Mine.

work

Although I have wanted to write about work - or my internship, but I wasn't sure how to go about it. So here I go I guess.

As you may or may not know, I am currently completing my internship in a pediatric hospital setting. I float between the floor and the PICU, or Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. I much prefer pediatrics to adults. Although sick kids bother me, sick contracted drooling adults bother me much more. The one thing though, that can be expected from older adults is death. Although I find death of the older adult sad, death of the young child is much worse. It tears at you like nothing else could.

I had my first cardiac arrest a few days ago. The child came in through the ER after being out for approximatly 30 minutes. Even those who don't know medicine, know that isn't good. He came up to the PICU after his heart was restarted, and we began stabilization procedures. He is alive. By alive, I mean he has a heart rate, and is being oxygenated by a ventilator. He does not respond to pain, and I doubt he has much brain function.

This being my second close to death kid I've cared for, I found it a bit easier, but still very difficult. The parents were obviously beside themselves, as any parent would. I am sure, that as I write this, he is either close to death, or arrangements are being made to let him go. Although watching a child die is horrible, watching a child suffer is worse. Children are not meant to die, but they aren't meant to suffer either.

I don't ever think I would be one of those nurses who could be "sensitized" to things such as this. Each child is different, and the circumstances are different.

So I guess we will see what happens with this child. Whatever it is, I just hope he isn't suffering.

posted by siobhan @ 12:47 PM