As promised, my friend Jordyn Redwood, ER nurse and writer extraordinaire is going to be posting common medical Q & A’s on my blog twice every month. I’m superexcited about this and think it will not only be a ton of fun but it will also be really informative. So, a huge thank you to Jordyn! And, if you want to know more about her, Jordyn is not only a novelist with a book coming out from Kregel in a few months, but she’s also a blogger who writes a superfun blog called “Redwood’s Medical Edge” where she discusses now novelists approach medical issues in their books. Check it out here.

Three Phrases Not To Say To Your Child

…while in the ER. That was supposed to be the whole title but I thought I’d run out of room. Dealing with children in the ER can be challenging. Unfortunately, parents can make it more challenging by some of the things they say.

Truth comes first. Even in pediatrics, we do not lie to children. If we don’t have the child’s trust, we’re not going to get very far. Parents can actually breech the trust we are trying to build with our patients by saying the following things.

You’re not going to get a shot. This is making a promise you may not be able to keep. Unless you know specifically what the proposed treatment plan is, I wouldn’t say anything about whether or not the child may get a stick. We may want to check a blood sugar, or some lab work for the presenting complaint. If you’ve told your child they aren’t getting a shot, and here we come with the needle, the person they’re likely going to mistrust first is me. It’s better to say, “I’m not sure, let’s talk to the doctor/nurse about it.”

This isn’t going to hurt. Unless you know for sure it’s not painful, don’t say it.

We’re very open with kids about what kind of pain they are going to experience                  and how long it should last for. Better to let the nurse describe to the child what the procedure is going to feel like. Experienced pediatric nurses are very good at this for every age group of children we deal with. Parents can be helpful by letting us in on terms you use at home or telling us ways you’ve used to aid your child in getting through something painful.

Oh, he’s not going to take that. This generally happens when we come into the room with an oral medication. First problem, you’ve set us up for failure. You’ve verbally given your child permission not to take it. Now, it’s probably going to definitely be a struggle. If you’re trying to let the nurse know that your child has difficulty taking oral meds—say, “We struggle with this at home.” The nurse can likely give you some pointers on getting the task done.

One tip always is to set the expectation of what you want your child to do. “Honey, will you take this for mommy?” Better is… “It’s time to take your medicine. Open your mouth for me.” See the difference?

What are your thoughts? Have you thought about the things you say to your child and how it can change the experience they have with their medical provider?

Jordyn Redwood has served the pediatric population and their families for many years. She has five years of experience in the pediatric ICU and ten years of pediatric ER nursing which is the area she currently works. Jordyn also teaches CPR and advanced resuscitation courses.

Jordyn is also a suspense author. Her novel, Proof, will be published by Kregel June 1, 2012. She also hosts a medical blog for authors which you can find at www.jordynredwood.com.

 

Disclaimer: Remember, these posts are for education and discussion. If your child is sick and you think they require medical attention, take them to their pediatrician or local emergency department.

Thanks so much for leaving a question!

The only way to really determine if it is an ear infection is to look at the ear drum. This requires direct visualization by a medical provider.

The second part of your question is interesting. Ear infections can be caused either by a virus or a bacteria. The concern is treating a viral ear infection with antibiotics and this contributing to strains of bacteria that become resistant—which we don’t want to do.

Some doctors are taking the watch and wait approach and prescribing an ear analgesic (Auralgan) and ibuprofen for pain control but seeing if the infection will clear without antibiotics.

I do think it’s worth having that type of conversation with your pediatrician.

You might find this article on waiting vs. treating link helpful.

Jordyn Redwood has served the pediatric population and their families for many years. She has five years of experience in the pediatric ICU and ten years of pediatric ER nursing which is the area she currently works. Jordyn also teaches CPR and advanced resuscitation courses.

Jordyn is also a suspense author. Her novel, Proof, will be published by Kregel June 1, 2012. She also hosts a medical blog for authors which you can find at www.jordynredwood.com.

 

Disclaimer: Remember, these posts are for education and discussion. If your child is sick and you think they require medical attention, take them to their pediatrician or local emergency department.

As you guys know, my friend and ER Nurse Jordyn Redwood has been guest posting on my blog about common medical questions that young parents have.  I’m so grateful that she has volunteered to continue posting– I’ve learned so much from her posts!  Even better, Jordyn has asked me if any of my readers have specific questions for her to answer… so, if you have a pressing (or not-so-pressing) question about pediatric medicine, leave it in the comments and I’ll make sure Jordyn gets it.

As promised, my friend Jordyn Redwood, ER nurse and writer extraordinaire is going to be posting common medical Q & A’s on my blog twice every month. I’m superexcited about this and think it will not only be a ton of fun but it will also be really informative. So, a huge thank you to Jordyn! And, if you want to know more about her, Jordyn is not only a novelist with a book coming out from Kregel in a few months, but she’s also a blogger who writes a superfun blog called “Redwood’s Medical Edge” where she discusses now novelists approach medical issues in their books. Check it out here.

Proper use of a Bulb Syringe

After your baby is delivered, most people look at this item and think it’s not useful anymore. I’m here to tell you that it may be one of the most useful items you have on hand—especially during respiratory season.

 

The size you go home with will work well for the first few months of life. However, if your child is older than 3-4 months, you’ll need to purchase a larger size or obtain one from your pediatrician.

Bulb syringes are designed to clear secretions from the nose and mouth. During RSV season, one of the most problematic symptoms for infants is the increase in thick, tenacious secretions. An infant with a clogged nose won’t nurse or take the bottle well. If they aren’t feeding well, this can lead to a concern for dehydration. Also, a stuffy nose makes for more difficult sleep and a non-sleeping baby leads to a cranky household.

It’s best to use the bulb syringe to:
1. Clear an obvious clogged nose.
2. Clear the nose before feeding.
3. Clear the nose before sleep.

Here’s the procedure:
1. Instill a few saline drops into the nose and let the infant breathe in and out for a few breaths.
2. Depress the bulb and insert the tip a few millimeters into one nare.
3. Let the bulb inflate back up while keeping the end in the nose. This will pull out the secretions. If the bulb stays depressed, it’s likely that the nare is pretty clogged and you’ll need to repeat these steps until it inflates back up easily.
4. Once the inflated bulb is out of the nose, depress it again into a tissue to remove the secretions you collected.

This You-tube video gives a pretty good overview: http://youtu.be/uNl31A_b_bs. I would just add using the saline drops as this will help loosen and thin the secretions.

Are you comfortable using a bulb syringe?

Jordyn Redwood has served the pediatric population and their families for many years. She has five years of experience in the pediatric ICU and ten years of pediatric ER nursing which is the area she currently works. Jordyn also teaches CPR and advanced resuscitation courses.

Jordyn is also a suspense author. Her novel, Lilly’s Ashes, will be published by Kregel in the Spring of 2012. She also hosts a medical blog for authors which you can find at www.jordynredwood.com.

Disclaimer: Remember, these posts are for education and discussion. If your child is sick and you think they require medical attention, take them to their pediatrician or local emergency department.

As promised, my friend Jordyn Redwood, ER nurse and writer extraordinaire is going to be posting common medical Q & A’s on my blog twice every month. I’m superexcited about this and think it will not only be a ton of fun but it will also be really informative. So, a huge thank you to Jordyn! And, if you want to know more about her, Jordyn is not only a novelist with a book coming out from Kregel in a few months, but she’s also a blogger who writes a superfun blog called “Redwood’s Medical Edge” where she discusses now novelists approach medical issues in their books. Check it out here.

What is Influenza?

Most often when patient’s sign in with a complaint of “flu” they are really having vomiting and/or diarrhea. Flu has become a commonplace term for just not feeling well.

If this is the concern you have in bringing your child to the ER they likely have gastroenteritis which is generally caused by a viral infection of the intestinal tract. Your child should be seen in the emergency department for concern for dehydration, if any blood is noted, or if they are vomiting bright yellow or green– and this was not caused from them eating a pile of yellow or green crayons.

How do we know you don’t have the flu? Like RSV, flu is a seasonal illness. It comes out to play in late fall and early winter. This is why flu shots are given around September, October and November.

Fine. But it is that time of year. The second reason we know it’s likely gastroenteritis is that flu is a respiratory illness… not an intestinal one.

Influenza is transmitted through droplets by coughing and sneezing. Typical associated symptoms are high fever (generally 102 and up), generalized muscle aches, fatigue and cough. You just don’t feel good at all.

In children, what can happen is what we term post- tussive emesis. This is when the child coughs so hard that they trigger their gag reflex and vomit. It’s more a mechanical issue than a viral one.

Do I need to go to the ER?

Not necessarily.

Fever can be managed with appropriate dosing of acetaminophen and ibuprofen. Remember that ibuprofen should not be given to children less than six months and no aspirin for children under 21 unless specifically prescribed by your doctor.
Lots of fluids. Don’t worry too much if they’re not eating but they must drink. Don’t just give water—particularly to infants. If you have an H2O lover at home at least alternate water with something that has sugar and electrolytes. This can be Pedialyte or equivalent for children under 2 years and sports drinks for kids over 2. Juices are good but if you are concerned about the sugar content you can cut it in half with an unflavored Pedialyte.

Indications for the emergency department would be signs of respiratory distress or dehydration.

For more information about influenza, check out these resources:
1. http://www.facesofinfluenza.com/en/influenza-symptoms/
2. http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/disease/spread.htm
3. http://www.cdc.gov/flu/

Are you getting your flu shot this year?

Jordyn Redwood has served the pediatric population and their families for many years. She has five years of experience in the pediatric ICU and ten years of pediatric ER nursing which is the area she currently works. Jordyn also teaches CPR and advanced resuscitation courses.

Jordyn is also a suspense author. Her novel, Lilly’s Ashes, will be published by Kregel in the Spring of 2012. She also hosts a medical blog for authors which you can find at www.jordynredwood.com.

Disclaimer: Remember, these posts are for education and discussion. If your child is sick and you think they require medical attention, take them to their pediatrician or local emergency department.