Pediatrics

What is dropping

I keep hearing it is the most difficult clinically--especially dosage calculations and assessment.

I am up for the challenge!

"dropping"--as in "dropping out of school"

What is dropping

OMG, pardon the pun! Yes, it's dropping out of school, not the drip rate.

Hi Kim,

I haven't heard that. We had 5 Semesters - our 3rd was over the Summer in L&D and a short stint in Pediatrics and honestly - it was the only Semester out of the 5 that we didn't lose anyone. A lot of us in class had children, so the Pediatric & L&D Info. was something most of us were pretty familiar with. It was my favorite Semester - you'll enjoy it.

I suppose much depends on where you get your clinical experience - a community hospital or a dedicated children's hospital.

Peds can be the most emotionally intense - even those without children or without any particular feelings about children beforehand can come unglued at the sight of a critically ill child. It seems unnatural, and can produce an unexpected, almost visceral reaction.

Also, you are likely to encounter omnipresent families - something most nursing students haven't dealt with before coming to peds. This is a whole different ballgame - the whole family really is your patient.

In a children's speciality hospital or a university-affiliated facility you may unfortunately see heartbreaking stuff - unbelievable rare genetic disorders or deformities, cancers, etc.

Then there is the issue of abuse. You may see its aftermath, you may not. Lucky me ... I had 3 peds patients whose significant neuro deficits & seizures were at least partly the result of Shaken Baby syndrome. :stone We also spent 2 days at an adolescent/child psych facility, and that was also difficult to take ... and I loved adult psych?!

Those who love peds seem to know it quickly, but it's not for everyone.

Yeah, they can fail several students in Peds:icon_roll