1. Describe your ordeal. Why were you there?

My son, Matthew, had been inpatient at Morristown Memorial on and off from January 2013 after being diagnosed with cancer. Matthew had been through surgery, 6 rounds of chemo, one stem cell transplant (at Hackensack) followed by 5 rounds of Immunotherapy at Morristown.  The Immunotherapy was in the Pediatric ICU which is where we encountered Kim. 

 

2. What did you expect going in?

We had 14 months of previous experience in the regular inpatient unit at Morristown, however, having to be housed in the PICU for Immunotherapy was a whole new experience. 

"I really did not know what to expect in the PICU." 

I knew it would be like inpatient but I assumed it would be more intense with one on one nurse and less "comfortable" that a regular inpatient pediatric room (which was obvious because we would be in the PICU with very sick children.

"For Matthew, being in PICU was for precaution in the event side effects of Immunotherapy occurred."

 

3. Describe a day.

Depending upon which Immunotherapy session we were referencing, in general: A day in the life of Matthew was waking up, getting immunotherapy medicine as scheduled throughout the day, playing video games and occasionally feeling sick.  Matthew would stay up until 2-3am when in the PICU and when he did not feel well, he REALLY did not feel well.   

 

4. Your experience?

 

5. Relationship component, how did the nurses make you feel?

"In the PICU, the nurses made you feel as if your child was top priority."

In addition, as a parent of a child in the PICU, they also make you feel part of the plan of care for your child - if you chose, they will include you in the PICU rounds, they answer your questions, they attend to you and your child's needs throughout the day and night, given the 24x7 nature of the PICU. 

 

6. Looking back, what do you take from the experience?

I've learned that before I had to step foot in a hospital with my son, I did not really understand or fully appreciate the job of a nurse.  Being that I had spent over 130 days inpatient, with these nurses, I now have witnessed their expertise first hand day and night.  

"Nurses, especially pediatric nurses dealing with children who have cancer are selfless, caring, intelligent people who are super concerned about the well being of each and every child they are caring for."  

"They will go the distance and then some to assure their patient (and the parent) has everything needed to make a comfortable recovery."

 

EQ: How does a persons relationship and actions reflect the importance of an individuals needS? And how does that translate into guiding a nurses approach to a patient?

Every action, every gesture affects other individuals and especially in the patient/nurse relationship.

"The patient's well being both physical and mental is directly affected by their nurse."

How they treat the patient and the parent can impact the outcome of treatment positively or negatively.  

"Positive thinking and acting helps healing!" 

 

 

A nurse should, at all times, be aware that every action they display to the pediatric patient is also reflected upon the parent of the patient.  

"If a nurse thinks and acts in a positive, uplifting manner it will allow for the patient AND the parent to have a positive inpatient experience despite why they are there."  

Comfort to patient and families starts with the nurse.    

"Nurses CAN make a difference in the outcome of care when they treat their patient/parent with a positive attitude."