I AM a nurse, right?

Nurses New Nurse

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I am a new graduate, taking NCLEX next Tuesday (yikes)! I feel very competent in my ability to care for med-surg patients. Know how to treat a patient with a fever, muscle aches, loss of appetite, etc. My 12-year-old however makes me feel like I know nothing about medicine at all! He is very sick, fever, chills, muscle aches, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, productive cough, jeez could there be more?!

I feel like I totally have no nursing skills when it comes to taking care of him. It took me 2 days of listening to his cough to think to take out my stethoscope and listen to him (he's diminished on the left side with a few crackles). He had a fever and my husband had to suggest getting a cool cloth to put on his head. His doctor thinks he probably has early pneumonia and prescribed an antibiotic so hopefully he'll turn the corner soon and improve. I really just feel like my nursing skills should have kicked in a little sooner.

It's not that I'm not taking good care of him, I just feel like as a nurse I should have been taking better care of him. :cry: I'm a little frustrated with myself!

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Through the years I have found that sometimes it is better to separate my nursing skills from my family role. Far less strain on me all the way around. If I want to argue with people about my judgement I can get plenty of that at work. No need to deal with it at home.

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Specializes in cardiac/critical care/ informatics.

First of all you aren't a nurse until you pass the nclex, you have a nursing degree.

second the most important, it much harder to be a nurse when taking care of your child let alone a family member. Emotions, feelings and other stuff get in the way. so don't beat your self up.

My son gashed open his leg I just cleaned up, my husband looks at for one second (he's a computer programmer) and says he needs stitches he did 36 in and out. I had been a nurse for well over 12 years at that time.

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

I think everyone will agree that when it comes to family and close friends things always become complicated. Emotions, instinct and history all interfere with our ability to be logical and objective when we care for our family. Doctors and nurses can have a difficult time taking care of their children when their sick just as some teachers have a difficult time tutoring their own children. I wouldn't feel bad about it because I highly doubt it speaks to your skills as a nurse. I think it speaks to the old argument of empathizing versus sympathizing with your patients and with your own family its hard not to be sympathetic.

!Chris :specs:

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

I agree with all the preceding posts. You're a mom first in this case. I think it's actually better if you let yourself be Mom and leave the health care to someone else. That way you won't be tempted to try and "manage" something that could be far more serious than you want to believe.

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Specializes in OBGYN, Neonatal.

I agree with the above! It is different when it is your own child/family member. I'm an OB nurse and work with moms and newborns yet when my 2 year old has something going on I call the doc or the ask a nurse line LOL...I just feel like my brain stops when it comes to my own child!

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Thanks everyone. He's doing a little better today. It just surprised me that I didn't have a better idea how to help him! What have I been doing the past four years in school! lol.

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