Saw something at work the other day that made me really happy

[klone, MSN, RN]

I work in an OB/Gyn office that's part of an inner city community health clinic. Our clinic serves almost exclusively uninsured and Medicaid patients, and most of them have challenging comorbidities such as drug addiction and mental health issues.

On a daily basis, we see women who grew up in the foster care system, physically or sexually (and most definitely emotionally) abused from a young age. These are hurt, damaged people. I'm treating STIs on a daily basis, and see 17-year-olds who are on their second or third pregnancy, and women in their early 20s who are pregnant with their 4th or 5th child, often by different father, and don't have custody of their other children.

So when I see teenage girls and young women who are taking control of their fertility, recognizing that they are not in the best position or age to become a mother, and have a history of longterm contraceptive and NO pregnancy, it's a breath of fresh air.

The other day I had a 15-year-old girl, accompanied by her mother, come in to initiate birth control, as she had recently become sexually active. As a mother who also has a 15-year-old daughter, it actually brought tears to my eyes to see that. I thanked the mother for caring enough to bring her daughter in (and hope it didn't sound condescending, but I really did just have gratitude that she did that) and told the girl how lucky she was to have a mother who would do that.

That's all. Just something that made me very happy.

[Farawyn]

I used to work in a similar clinic. I had a patient who got pregnant at age 13 by her uncle. We called CPS, she had an abortion, was placed with another uncle. Came back a year later, pregnant, and with HPV. The second uncle being the father of the child.

She's having this one.

My heart broke every day in that job, so the good times were super good. (((((klone)))))

[cayenne06, MSN, CNM]

Working at planned parenthood, i feel the same way. Just had a 15yo come in with her mom to get started on birth control. When i brought the mom into the exam room after speaking privately with her daughter, the 15yo says to her mom, deadpan, "mom, im pregnant." Mom just about fell over from shock until the kid collapses in giggles. Warmed my heart to see evidence of such a close and supportive parent/child relationship. I always go out of my way to commend adolescents AND their parents (when applicable) for being responsible and open about these issues.

[BSNbeauty, BSN, RN]

Awesome!

[xoemmylouox, ASN, RN]

Too bad some parents still believe that "MY CHILD WOULD NEEEEEEEEEEEEVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRR DO THAT. Said "child" comes in 6 months later with STD/STI and/or pregnancy. It's sad since most of us understand how it happens and how to prevent it. Sure I would love it if my kids didn't have sex as teenagers, but you better believe that I am realistic and all about prevention. I prefer that they come to me and be honest about having sex, than to lie. Let's be honest with each other, so we can make better choices.

[bagladyrn, RN]

This is why I'm so impressed with my daughter-in-law and my oldest granddaughter. They talk openly and freely about sexuality and had her on birth control before she became sexually active. She feels perfectly comfortable talking about all this with her mother and me as well.

[JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN]

This is why I advocate for sex education and find teaching it (and helping start the conversations to continue at home with a caring adult) one of the most rewarding parts of my job as a school nurse.