If you are working as a travel nurse at a children's hospital for the first time this holiday season, even as a tenured nurse, you may have some questions about the experience. We recently spoke with Desma Warren, a registered nurse who has worked in the industry for 14 years. She detailed the joys, challenges and overall adventure of spending time helping children and their families over the holidays.
The difference between pediatric nursing and other healthcare specialties
Working in pediatrics is unique from other nursing specialties, according to Warren.
"Children are not just small adults," she said. "Their body systems truly do function differently than an adult, so you have to have an understanding of how their bodies work. Children's bodies shut down drastically faster than adults' if something is wrong, so a pediatric nurse needs to pay attention to all cues and know the things to be mindful of in their patients."
Medication management is another challenging aspect of treating children. Warren explained there are no standard medicine dosages for children. Rather, medications in pediatrics are based on the body weight of the child. As a result, medications have to be calculated on a case-by-case basis, and RNs are the final safeguard before the medicine is given to the child. Therefore, Warren said that pediatric nurses must be diligent and always double-check dosages to make sure they are safe and effective. Using math skills is a staple of the daily duties of a pediatric RN.
Keys for success
While there are many traits that make an effective pediatric nurse, Warren highlighted flexibility and strong interpersonal skills.
"On a personal level/skill set for pediatrics, a good pediatric nurse needs to be able to balance intellectual thinking with playfulness and gentleness," she said. "You have to be able to communicate effectively with a patient who is anywhere from a few days old to 18 or 19 years old."
"You have to be able to communicate effectively with a pediatric patient."
Developing confidence and credibility while communicating with younger patients is key, according to Warren.
"You need to be able to talk to all those different ages and establish trust with them, provide compassion and care and also deliver your nursing expertise and task," Warren explained.
Pediatric nurses must also consider another component: parents.
"In addition to dealing with the variety of patients, you deal with a variety of parents, and with them you must also establish trust if you expect them to allow you to continue caring for their child," she explained. "With each room you have the parents and the patient to have rapport with in order to carry out your duties."
This brings about an additional dynamic and requires a further set of skills. Warren said some of the best ways to establish relationships with parents include "being kind, listening to them and their concerns or stresses and do what you can to help them be comfortable and taken care of too."
Challenges of holiday nursing assignments
A great difficulty of working a pediatric shift during the holidays is that children have to spend their special occasions at the hospital.
"It is unfortunate that kids still get sick on Christmas, but it is a reality," Warren said.
However, these very situations allow nurses to make a huge difference in the lives of the patients and their parents and guardians.
"While every nurse would enjoy being with their own family on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning, it is part of our job to leave our family to go help take care of others," Warren said. "So in coming to work, we do our best to be present in helping our patients and their families have some joy in their day, despite the unfortunate timing of them having to be in the hospital instead of their own home."
Benefits of holiday nursing coverage
There are many merry advantages to working as a pediatric nurse during the holidays.
"If you are going to have to be in the hospital over Christmas, you want to be in a children's hospital," she said. "The team of people in pediatrics work very hard to make the holidays as festive as possible."
Warren shared that throughout her time working holiday shifts as an RN and at her travel nursing job, hospitals have always gone above and beyond for the patients, which has left her with many warm and touching memories. In fact, the units are usually decked with Christmas trees and the staff is dressed up in festive outfits and Santa hats. They even surprise children with toys and gifts at some hospitals. Warren said that this makes the holiday special and fun for everyone: patients, families and healthcare staff.
"It brought me, as the nurse, great joy, and that made working Christmas Eve night worth it," Warren said.
Working as a pediatric nurse over the holidays is also a time for bonding between hospital staff. Warren explained that nurses and staff will often organize a potluck so that they have a special, home-cooked meal at work.
Celebrating the season
One of the perks of travel nursing, particularly with Aureus Medical Group, is the opportunity to have a say in your travel nursing job destination. Around the holidays, travel nurses can choose a nursing assignment near family and friends. This is especially beneficial for travel nurses whose hometown is not near loved ones.
"Every travel nurse celebrates the holidays in their own unique way."
Every travel nurse celebrates the holidays in his or her own unique way, according to Warren. For travelers who are not near family or old friends around the holidays, the season is still filled with festivities. Warren shared that new acquaintances and co-workers have generous hearts during the holidays. In fact, last year Warren was away from family for Thanksgiving and had four individual offers to join her colleagues' feasts.
"People's goodness and generous spirit helped me feel so welcome and thankful to not be alone on that day," she said.
There are myriad benefits of working as a travel healthcare professional throughout the year and over the holidays. For more information on working as a travel nurse or travel therapist, be sure to contact Aureus Medical Group. From California to Maine, and anywhere in between, our experts can help you find the right travel job and location for you!