He had a little turban of gauze wrapped around his shaggy blonde head. Perfect rows of white teeth and blue eyes. I imagined that when Jack Johnson was 4 years old he probably looked like him; brightly colored board shorts, a mini ROXY hoodie, and lime green flip flops. Despite the bloody gash (thanks to a fall on his grandparents fireplace) he was chatty and informed me he loved visiting Canada because he could play in the snow, his middle name meant "wave" in Hawaiian, and that he'd rather have an apple juice than a spider man sticker thankyouverymuch.
After I unwound the gauze and inspected his scalp, I had to irrigate the wound with some saline to clean up the bloody tangle of hair before stapling it. He brought his hand up just above his head and hunched his shoulders down while I cleaned it, but didn't cry or pull away.
I was dropping the used bandages and gauze into the bin and untangling the situation when he cocked his head in my direction, studying my face while I scrubbed.
I really like your earrings.
Aw, that is so sweet of you, thank you!
You're welcome.
Can't think of the last time an adult complimented my jewelery while I was repairing their head wound. Mind you, adults in that situation are usually fallen down drunk and mildly abusive.
I almost feel like most of my patients in the ED have been part of an elaborate ruse to woo me into pediatrics. It's working people, it is working!!
After I unwound the gauze and inspected his scalp, I had to irrigate the wound with some saline to clean up the bloody tangle of hair before stapling it. He brought his hand up just above his head and hunched his shoulders down while I cleaned it, but didn't cry or pull away.
I was dropping the used bandages and gauze into the bin and untangling the situation when he cocked his head in my direction, studying my face while I scrubbed.
I really like your earrings.
Aw, that is so sweet of you, thank you!
You're welcome.
Can't think of the last time an adult complimented my jewelery while I was repairing their head wound. Mind you, adults in that situation are usually fallen down drunk and mildly abusive.
I almost feel like most of my patients in the ED have been part of an elaborate ruse to woo me into pediatrics. It's working people, it is working!!
14 comments:
How about Family Med?
Yay peds! Kids are the only patients worth having ;-) come to the pedi side, black bear!
One more year 'til PNP8...
It's a trap!
Pediatrics is awesome! It can be sad and parents can be crazy, but the kids are so worth it.
I could totally tell from your post that you are loving the peds! What about pediatric ER?
At the end of the day (or night), what do you find the most satisfying and that you most want to do for the next shift?
If you choose a specialty for other reasons, will you expect to be satisfied if the other reasons no longer apply?
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Dr. Blackbear! I saw this keychain on Zazzle and obviously I immediately thought of your blog!
http://www.zazzle.com/asystole_medical_humor_keychain-146097943441352292
For creatures that developmental experts say are supposed to be little balls of narcissism, kids sometimes seem to be the only ones who are able to see the world past their own nose for what it is. If you can tolerate the parents and occasional passive aggressive professional interactions, it sounds like peds could be a fit. However, from the standpoint of continuing to cultivate your international wanderlust, Pedi ED might be an even better fit...
the Daily Medical Examiner
@ All Above: YES! Peds is awesome. And Peds ER seems to be a pretty nice change to adult ER. I think I'd like to do a bit of both...
I thought the parent thing would make Peds intolerable but...really most of the parents were normal, concerned people. Same ratio of nut bars, anti-immunizing, hyper-concerned passive aggressive (or just plain aggressive) people as what you see in any area of medicine. :)
Oh and...YES I want that key chain!!! :D thanks for that
I agree 100% - it's part of the reason I love Paeds. My winter recess ends on Sunday, but the silver lining is that I ten start paediatrics.
Although I must say, I have dealt with some super rude children!
Playing devil's advocate...what about pediatric surgery??
MDinKy--ARRGHHH!! I *know*!! Would be awesome but I'd probably need a hip replacement before finishing residency if I did that. :)
I am so (unapologetically) biased, but don't rule out OB/GYN yet ABB!!!
One (of many, many, many....) attractions for me was the OB/GYN version of Peds. Where you get to Ohhh and Ahhhh over, and occasionally cuddle, the wee ones when they accompany mom (which is really pretty often), but you don't have to do any of the invasive evaluation/treatment (Bad Guy, I swear I was holding my breath for at least 75% of my Peds rotations, love kiddies, *hate* being the Bad Guy) stuff!!
(Plus, surgery in a time frame that precludes arthroplasty! Did I mention that Maternal-Child health is one of the biggest issues at the forefront of Global Health?? I could keep going on and on....)
I'm just sayin.....:)
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