Becoming a nurse

How to be a supermom or superdad

I'm so surprised, how many people are interested in my short stories! Thank you for supporting me. I'd be happy about some comments of you, just a little feedback how you think about the stories in general or specific on the questions.

By the way, the stories written so far are all based on experiences I made during my first practical training in a children's hospital.

How to be a supermom or superdad? Honestly, I don't know. I've just turned 22 this summer and my experiences with children and especially with babies are little. Respect for all the moms and dads out in the world. You're doing your job very well.

In the last two months, I had the opportunity to change this fact. Day by day I've been working together with children and their parents. I've worked with babies, toddlers, school children and teenagers. Just with all of them. Right now, my knowledge about working with children has been widening. But not only this. It gave me an insight in a foreign world. A world where's only one main goal. It isn't working as hard to earn an extra bonus of money, nor is it to end up in a high position in an enterprise. The only thing the children's parents really want, is to make their child happy. Even if it's only for a short moment. That seems to be quite simple.

The reality is, that supermoms and -dads are living in both worlds. The meaning of this is, that next to their daily business at work or at home they take all the time they have, to come to the hospital and care for their ill child.

Recently a patient's mother baked a cake for our whole team. We were very pleased about this gesture and enjoyed it of course, but at the same time we were all wondering where in God's sake she could take the time to bake something for us.

The situation was, that one of her twin sons had to stay quite a long time on our ward. But time never stops. It goes further. During having one of her children in hospital, life at home must go on as usual, what means caring for the twin brother and two older siblings. She's really doing a great job. Respect!

I want and really must underpin the fact, that parents like her, who are caring for their ill children, deserve a special honour. You are angels, not only for your children but for us nurses, too. What would we do without you? On the one hand, we must fulfil so many tasks at the same time and we are glad that you're here and relieve us. Don't understand me wrong. We love to care about your child, but there are many other children to care about and the time runs.

On the other hand, your inputs are so valuable and helpful for us to individually care for your child. I mean you know best, what is important to your child, what does it like, what detest etc.

Some days ago, I could benefit from the human knowledge of a mother. Her daughter couldn't verbally communicate, which made it almost impossible to guess if she has pain or if she needs something else. But the mother explained to me, that her daughter uses some gestures with a special meaning. This advice already helped me a lot and from then it seemed a bit easier to care for her.

I really wish that children, who must stay in hospital, not only have supermom's and -dad's, but supernurse's and -doctor's, too. I hope, that the fact about time and the shortage of nurses will change soon.

It would be nice to have all the time for my patients they need. Then my dear supermoms and -dads could you take a time out for once.