Your earliest memories...

[nyapa, RN]

Having to do certain procedures on children in my 2nd rotation of my grad year has brought up some memories of my own experiences, and it has made me aware of my own practice (and upsets me when I have to do 'nasty but necessary' procedures)

My earliest memory was photographic. I can tell you the colour of the room, the location of the door and the window, that I was strapped by brown belts x 2 (yeah ok this was the late 60s - now I feel old!) and that they wouldn't let my mother in the room.

I figured I was five or six when this happened but when I mentioned it to my mother on the phone 4 nights ago, she was shocked and told me I was only 2 - 3 yrs old and how could I remember it?

My point? If I can remember this, what do our kiddies remember? Do they really forget?

What are your earliest memories and how old were you?

[BBFRN, BSN, PhD]

I remember getting an ABT shot when I was 5. They had to chase me around the exam room, and my Mom had to hold me down. I think I was mad at her for a while after that. :)

[tatgirl]

I had to go through a few hip surgies as a kid. Since we were military they were done at Portsmouth Naval Hospital. I stayed on the pediatric ward and there was a nurse there whose name was Bonnie. I was scared of her.She was mean to me, and gave me shots with a HUGE needle. I guess I was around 4 then.

Wendy

LPN

[jlouden_rn]

I have a "snapshot image" in my head of my grandfather's funeral - a few weeks after my 2nd birthday. I have a few things I can remember from when I was 3 and 4 years old. Otherwise, most of my memories that I can still recall pretty well are from when I was at least 5 years old.

[Kidrn911]

I remember I learned to tie my shoes in the bathroom of a bar at age 4.

[sticknurse]

I was hospitalized in 1971 with Reyes syndrome. My mother tells me I had been impossible to arouse for a day or so before I was taken to the hospital. The interesting part is, I still remember a nurse coming in to check my temp. (rectally which I DID NOT APPRECIATE) and I remember my grandpa coming in with a mask and gown. I would hide under is gown to stay away from the nurses. Mom also told me after the situation was under control and I was recovering, I described my ambulance ride to the hospital (I'd been in a coma for at least a day by that time). I was 2 years old. Here's to all of you, for taking care of the little ones. God bless you.

[ICRN2008, BSN, RN]

I remember getting lab draws for theophyline levels at age 4 and 5. (I had asthma as a child). It used to take 3 "nurses" (probably lab techs) to hold me down while I screamed and fought. Nobody ever bothered to talk to me as a means to get me to cooperate- they just overpowered me and scared me half to death. I used to have nightmares almost nightly of a witch chasing me around my house trying to stick me with needles and get my blood.

Four and five year olds are smarter than you think If you use EMLA or LMX, explain to them why you need to do a procedure, give them permission to scream and cry as long as they hold still, and offer them a reward for cooperating you tend to get better results. I would like to think that I do not traumatize my kiddos in the way that I was traumatized as a child.