CPNE Peds PCS?

[Firemedic7]

Hi All-

As you may have seen on my other thread, I got my CPNE date. I am trying to tie together all my loose strings and had a question...

When doing your PCS with a peds patient, are you allowed to have a reminder card similar to what they may give out in PALS class that has normal values for vitals according to age? If not do we need to memorize those?

Any info is appreciated

Thanks!!

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

You aren't going to need to know values. You will need to compare your vitals, etc to the child's baseline, which you can get in report from the chart, and flag any deviations.

Know how to transfer a child, weigh, account for i/o c diapers, etc, to take care of comfort, the pain scale (FLACC), that stuff, usual IV sites - you know this stuff. And know the drip rates, etc and how much they can vary for the critical elements.

Don't ovethink it.

:)

[LaxNP, DNP]

Sue it right. Compair the base line, although it is always good to know the norms. But, while it is good to remember the norms, don't fill your brain with info that you may not need as the study guide needs to be drilled to memory. It cannot be stressed enough that you must follow your study guide like a robot. Formethe peds patient was the makor hurdle for the weekend. Funny thing is that there was one peds patient in the hospital and I was the only one that was assigned. Where are you going? do they have a low peds population.

[Firemedic7]

Sue it right. Compair the base line, although it is always good to know the norms. But, while it is good to remember the norms, don't fill your brain with info that you may not need as the study guide needs to be drilled to memory. It cannot be stressed enough that you must follow your study guide like a robot. Formethe peds patient was the makor hurdle for the weekend. Funny thing is that there was one peds patient in the hospital and I was the only one that was assigned. Where are you going? do they have a low peds population.

Racine

[Melinurse]

The previous notes are correct, just know if something is off. Know how to interact and transfer a child, how to hold a baby, etc. You are testing in Racine where I work and you'll be glad to know we don't get very many pediatric pts. That does not mean we don't get any but chances are you may end up with an adult substitute for your pediatric PCS. They seem to really look to see if you know the basics of how to care for your patients. Nothing complicated, nothing too in depth. Don't overthink it. You'll do fine if you know basics, labs ( just basics ), vitals ( know the norms or at least be able to say something is not right ), etc.:nuke: GOOD LUCK

[firegrrl]

Good advice....I'm wondering whether I should try for the Racine site.....

[Melinurse]

Firegrrl, just to clarify what I said. Racine does get some peds, but, odds are there will not be many because we are close to a Childrens Hospital. However, in talking to co-workers in the float pool they usually are fairly empty although once in a while we can get some. :yeah:Still need to be comfortable with your peds especially for the state boards. Prepare now and that should help with any anxiety related to working with pediatric patients. For what it's worth that was one of my big fears, working with a pediatric patient. It wasn't the child I had anxiety about, I was worried about the parent. Racine was still a good place for testing.

[firegrrl]

Thanks Meli...I think that since I've been a Paramedic for so long, I have anxiety about doing anything the "nursing" way....and especially being tested. It's such a different way of thinking, and although I do well with hands on learning, there is so much that I haven't had nursing type experience with....I don't know if that makes sense, just my way of stressing out :)