need to get the secret plans on how to find them to the brain..but I can't do it via the mouth because that route is expected...and the other way...ummmm you don't want to go the bum route today...so lets just sneek the liquid messages to the bodies army..called white blood cells because they are like white ninja dudes...by a 1.5 second shot..and we will give you a fake plan via your mouth so the spy thinks all is okay (usually the old sucker bit...heck with the dental for one shot huh?!?!? LOL!).

Worked!!!!!!!!!!

I would talk to parents in advanced of this plan..and usually they would laugh and giggle and support me on this 'secret mission impossible".

But those times where a patient's parent said that I would take them aside and explain why that is SO WRONG!!!!!! Most didn't think about it...so they were so ashamed and really tried to correct it at home or even in the office...

And I would tell the kids..."no, I don't give shots for being 'bad' (or whatever phrase they used)...I give them as part of my 'secret mission white ninja support plan', and I will tell you what thats about if you want...and it is so secret that you have to promice you won't tell anyone okay???". That usually changed the subject into something fun, proactive and well...silly...I like silly!!!!!!!!!

When I read that "silly...I like silly!!!!!!" I knew it could only be our one and only beloved Triage. She is having a birthday today. Everyone, say happy birthday to Triage!!!

BTW--Triage, if you didn't see my other post--you can get a free ice cream cone from Yahoo TODAY (everyone can, because yahoo is celebrating their 10th birthday) to celebrate your birthday--just point your browser to the yahoo home page (http://www.yahoo.com) and follow the ice cream cone...

I was in clinicals today on the post-partum floor when it happened "if you don't stop crying that nurse is going to give you a shot!" (This was said to a "big brother", around 2yo.)

WHY WHY WHY do people do this to their kids??? I would never dream of purposely making my kids afraid of doctors, nurses, lawyers - well, maybe lawyers...;)

:angryfire

Unfortunately this gripe isn't exclusive of nursing. My Dad ia a (retired) police officer and he use to hear "if you're not good (if you don't stop that) I'll have that policeman arrest you. Way to go parents (NOT).. just have your child be scared of 2 professions that can help you in a time of need ! :uhoh3: :angryfire

I stop them right in their tracks and tell both the parents AND the child that I am not going to do that. Then I ask the parents not to say things like that.

And to think...

You have to take both a written and a practical exam...just to get a driver's license.

And then they wonder why their kids cry when they go to the doctor.

...makes a nurses jobe harder. Regardless, it could be concidered battery, and you could easily go to jail for that. Then remind the parents that your a nurse and with a swipe of a hand they could be spending the next 72 hours with you getting shots just like the one there talking about.

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