Short Interview w/ Peds Nurse, help please

shinyblackcar · Apr 11, 2010

What are the daily duties of your job?

head-to-toe assessments, vital signs, medication administration, maintaining IVs, collecting stool/urine samples, urinary catheterization (indwelling Foleys as well as straight caths), wound care, skin care, neurological assessments, baths/linen changes, changing diapers, feeding babies, dropping NG tubes, teaching parents, maintaining epidurals, pain management, EKGs, assisting with lumbar punctures and other procedures, communicating with physicians/surgeons/NPs/PAs/residents/child life specialists/social workers/case managers/other nurses

What hours do you work?

i work mostly 12 hour shifts, rotating between days (7a-7:30p) and nights (7p-7:30a) but sometimes work other odd shifts like 11a-11:30p

Did you have to take any special courses/classes to be in the line of nursing that you are in?

just the BLS for Healthcare Providers course offered by the American Heart Assocation. then i took specific pediatric classes as part of my orientation at my job.

What does your day consist of as a nurse?

i think i pretty much covered that in the first question! but if you want an example of a shift from start to finish... first i get report from the previous nurse, check my orders, check charts, check emergency equipment in pts' rooms. then i introduce myself to family, do head-to-toe assessment, get set of vital signs, give meds. we usually do vital signs every 4 hours on our patients. if my patient has an IV infusing i check that every hour. try to catch docs on rounds so that i know the plan for my patients. i may have to bring a patient to x-ray or ultrasound and have another nurse cover my other patients while i'm gone. i may have a baby with no family visiting so i'll have to feed him/her throughout the day/night. i may be dealing with difficult families or trying to ease their fears or simply playing waitress for them. i may have to hold a child down while the phlebotomist attempts to take blood. if my kid has an NG tube i check placement every 4 hours and before meds/feeds. if pt has GT, i do GT care. if pt is in traction i'm doing neurovascular checks. if pt has a PCA, i'm checking that every 4 hours. etc etc etc!

Who do you work with on a daily basis?

other nurses, doctors/surgeons (from interns up to attendings, but mostly work one-on-one with the interns and residents and only see attendings in passing, if at all), social workers, case managers, PAs, NPs, child life specialists, interpreters, respiratory therapists, occupational/physical therapists

Do you work with the same team of people everyday?

it varies. the team of doctors i'm working with depends on what services my patients are on (cardiology, pulmonary, neuro, heme, urology, GI, etc.)

Who do you communicate with on a daily basis?

all of the people mentioned above, plus patients and their families

How do you keep the communication open with those that you work with everyday?

we always ask if there's anything we can do to help each other out. we just recognize that we're all having a hectic crazy day most of the time!

How do you and the others that you work with keep the communication open between each other?

same as above

How does the communication differ with a patient and a patient's family?

i work on a floor with patients up to pre-school age, so for the most part the communication with the patients is very calming, soothing, easing their fears, playing games, or for the real little ones just plain old baby talk! with the families, you're doing more of the teaching and explaining things and making sure they understand what is going on and answering their questions.

How do you communicate with your patient when the patient is a child?

again, i work mostly with babies, so i don't really have to talk them into taking their medicine or explain procedures to them, but when i do have an older child, i always tell them what i am doing before i do it and use terms they can understand, and basically try to scare them as little as possible! even when i have a kid that probably doesn't understand half of what i'm saying, i'll talk to them and sometimes i think it's more to ease the parents' anxiety than the child's. :)

How do you communicate with the patient's parents?

i always try to put myself in their place, explain things to them on their level, and try to make them feel as comfortable and taken care of as i possibly can.

txcwglangel · Apr 11, 2010

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions. I really appreciate it. Do you mind me asking your name for my interview portfolio? If not, I completely understand. Thank you once again for taking the time to help me out.

lysharnbsn · Apr 13, 2010

What are the daily duties of your job?

Inserting and maintaining IV's, medication administration, assessment, education of parents/guardians. I work med/surg and pediatrics, and I love peds the most :)

What hours do you work?

7 am to 730 pm

Did you have to take any special courses/classes to be in the line of nursing that you are in?

PALS, pediatric advanced life support

BLS, Basic Life Support

What does your day consist of as a nurse?

It can be just about anything!! When i work peds, winter months we get alot of RSV and pnemonia in the little guys! Medication administration, dressing changes, education with the parents, communicating with doctors and ancillary staff, and other nursing duties.

Who do you work with on a daily basis?

Registered Nurses, LPN's, nurses aides, doctors, and ancillary staff such as social work and case management.

Do you work with the same team of people everyday?

No- it just depends who is working :)

Who do you communicate with on a daily basis?

Parents, patients, doctors, ancillary staff

How do you keep the communication open with those that you work with everyday?

I remain friendly, and ask others if they need help. I try to help others the best I can, because when you need help, they are more apt to help you.

How do you and the others that you work with keep the communication open between each other?

Using open communication, and an open posture (when I can anyways!). Smile, and make sure you take breaks, you need relief for your self and dont want to stress yourself out.

How does the communication differ with a patient and a patient's family?

In the pediatric population, you have to use age appropriate language. Children do not understand the complicated medical terms that we may use. Using a doll, and educating a child that way helps. I have also found that sitting or kneeling at their level helps. This assists toddlers and school age children to trust you. The patients family typically may need alot of education and reassurance when you talk to them. Exhibit confidence......this really helps them trust you :)

How do you communicate with your patient when the patient is a child?

see above answer :) Using age appropriate language can go a long way.........

How do you communicate with the patient's parents?

This may be the hardest part of peds. Alot of parents are frightened along with the children. Education is key with parents in the pediatric spectrum. Keep the confidence up and do the best you can to answer their questions. If you dont know the answer.............just ask :)

Alicia Smith, RN, BSN, OHIO :nurse: