Tips for working in Pedi Office, please

Hmm...Well I didn't work in an office but did work with peds of all ages and the families.

So what tricks have helped me?..

Lesson 1: Parents are the Boss here..not us At All. lol.

Well first off, you save yourself ALOT of grief if you show the parents some respect...They tend to be VERY protective of their little one, and they do, afterall, have the final say in anything you do with their child....So I tend to lean more towards..."Hey Mom, we need to do 'x' with little Timmy because of Y and Z. Ok?"...versus just going in and doing it. Now its different when I have their trust.

I also find myself asking mom for tips about the childs likes and dislikes...aka..We are going to give him his shots now..how does he normally deal? Do you have any tricks for him that we should try..or flat out "Ok Mom, how do you want to go about this". Lol....

Yeah, I kiss A@# more then I ever would in other settings, but I think it really makes many of them feel good that you consider their wishes for their child..and include them. And then guess what...once you show a little respect they cooperate more...(foster a sense of teamwork versus an adversarial relationship) and alot of time Mom (or Dad) really do know their child super well...all kids are soo different from one another..what works for one doesnt work for another ect. I think it saves time just to ask..rather then trying trial and error and have a kid on your hands screaming like you are torturing them heh. Dont worry if that happens...most parents laugh that off because it is just the kid having a little fit, and then in a minute or two he will be totally fine.

And some kids are soooo tolerant of most anything you have to do to them...comfortable around people.....others will FREAK out over the littlest thing.

Cant lose your cool in Peds either, lol. no matter what irate people are screaming at you. Mom/Dad are always right >.>

I love it. Its very different then other kinds of nursing...and I definitely feel that dealing with kids is a 'skill set' that you develop with practice. (Esp. for me as I am single, raised by my Dad with no kids yet)...LOL. Don't know *** I am doing in this setting..but I am here now.

On the bright side...MOST parents tend to be able to give you the BEST H&P's of any group I have worked with.

Learn all the vaccines & what they are used to protect against, as well as, combo vaccines. Take time drawing them up until you have it down, this may take months. Don't worry, better safe than sorry! You no longer have to aspirate with vaccines. This is a newer guidline yet nurses who have been around for years still do. Some parents will talk your ear off so learning to get out of the room respectfully is key to keeping the flow going. When peoples kids get sick all common sense goes out the window so explain things very friendly and in terms they can understand. Multi-tasking is key! Keep your rooms full at all times so the doctor always has someone to see, don't make them wait on you. You'll be fine, the vaccines are the hardest part to learn. The schedule, combos, different vials to choose amongst so many in the fridge etc.

Hi and thanks so much for your comment PediMommy! You are right, learning the numerous immunizations and recommendations has been my biggest challenge. Also documenting them in our system, especially the injections with multiple immunizations in them has been tough too. Keeping the rooms full for the physicians can also be problematic if there are many physicals scheduled close together, as some require urines, hgb, etc..... I do love the job and although they could only give me one day a week for now I hope to pick up more days soon :)

I am in the same boat - just starting out in a large Peds clinic with 5+ Doctors. Our clients are the wealthier demographic & I've found it a bit intimidating so far - mainly in learning the vaccination schedule & how to document it all on the fly. I definitely agree with the comments made - keeping the rooms full & in order keeps the Doctors happy, & courtesy & respect with the parents keeps them happy. Those two things have been the key to my sanity thus far.

I've worked in a peds clinic for more than 10 years and for the last 11 months do phone advice/triage full-time. My mission from the beginning (in a Peds ICU) has been and is educating families. I not only care for the patient but the family as a whole. It is my responsibility to adapt to their style of communication, not the other way around, without compromising quality of care, compassion and level of respect. Oh and when giving shots, try not to use the "dart" technique...moms are not keen on it. Firm pressure with rapid injection. In-out-done!