Pediatric versus Adult

[annacs]

Hey all, I am a student nurse interested in a future career in OR nursing upon graduation. I have had a lot of experience in the operating room but have only worked with adult patients. I am curious on others' experiences in the pediatric setting and how considerations differ when working with them compared to adults in the surgical specialty. Thanks in advance!!

[brownbook]

Peds care is becoming so specialized at least in my area. There is a trend to send peds cases to hospitals that specialize in peds.

In our out patient surgery center we do minor peds cases. Some of our anesthesiologists have further training in pediatric anesthesiology so they are assigned to these cases.

All the nurses are required to have PALS.

Sometimes the patient is given versed in pre-op. Usually the IV is started in OR after the child has a little anesthestetic gas. Sometimes the parents put on bunny suits and come with the child to OR, just stay a minute or less to say goodby.

Everything is triple checked. Everybody is overly careful, cautious, prepared, etc. I can't remember the name of the form but we put the child's height, weight, vitals, hours NPO, etc., into a computer app and get a print out of the dosage of every emergency drug the anesthesiologist could possible need. Even that is double checked, signed by two nurses to make sure the correct, height and weight, etc. were entered.