Nursing Students General Students
Published Apr 7, 2003
KimRN03
139 Posts
I had my Peds rotation this weekend and I can definately say that after spending 2 days there I do not aspire to be a Pediatric Nurse! I had a really hard time dealing with my crying 21 mo patient. Everytime I came near her she screamed. It was absolutely nerve racking. The first time I flushed her IV and administered her first IV med my instructor said, "Well that went really well I think." I looked at her as if she were in a different room then me! I thought it was terrible! I did all my procedures well, but I still felt like I wasn't helping the patient at all. Just thought I would share my experience. I still don't know where I want to work when I graduate in 8 months. I seem to have more of an idea where I don't want to work then any interest. I'm getting discouraged. Thanks for letting me vent.
TeresaRN2b
550 Posts
All 21 month olds in the hospital are probably going to cry. Don't let the fact that she was crying make you feel like you weren't helping your patient. One of the things I do when I am dealing with kids is remind myself why they need the procedures done that they need done. Of course they aren't going to like it. I am sure you did great.
NursieRN
61 Posts
I agree with Theresa. Just because the patient was crying
doesn't mean you weren't doing a good job. Think about how
scary it is to be sick AND be in the hosp for those little guys.
I try to establish a good rapport with them right away: toys,
letting them play with my stethescope, singing songs, and
sometimes generally just making a fool of myself. Once you
establish trust, you get more cooperation.
I'm sure you did just fine, and your instructor wouldn't have
said so if she didn't think it too!!
Don't get discouraged, OK? Even if you don't want to do peds,
you will find your niche.
Gator,SN
738 Posts
KIM, I totally understand where you are coming from! I did not like PEDS at all! I am sure that you did a great job and like everyone else said, all kids cry and are afraid. You know that what you are doing for them is necessary and that is the most important thing. Good luck with the rest of the rotation!
Gator
justjill
47 Posts
kim, i totally agree with you!! i'm doing my peds rotation now...and i know i was not meant to be a peds nurse!! :) i love kids, but i don't think i could handle sick kids every day.
i understand how you are feeling....just hang in there! you'll be done before you know it!
AmyLiz
952 Posts
A nurse once told me that it isn't finding what you want to specialize in, it's finding what you the least unappealing & you go from there.
Dunno if it's true, but sometimes I think it sounds like there's at least a "little" truth to it!
EmeraldNYL, BSN, RN
953 Posts
I have peds this semester too and I totally agree with you, I don't like peds either! Hang in there!
JudithL_in_NH
355 Posts
Kim,
I think that recognizing the places where you *don't* want to be can be more valuable than a certainty about where you *do* want to be. Often folks set themselves up for disappointment when they have their hearts set on a particular service, yet it doesn't end up living up to their expectations.
Me, I know I don't want geriatrics or psych, and I'm pretty sure L&D won't do it for me either, and I'm wide open to see where my clinicals will take me.
Best of luck as you make your choice!
Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN
2 Articles; 3,563 Posts
Originally posted by JudithL_in_NH Kim, I think that recognizing the places where you *don't* want to be can be more valuable than a certainty about where you *do* want to be. Often folks set themselves up for disappointment when they have their hearts set on a particular service, yet it doesn't end up living up to their expectations.
Kim, I agree w/ Judith!
I didn't like peds, either. I like working w/ pts from about my age (30s) and older. I really enjoy the middle-to-older adult population.
I thought I wouldn't like L&D or new-born nursery. I was surpised to find that I did enjoy them.
I thought I would love my ICU clinicals. But, I found it to be slow-paced and boring. At least, that's how it was the days I spent there.
One of the nice things about nursing is that there is such a wide variety of work settings. You'll find your niche!
renerian, BSN, RN
5,693 Posts
I hated Peds/OB as well. Glad we all have different likes and dislikes.
renerian
marilynmom, LPN, NP
2,155 Posts
Just wanted to let you know that most 21 month olds are going to cry so please dont feel you did something wrong. I am a mother of 2 small children who are *healthy* and they STILL cry a lot when people they dont know get to near them, so its definatly not you. A baby that young who is sick and in a scary hospital is just going to be scared no matter what.
But anyways I don't think I would like peds either, seeing kids that sick just breaks my heart. Adults I can handle but not kids, just to heartwrenching for me.
Marilyn
Love-A-Nurse
3,932 Posts
some areas we will like best and others we will like least. the good thing is you have experienced this rotation for yourself and know it isn't for you.