How to stay calm if your child is ill?

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My 13 yo daughter woke up yesterday morning with a bad nosebleed. She came close to fainting twice (head lolled back, eyes rolled back in head, and knees buckled). I freaked out and called an ambulance. They came and checked her out, bp was fine, by this point the bleeding had stopped and she seemed to feel fine, just embarassed and upset with mom for "overreacting" (her words, not mine!)

Now, 24 hours later, I can't quit thinking about this. How can I possibly be a good nurse, stay calm, etc. if I reacted this way? DH told me my reaction was due to the fact that it was my child, not a stranger, but I still can't shake the feeling that this is a "sign" to me that I won't be able to do this!! I'm so upset right now. Any "seasoned" nurses out there that can give me some advice? Do you think it's common to react this way with a family member?:(

I'll second that. Had to take my 9 yr old to the Naval Hosp. ER last night for 6 stitches in the chin. I left a message on my DH's cell phone and he had no idea what was going on. Said I was way "too calm". The corpman asked if I was really her mother!!!!

That is funny. :)

My toddler fell face first 6 feet from his Dad's logging truck when he was 2. Bloody, screaming, etc. .. .I had run to the post office. When I got back my husband was out in the yard with the crying child and my husband was hysterical. I was calm, got both of them in the car and drove to the ER. Son was fine. Husband was not. :)

steph

i remember when my 19 yr brother babysat my baby for the first time she was 6 months, and i gave him all the info he needed about diaper cream, bottles etc.. He called us when we were at dinner to say that she just "pooped" but her entire face turned red and she grunted and did that mean anything bad? lol called again about hour later to say that she pooped again and should he be worried she was getting dehydrated? lol

LOL! :chuckle

My worst moment was when my (now 19 y/o) daughter cut her hand trying to slice a bagel.

She came to me and showed it to me, I had her hold her hand under cold, running water, while I turned to get into the medicine cabinet to get some bandages...while I was turned around, I heard a "thud".

She had passed out and fallen...her head laying on the floor between her Dad's feet! I freaked...totally freaked....and he stood there laughing! I was terribly upset with him, but he couldn't catch his breath long enough to help carry her to the bed...he finally did, and picked her up and lay her across our bed. (Glad my hubby was there...but I sure did doubt my nursing abilities about then!)

She woke briefly for a second, sat up, looked at her hand, and out she went again!

I was sure she had gone into shock or something equally horrid...... :rolleyes:

Hubby still laughs to this day about his "nurse" wife who freaked out about a child fainting, and a daughter who faints at the sight of blood, but is now in the Military and taking every class she possibly can, whether it deals with blood or not! LOL! :rotfl:

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

My son has had major surgery to correct a birth defect---I could NEVER have been his nurse! I was way too upset/anxious/scared/involved.

Involvement. That is your key concern here.

In NO way can I remain OBJECTIVE and "calm" with my own kids sick. It's different w/your own family. You CAN be objective and calm w/non-family members and friends, and you will. There is a reason why doctors and nurses tend NOT to care for people they know, if given the choice. Objectivity is impossible w/those we love. I know a lot of people who are cracker jack kick-butt nurses who turn to jello when their own kids get sick. This is normal.

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