Finished pediatrics and I finally have some down time to write about it. I began the rotation rather hesitantly—many of you know I was not looking forward to it. **GASP**...but why? To be honest, I’ve just never seen myself as a pediatrics provider. Prior to starting, I imagined encounters filled with screaming/crying children, tantrums, overbearing parents, snot filled kids, poop/vomit. And to a certain extent, this is all true…haha!
A lot of encounters will begin or end with children crying....kids will have a code brown or throw up while you’re getting a strep test…you will get sneezed or coughed on…some parents will be overbearing…others will ask a multitude of questions— some you won’t have answers to…”why does she swallow her food so loudly,”….but I soon realized that this was all superficial. As the weeks went by, I began to appreciate everything about pediatrics; the clinical skills required, the immense amount of patience & caring, and the confidence it entails to just give parents reassurance (sometimes this is the most difficult part!). Towards the end of the rotation, I became comfortable with well child checks, understood the importance of asking certain questions that would aid in the diagnosis, and most of all...enjoyed connecting with the children. My clinical skills also improved--diagnosing AOM in the twisty ear canals of squirming children became doable and I began having a better understanding on the difference between adult and pediatric presentations. I learned so much but also know that there is SO much more to pediatrics. While I still do not see myself strictly in peds, I learned some invaluable lessons/tips/pearls which I’m sure to use no matter where I end up. So… why are kids such a challenge?
Rock your pediatrics rotation: These tips are by no means the only material you should focus on but deserve a special mention for anyone about to go through their peds rotation. Hope it helps!
Ways to beat/prevent the dreaded pediatric rotation illness:
Websites: Reference books:
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