I was at NEMC in the Pediatric unit. What a very nice facility. My client was a delightful 13 year old little boy who was in for abdominal pain. Problem was a gallstone. Should have been easy enough but he also had Sickle Cell and has been in three times this year for SC Crisis. The Sickle cell could have been partly responsible for the gallbladder problems in the first place and then the surgery could have sent him into another SC crisis. Her received two units of blood the day before surgery and when I came in on Friday he was still pretty out and had a PCA to use for pain mgt. I went over coughing and deep breathing with him and his mother and he was extremely compliant as was his family. Before leaving I went over the importance of having him use the incentive spirometer with his mother and grandmother and he and I used the magic marker blowers before the end of my shift. Strict I & O, really strict and I was surprised how busy I stayed. Learned to document the PCA use, interesting machine. Good week, really enjoyed my time there, my staff nurse was great and how nice it was to be treated so respectfully.
I learned more than I really wanted to know about Sickle Cell and it hurts my heart for TJ and his family.

Teresa