Pediatric Nursing

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Feb 6, 2014

The parents/families.

anon456, BSN, RN · Feb 6, 2014

The parents/families.

Agreed!!! 100%

I think we (at least where I work) cater a lot to the families where adult hospitals would not go to such lengths. I am all for catering to kids. I also understand that the parents are exhausted and worried, and I give a lot of allowance for that. But beyond a certain point the parents really start to interfere in my day, my care, the patient's anxiety, etc. And that wears on me. But then there are the good parents and I love working with them. They are an inspiration.

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Feb 10, 2014

Agree wholeheartedly. I love my kids. I can't stand many of their parents.

cn4333 · Feb 10, 2014

Working in a Pediatric ER I can def say that parents are the worst. Now I have no kids of my own but some parents just cant handle their kids being sick. I feel for them, I really do but when your yelling at me that I dont know what I am doing and that they read all about it on meningitis.com, I kinda lose it. Parents are def the worst part about pedi nursing...oh and little veins! lol

ewere · Feb 10, 2014

I specialized ini emergency nursing but work in a pediatric department . mostly parents are a lot of challenge and younger kids not being able to express what is wrong with them

Vargas9 · Feb 10, 2014

Other than parents getting in the way is there anything else that gets in the way?

ewere · Feb 10, 2014

sometimes bigger children malinger pain just to get attention

Vargas9 · Feb 14, 2014

have you ever had to tell a parent to leave the room or anything for getting in the way?

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Feb 14, 2014

have you ever had to tell a parent to leave the room or anything for getting in the way?

Definitely. It doesn't happen often but there are times when it's just better to ask them to leave. Usually I can get away with just asking them to move out of the way and they do. I like to say, "I just need to trade places with you for a minute." Most of the time they will move without being asked. I've had families in the room during code situations and it's been fine. It's easiest to say something like, "I'm not going to ask you to leave, but I will ask you to stand over here and let us do what your child needs. That's the best way for you to help right now." Goes a long way.

Vargas9 · Feb 24, 2014

I would love to be a pediatric nurse but I can't imagine the downsides. I wish it was always good and not bad!

Mostlovely · Mar 19, 2014

Seems like the biggest challenge in pediatric nursing is the parents, I can't understand why it would be, after all those are their children and parents don't like to see their children sick or hurting. Janfrn, I like your approach on dealing with the parents that get in the way it is better that way than being rude and I bet it does go a long way. Thanks for the advice everyone.