What is a challenge you face being a pediatric nurse?
"One challenge I face is not getting too attached. Nursing requires a great deal of compassion and caring for children certainly demands it. Sometimes it's hard to leave work at work, especially when I have a patient that I know may not be there when I return the next day."
"I think all nursing specialties have their own challenges. As a pediatric nurse challenges vary from day to day and from patient to patient. It's hard to not get too attached. We are expected to be compassionate and caring, but to also know when to draw a line and not make things personal. It's not always easy, especially with children."
Every job has challenges. When answering this question, share something that feels like a challenge to you, but remember to end your answer on a positive note. Your perception of a challenge is often the biggest obstacle to overcoming it.
"It's difficult to just be a nurse and not get attached and take things to heart because I'm still human. Sometimes I have to take a breather, step aside and get my feelings together because we see things that are hard to witness. I just try to remind myself that no matter what happens in a day, I am blessed to be able to be with people during some of the toughest times of their lives and I can make a difference, one child at a time."
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
I think one of the biggest challenges for me would be not getting too attached. I have a really big heart and can get too involved sometimes. I just have to realize that some things are not in my control and that I need to be the light when times get tough.
Rachelle's Feedback
Good response, showing that you have challenges but that are also able to remain professional during those challenging times.
Anonymous Answer
Getting too attached to the patients. Especially in a clinic you see these patients grow up. Its important to keep things professional and never get too personal.
Lauren's Feedback
You provided an honest response. I made minor edits.
One of the biggest challenges being a pediatric nurse is getting too attached to the patients. It is especially difficult when working in a clinic where you see patients grow up. I know the importance of keeping things professional and never getting too personal, but it can be challenging at times.
Anonymous Answer
Throughout my time precepting I have learned that it is challenging not to get too attached. Caring for children requires a lot of compassion and it also requires you to get the child to trust you so they will allow an unfamiliar face to care for them. It is difficult leaving and not knowing what may happen to a child after you leave them. I also find it hard caring for children that may have experienced a lot of trauma in their childhood as you may not know what will happen to them after they leave. One way I avoid getting attached is at the end of my shift I leave my work at work so I can maintain a balance between my work and personal life. I did my capstone project on compassion fatigue and I learned a lot from current pediatric nurses on how they prevent it from happening. Another thing I have learned to do is if it is a traumatic experience such as a patient code or needs life-flighted or something serious it is okay to debrief with staff members or the hospital chaplain so you don't bring all those feeling home from work with you.
Cindy's Feedback
Ok, good start. You may want to add detail about how you avoid getting attached. Perhaps an example would help demonstrate that you've mastered this situation.
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