Why pediatric nursing?

Specialties Pediatric

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Specializes in Education, NICU, Pediatrics, OB, Leaders.

I am trying to put together a powerpoint for new pediatric students that welcomes then to the world of peds. I am wanting to include some stories or quotes in why pediatric nurses choose to be in this line of nursing.

Thank you for your help.:nurse::redpinkhe

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I am currently enrolled in a BSN program and so I don't know how much my view will be of help to you but here's why I am looking toward pediatric nursing when I graduate. There are all different kinds of children in the world ranging all across the spectrum but they all have one thing in common; they are children. They are nearly helpless in some cases, they need someone to advocate for them, to be their voice, to help them through whatever it is their going through. Nursing involves empathy. It is easy to have sympathy for a child over an adult, I mean it's human nature. But to have empathy for a child, to want to help them help themselves so to speak, is something that takes a strong heart and mind but is so rewarding in return.

Ex: emergency room, two patients separated by a curtain. One a 35 yr old man getting a shot. The other a 3 yr old getting stiches. The man makes more of a commotion and throws a fit louder than the three year old who with an attentive nurse gets through the shot without much more than a little wince. I don't have empathy for the man, but I do for the child.

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Specializes in Peds, PACU, ICU, ER, OB, MED-Surg,.

Pediatric patients are honest. They don't ask for medicine they don't need. They don't care if I fluff their pillow, in fact they prefer lying upside down with their feet at the head of the bed. They make me laugh. When they have to be, (cancer patient's) they are the strength for the whole family. I've seen more than one child patting their parents to comfort them, when they are the one's that are sick. They don't judge people by how they look, children take everyone at face value. They give you their trust, and it is sacred, you must never make them doubt giving it to you. Always be honest, if what you are going to do is going to hurt, tell them so or they will never trust you again. Praise them!

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Pediatric patients are honest. They don't ask for medicine they don't need. They don't care if I fluff their pillow, in fact they prefer lying upside down with their feet at the head of the bed. They make me laugh. When they have to be, (cancer patient's) they are the strength for the whole family. I've seen more than one child patting their parents to comfort them, when they are the one's that are sick. They don't judge people by how they look, children take everyone at face value. They give you their trust, and it is sacred, you must never make them doubt giving it to you. Always be honest, if what you are going to do is going to hurt, tell them so or they will never trust you again. Praise them!

Well said

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I am still a nursing student, but I have known that I want to be a pediatric nurse since I was 13. I was born deaf and with a bilateral cleft palate. I have had an incredible amount of surgeries done (about 40) and I am only 21.:uhoh3: Walking through the halls of the pediatric unit after every surgery, I have seen some of the worst things imaginable, but remembering back on those moments, I am glad that I have had that experience. I can empathize with the kids that I would work with, and I believe that I can really give them a voice since I know what they are going through. I have fought hard to get to where I am, and I want to give that hope back to the kids. I hope to someday travel and speak out to help educate nurses,other health professionals, students, and other young kids on how to deal with birth defects and other diseases. :redbeathe

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