Starting PEDS rotation - nervous/ need advice

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I am starting on PEDS this week. I feel kind of weird about it. I do not have any of my own children. I haven't been around kids in a long time. I am just not sure I will do a great job. Kind of nervous about it, will they react or will the parents react!

Anybody got any advice or tips on how to handle the children. I am just coming off med-surg. Anyone have any transitional advice?

Greatly appreciate it,

Angie

All_Smiles_RN

527 Posts

Specializes in Cardiology.

With kids, general rule of thumb is to smile a lot, make eye contact, and make a game out of whatever you're doing. If you get down to their eye level, you'll have their attention. Talk to the child, not just the parent. If the child is happy with you, that will gain the respect of the parents. This is just my experience as a parent and someone who feels very comfortable with children. And I'm sure your peds instructor will have tips for you. Good luck to you.

...Jennifer...

Specializes in ED.

And remember your erikson. That will help bunches.

Specializes in Med-Surg, Tele, Vascular, Plastics.
And remember your erikson. That will help bunches.

Thank you Jennifer... GOOD tips! and Twinmommy, it has been like 4 semesters since I had psychology. All I remember about erikson is something about life crises or something like that and stages... but I dont remember them. Can you tell me which I need to know about???

Thank you both so much,

Angie

Specializes in L & D.

Although I'll be starting nursing school this fall, I'm the mommy of two little girls - ages 3 and 6. Here is what they like about the nurses & doctors in their peds office: They ask them what they like to do, what books they like, what they watch on tv, etc. If a child has a stuffed animal with them, ask about it and ask if you can listen to its heart, look in it ears, etc. Also, brush up on what little kids are into these days. My girls like Strawberry Shortcake, Dora the Explorer, The Wiggles, etc. I'll be fine with girls during my Peds rotation, but I know nothing about little boys!

When my three year old had a recent visit, the doctor claimed he could feel a PB & J sandwich in her tummy. For some reason Sophia found this hysterical!! She told him it was just peanut butter since she doesn't like jelly.

Best of luck to you,

Beth

Aneroo, LPN

1,518 Posts

Specializes in Cath Lab, OR, CPHN/SN, ER.
Although I'll be starting nursing school this fall, I'm the mommy of two little girls - ages 3 and 6. Here is what they like about the nurses & doctors in their peds office: They ask them what they like to do, what books they like, what they watch on tv, etc. If a child has a stuffed animal with them, ask about it and ask if you can listen to its heart, look in it ears, etc. Also, brush up on what little kids are into these days. My girls like Strawberry Shortcake, Dora the Explorer, The Wiggles, etc. I'll be fine with girls during my Peds rotation, but I know nothing about little boys!

When my three year old had a recent visit, the doctor claimed he could feel a PB & J sandwich in her tummy. For some reason Sophia found this hysterical!! She told him it was just peanut butter since she doesn't like jelly.

Best of luck to you,

Beth

I do this too with a kid I would babysit! I would tickle him and say "I feel a chicken nugget! I'm gonna eat it!" and then I'd try and blow on his tummy. He loved it, and his big sis got involved with trying to play too.

As far as assessment...do what you can while they're asleep- it's harder to concentrate and hear once they start crying. In my EMS class, we were taught to start assessment at their feet, and work up (instead of the usual head to toe, it was a toe to head approach). This way, you're not right up in their face to begin with...play with their toes or something while doing assessment.

I was terrified on my peds rotation, until i got there. We were partnered up our first week, and it was an older guy and me, both with no children of our own, taking care of a 3 mo old baby (developmentally about 1 mo-he was a preemie) with hydrocephalus. We finally got it down, and my "momma" instinct kicked in (as my partner called it). I dropped my first NG tube on a 6 pound baby (it's much easier than an adult), did my first IM and SC injection on that same child with hydrocephalus (he was getting to go home and needed immunizations). Later on when I went to give shots to an adult, I remember thinking "If I can do that to a baby, I can to this to a grown man". Made things much easier for me. Keep us posted on how it goes! -andrea

mitchsmom

1,907 Posts

Specializes in OB, lactation.
.... brush up on what little kids are into these days. My girls like Strawberry Shortcake, Dora the Explorer, The Wiggles, etc. I'll be fine with girls during my Peds rotation, but I know nothing about little boys! Beth

I have three boys: Star Wars (particularly good fodder right now since III is about to come out! But better know your Bounty Hunter from your Emperor from your Darth Vader :); superheroes- esp. Spiderman & Batman, SpongeBob, Rescue Heroes, Legos, & like your girls, my three year old also likes Dora. Building & tearing things apart are always good (have you ever seen the inside of a _____________ ? (ink pen, remote control, you fill in the blank).

You can also talk about any other kid movie that's out lately or ask what's your favorite movie, toy, etc. I would say to just be yourself and playful but down to earth because I think kids pick up on insincerity easily and then shy away. And some will shy away no matter what so don't take it personally. Just some more ideas!

PS... I have heard that for ticklish people, it supposedly helps if you have the patient put their hand over yours as you palpate or do whatever you're trying to do. I have done that with one of my sons who is super ticklish and it does help a little. It may make also have the benefit that a little one may feel more in control too if they feel like they have a hand in things (no pun intended ;)

PPSS... in my own experience I've found it helpful as a nursing mom to immediately be able to nurse the baby after or during shots, etc- it chills them right out and quiets them in a hurry! Also worked GREAT for my newborn's hearing test/PKU, I breastfed while the nurse did it and she said it was the easiest one she'd ever done :)

Ami_J

54 Posts

As a peds nurse a few things I find that work are:

1. don't talk to children like they are babys (I've watch nurses talk to 16 y/o like he was 2!)

2. tell the child what you are going to do before you do it ex. "I am going to listen to you breath"

3. Pay close attention to a teen's privacy

4. Don't lie and say something tastes good when it doesn't... if you know it tastes awful have something to wash it down with right after.

5. Never ask the young child if you can do something "can I look at your tummy?" (the anwer is usually NO) tell them what you are going to do "I am going to look at your tummy."

6. When giving meds to a young child its usually easier to ask the parent to give it and for you to just watch it being given, if it is a toddler I usually ask the parent, "would they take it easier if you squirt it in their mouth or if I do?" or if the child is a little older I give them options, "do you want mommy to give you this or do you want me to?"

7. With babies squirt the meds in the side of their cheeks

Indy, LPN, LVN

1,444 Posts

Specializes in ICU, telemetry, LTAC.

Always take respirations first. At 0700 you can watch a baby/kid breathe and count, but after you take the other vital signs and do your assessment, you won't be able to get 'em to be still or quiet again.

nursie79

1 Post

angie,

try to make a game out of everything when working with children. the kids are not the hard part it is the parent's. be confident in what you do parent's can sense if you are nervous and so can the kid's. if you are confident in yourself the parent's will be confident in you! walk in that room like you are an old pro and everyhting will work out fine. when i did my peds rotation i was the same way because i do not have kids of my own.... good luck

EyesForward

221 Posts

Many kids will start crying as soon as they see a uniform come through the door. I tell them right away "no boo-boos!" if there aren't going to be any, and most quiet right down.

Empathy and caring is perceived by most parents as competence, so be kind to them and to the kids, and understand how miserable most of the kids are, and that alone will help you know how to deal them.

Specializes in Med-Surg, Tele, Vascular, Plastics.

Thanks to all of you for the great advice. Turns out this was supposed to be my first day on PEDS but the beds are almost all empty. So maybe tomorrow I might get a patient. Wish me luck!

Angie

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