I was having a conversation with the student nurse who was looking after Evan this afternoon. We were talking about her training and she said that she found her mental health placement very interesting but she didn’t think she could do it for a job because “You need to be a special person to be a psychiatric nurse, you have to be strong insideâ€.
She’s wrong. It’s the children’s nurses who have to be the strong ones.
Sure my job can be distressing. We cover the entire spectrum of mental illness from suicide attempts to the acutely psychotic. But I can’t even imagine how devastating it is to watch a child you have developed a strong relationship with slowly slip away, then come back into work the next day and do it all over again.
Before I had kids it used to really irritate me when people used to say “I couldn’t do your job, I care too much so it would really upset me†– Oh yes, does that mean I don’t care? I’m the one who’s out there trying to help people while you sit in your office caring too much you pompous pillock. But since Amy, and now Evan, was born I know that I couldn’t be a children’s nurse, or a child protection social worker, or even a midwife – I would just care too much, it would destroy me.
A couple of days ago Claire’s dad challenged me to promote a charity on my blog. Initially I was going to go with goodgifts.org, an excellent way of giving to charity and buying Christmas presents for those awkward relatives at the same time. However, given recent events I’m going to switch my allegiance to Great Ormond Street Hospital, the UK’s most prestigious children’s hospital. Interestingly enough Great Ormond Street hold the copyright to Peter Pan (J. M. Barrie left them the rights to it in his will). I just donated a tenner, why don’t you? And while you are at it, lets hear about your favourite charity on your blog
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My wife is a NICU nurse, which can be emotionally difficult at times. But she has said that she will never be a pediatric nurse just because of the reasons you list.
First, obviously we’re hoping Evan’ll get better soon and get home tomorrow? Obviously, keep us posted on what’s going on…
Secondly, that was almost ranty there Dan! You’ll be as bad as me soon. You’re right though, both with not being able to do that job and also with how irritating it is when people come out with there ill thought out comments. If I hear one more person tell me my job must be rewarding / difficult and they couldn’t do it (generally hairdressers) I’m going to have problems. maybe I should just tell them I do something else. International Super-spy or something like that…
Hang on…. I thought you were and international super-spy!? You mean you really are a teacher for kids with learning disabilities? Wow, that must a rewarding and difficult job, I certainly couldn’t do it.
[...] Recently Paul accused me of indulging in a bit of a rant on my last post. Just ask me about hospital car parking facilities or the horrendous imposition of capitalism over patient wellbeing that is Patientline (where people trying to phone sick relatives are charged up to 49p a minute) and you will learn the true meaning of the word rant. Or better yet, don’t. My blood pressure is probably too high already. Published by Dan December 6th, 2006 in General. [...]
You know, I have the complete opposite problem.
Everyone and their brother thinks they can do Human Resources.
I am a pediatric nurse. Some days it is heartbreaking and others it is uplifting, heartwarming, reaffirming, etc., etc., etc., as I am sure is yours. Thank you, though, for recognizing our merit. In my first life (the one that I had before I found out I was pregnant and without husband) I wanted to be a child psychologist. I don’t regret that I didn’t end up in that life, I realize that I was meant for this one.