pediatric palliative care

[mozartthebear]

Hello everyone. I have been searching the internet FOREVER to find a site like this. My husband finally told me that the key word was "forum" and not "support group"...bless his heart. Anyway, I'm a pediatric palliative care nurse in the community. It was about a year ago that I experienced the loss of one of the kids that I worked with. It was such a hard time. Being a community nurse I really didn't have anyone to talk to about it. I have learned that palliative care is a job that I hate and love at the same time. I hate that the kids are dying. I hate that they hurt sometimes. I hate that their families have to watch them die. But at the same time I love to watch the miracles that come out of the suffering....families bonding together like you could never imagine, the amazing inner strength and happiness that flow from these kids, the lessons of life that we learn from them (like what is really important and what isnt). I really appreciate my job, but I often find it really isolating.....so that's why I'm here. It was good to read some of the other posts. It's nice to know that there are other nurses out there that are experiencing some of the same things I am. I would love to hear from you. :)

[webblarsk]

Hello everyone. I have been searching the internet FOREVER to find a site like this. My husband finally told me that the key word was "forum" and not "support group"...bless his heart. Anyway, I'm a pediatric palliative care nurse in the community. It was about a year ago that I experienced the loss of one of the kids that I worked with. It was such a hard time. Being a community nurse I really didn't have anyone to talk to about it. I have learned that palliative care is a job that I hate and love at the same time. I hate that the kids are dying. I hate that they hurt sometimes. I hate that their families have to watch them die. But at the same time I love to watch the miracles that come out of the suffering....families bonding together like you could never imagine, the amazing inner strength and happiness that flow from these kids, the lessons of life that we learn from them (like what is really important and what isnt). I really appreciate my job, but I often find it really isolating.....so that's why I'm here. It was good to read some of the other posts. It's nice to know that there are other nurses out there that are experiencing some of the same things I am. I would love to hear from you. :)

Wow! I really admire what you do. I am a hospice nurse, but haven't had to deal with a pediatric patient. God bless you for the work you do!

[aimeee, BSN, RN]

I'm glad that you found us! Pediatric palliative care is a challenging area. We get very few pediatric patients...less than half a dozen a year usually. All our patients tug on our heartstrings but the babies and children are especially dear and difficult to maintain our objectiveness and our boundaries. Please feel free to share your experiences, joys, sadness, frustrations, etc. We will be here for you.

[mozartthebear]

Thank you for your encouragment, ladies. I look forward to sharing with you all and learing from you too. :)

[saribeth]

Bless your sweet bones for doing the incredible work that you do...I had a little 18 m o last spring and well... I will never forget him or their situation...so special that you are able to do what you do...