an easy stick

I was once again working the holiday, Christmas Eve this time. As with any holiday we never had quite enough staff. I was the one and only pediatric nurse to be found. As I remember it I had 4 little kiddos that night.

I don't even remember 2 of them but the 2 brand new babies in neighboring rooms were quite sick. I write this about the little gal in room 227:

She had just been transfered to our hospital and her admission completed when I assumed her care. She was 3 months old but was born 3 months early...so she was virtually a new born. Her diagnosis was RSV, she was on oxygen and antibiotics. I took one look at her and knew that that treatment was not enough. She needed IV fluids, IV antibiotics. I called for the house pediatrician who agreed with my assessment (doesn't that make you feel good) and wrote the appropiate orders. I am personally very comfortable with sticking peds for IV's but in a perfect world I like to have a couple of other nurses either to assist or to back me up. Because of this little gals diagnosis I could not call on anyone from the nursery and ER was overflowing and it would be hours before one of their nurses had a chance to even get away. This little girl needed intervention right away, she was not eating, having difficulty breathing...she needed this IV.

My supervisor was scared to death to even be in the room so up close and personal with such a sick little girl. The parents were young, and a bit stand-offish...I'm assuming from having a premee and being hospitalized for so much of her young life. I began to prepare the needed supplies and pray for a first stick! Baby veins are tiny and when dehydrated they flatten out and it can be very difficult to achieve access. Then of course there's the misserable experience of holding a child down who doesn't understand what you are doing to them. But I knew this little girl needed it.

I insisted that my scared supervisor be on hand as my second set of hands and what should have been a difficult stick was one of the easiest I've ever had! Just getting the IV did nothing for this little girl. I needed to hook up the fluids, get the antibiotics and steroids... But that small victory made ME breathe easier. I was the one in those rubber gloves once again being used by the mighty God to begin this little girls journey to recovery.