The Medical Apprentice

The phlebotomists did not know what they had coming.  He was small but feisty.  My little brother Mike and I (5 and 7 years old at the time) had just visited our pediatrician for a check-up.  My brother unfortunately had to get a blood test.  Since needles and five-year-olds don’t generally mix well, there wasn’t anything quick or easy about it.

We walked over to the lab. My mom led my anxious brother back to the room, leaving me in the lobby to catch up on the latest edition of Ranger Rick.  I barely made it through the first pages when I heard my little brother’s disapproval.  There was loud screaming and crying followed by a burst of commotion.  My determined little bro had somehow evaded the needle’s poke and made a break for it!  His escape took him as far as the front desk before he was scooped up and carried back into the room.  The cavalry was called, and it took three nurses to hold him steady.  The screams echoed through the lobby.  The waiting patients had wide eyes and nervous smiles as they undoubtedly wondered what torture was taking place down the hall.  Finally they were able to successfully draw the blood they needed.  My brother emerged with a taped piece of gauze as the only evidence of the struggle.  His face was bright pink and puffy from all the crying.  Going to the doctor traditionally earned you a sucker, and that day my little bro came out clutching the entire bag!

When caring for adults on the hospital wards, daily labs are quite common.  They can be useful in tracking a patient’s anemia, electrolyte balance, or kidney function.  It seems a bit easier to convince adults of the importance of the occasional unpleasant hospital experiences, like blood draws or diagnostic scans.  The hospital experience for a child can be incredibly scary.   There are beeping machines, medical instruments, and strangers wearing gloves and masks.  For little ones this can be a living nightmare, so it’s no wonder why kids get frightened (and occasionally run away from phlebotomists!)

What strikes me most about the pediatric hospital experience is the commitment to keeping kids safe, relaxed, and entertained.  From doctors and nurses to social workers and therapists, it seems that everyone is focused on ensuring children and their families are comfortable.  In the Pediatric ICU all the scary medical equipment is still there.  But you’ll also find plenty of toys, movies, and videogames.  This commitment to comfort also means diligent efforts to minimize needle sticks and other scary moments.  Obviously some of these are necessarily evils (like lumbar punctures to evaluate for meningitis).  However, it has been refreshing during rounds to think about exactly which tests are necessary for determining the plan of care, helping to minimize discomfort.  From Sponge Bob to chocolate ice cream, little things can go a long way in making the hospital less frightening for little guys. 

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Speaking of needle pokes, I got my flu shot this past week.  Remember that this year there are two shots, the seasonal flu and upcoming H1N1 vaccinations.  Flu shots are important, especially for healthcare workers.  An infection that might give me relatively mild symptoms could cause a potentially devastating illness for others I come in contact with.  If you haven’t had the chance, be sure to check out the university’s H1N1 influenza website.  It has a great deal of information on what you can do to stay healthy this flu season.