By Andrea Flinn, registered nurse, medical/surgical unit, and graduate of the CHOC RN Residency in Pediatrics program
The RN Residency Program at CHOC taught me more than I had ever imagined. The magnitude of my learning experience has made it nearly impossible to pinpoint one standout or breakthrough moment. However, reflecting upon my journey, one of my greatest takeaways is the fact that the smallest moments create the greatest impact. Here are a few of my favorites.
- I have learned to really focus when playing your patient in Connect Four so they do not beat you in less than five moves.
- I have learned that letting a parent help take their three-year-old’s temperature often times goes much smoother than when you try to do it yourself.
- I have learned that the playroom and its volunteers are some of my greatest resources.
- I have learned that bedazzling your five-year-old patient’s oxygen mask is not only awesome but will lead to them wanting to take it home.
- I have learned to love education printouts for our patients and their families.
- I have learned that taking the time to explain as much as you can to patients and parents goes a long way.
- I have learned that receiving a drawing from a patient can turn your whole day around.
- I have learned that crying is okay because sometimes your patient’s family just needs someone to cry with them.
- I have learned to treasure each smile shared.
- I have learned that fellow nurses are truly the best support system.
- I have learned how the value of family greatly impacts our patient care experiences.
- Most importantly, I have learned that each child is special and what we do here as pediatric nurses is much more than a job; it’s a blessing.
Related posts:
How being an athlete prepared me to be a nurse
By Elyse Shelger, registered nurse at CHOC In my life before nursing, I was a soccer player. I started playing the game when I was 4 years old. It shaped my ...One nurse’s thank you letter to a former patient
By Amanda Paragas, registered nurse, CHOC cardiovascular intensive care unit The CHOC RN Residency Program is a 17-week program that is specifically customized to meet the requirements of the new nursing ...How one surgery inspired a career in nursing
By Lisa Turni, surgical unit nurse manager, CHOC I’ve been a nurse for 18 years, but the seeds of my career were planted long before I put on my first pair ...