Nervous about starting in Peds

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I have recently gotten a job as a CNA at a children's hospital, and I'm extremely excited but nervous about starting. I have finished my first semester of nursing school and I start clinicals next year. I'm mostly nervous because this will be my first job in healthcare and I have no experience working with patients in a hospital since I haven't completed clinicals. Some of the things I am expected to be doing are placing NG tubes and foley catheters, and I've only ever done those things on mannequins. I will be having a two month training period with another CNA before I will be doing these things on my own, but I'm scared that not having done these things on a real person before will be a big setback.

During orientation, we were taught the importance of establishing a trusting relationship with the patients and how to get them to feel more comfortable in the hospital based on their age. I've worked with kids before, but not necessarily sick kids. What if I can't establish these relationships with my patients? Do you have any advice/tips on how I can help my patients feel more comfortable in the hospital?

I know I wouldn't have gotten this job if I wasn't capable of doing it, but I want to make sure I'm doing the best job possible. Please let me know if you have any advice or tips, I'd really appreciate it! Thanks!(:

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Specializes in Acute Care Pediatrics.

Your biggest ally and your biggest enemy will be parents. :) But if you talk to your patients on their level, you'll get it. Some of it will just take some time to get used to it. Good luck and congrats on your new position.

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Specializes in pediatrics; PICU; NICU.

Don't ever lie to a kid! That's the fastest way to lose their trust.

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

Part of your scope as a CNA is placing foley's caths and NG tubes??? Or will you be assisting?

Children get scared of the unknown and have anxiety and then the parents have anxiety.

Never lie to kids, if they ask will something hurt...tell them it may if a minute ( if it will) or you may feel pressure or it will be uncomfortable.

Many times the fear of not knowing can be worse than what may actually be happening.

If you are at a large children's hospital they should have child life, hopefully part of your orientation you will get to spend a shift or two with child life.

They are the experts of calming the anxieties of children. They do this through medical play and distraction.

Pretty much all invasive skills, we do as a team. So if I know I am putting an NG tube in, if child life is available I involve them, but I work nights so they go home around midnight.

I also use my techs to help hold and distract.

Distraction is huge with kids

Carry bubbles with you, or a bubble gun and you will be amazed at how fast you can distract a screaming kid with bubbles....parents like it too

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