Peds Place

Taking It All to Heart

Stephanie Scarbrough — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:03:00 GMT

We have a new girl who just finished orientation in the NICU. She's good, really good, and has the potential to be great. She's handled most situations so far with calm and grace, and no one has a doubt she will be a great therapist. Last night, we had...(read more)

Happy Respiratory Care Week!

Stephanie Scarbrough — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:53:00 GMT

Respiratory Care Week is the time of year when we get honored for all we contribute to the world of health care. In our pediatric hospital, we tend to have a fun week. From a brownie sundae night, to a smoothie pitch-in, and a Hawaiian themed luau, we...(read more)

Is a Flu Shot in Your Future?

Stephanie Scarbrough — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:54:00 GMT

As the leaves turn and the weather gets chilly, in Peds we're usually gearing up for RSV season. This year, RSV is sitting on the back burner as we instead gear up for flu season, which promises to be much worse than RSV. There's also a new threat, H1N1,...(read more)

Time to Confess My Bad Habit: Smoking

Stephanie Scarbrough — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:00:00 GMT

I have a confession to make. I know this will make some people label me as the lowest of the low, but I have to spill the beans. I was a smoker for 14 years. I started at 14, just one of those rebellious things. When some of my friends eventually gave...(read more)

Handling Coworkers' Bad Moods

Stephanie Scarbrough — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 13:42:00 GMT

Going to work, I notice a lot of people sharing. We share a laugh, share lunches, and share good news. These are wonderful ways of sharing. The downside of a share-friendly environment is the sharing of bad moods. I used to work with a girl that I'll...(read more)

Some Surprises with Cough Syrup

Stephanie Scarbrough — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 16:09:00 GMT

There's been a lot going on lately, not all of which applies to my job (as ironic as that is). Let me tell you about it. I had a random cough for two weeks after coming home from King's Island. I didn't feel sick or anything, just a wretched cough that...(read more)

Lasting Bonds

Stephanie Scarbrough — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 12:00:00 GMT

This Independence Day my husband and I decided to go and watch the fireworks downtown. They had been canceled on July 4 due to rain, but it worked out for me, as it was my holiday to work. On July 5, we set out for the parking garage at my work. It's...(read more)

July Is the Cruelest Month

Stephanie Scarbrough — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:13:00 GMT

July is legendary around here. That's when we get the new docs, the greenest of the green. July 1 is the subject of many moans and groans, and I swear that we all go on full alert. July puts us on our edgiest behavior, and makes us more likely to argue...(read more)

This Is a Drama-Free Zone

Stephanie Scarbrough — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:18:00 GMT

I remember hanging out with my mom when I was growing up as she watched her soaps. There was an endless amount of intrigue and drama as every character dated everyone else and got amnesia and then drove off a steep embankment only to be resurrected again...(read more)

When Is It Too Much?

Stephanie Scarbrough — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 21:29:00 GMT

Where I work, we have a standard of family-centered care. We allow parents to help as much as they would like to as we take care of the babies. The question is: When is it too much? Most of our families are good examples of what family-centered care should...(read more)

RTs vs. RNs: A True Story

Stephanie Scarbrough — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 16:16:00 GMT

So how do you handle it when there's that one nurse that takes the whole mile when you offer her an inch? We have one in particular that is the queen of taking more than you can give and then wanting more. We were having maybe the craziest night ever...(read more)

A Tale of Two Oscillators

Stephanie Scarbrough — Mon, 18 May 2009 19:16:00 GMT

Earlier this year, I had two very different oscillator experiences. The difference between PICU and NICU can be amazing. I work both but have a preference for (and more experience in) NICU. I worked New Year's in NICU and had two oscillators. Both were...(read more)

A Special Facebook Friend Request

Stephanie Scarbrough — Tue, 05 May 2009 18:25:00 GMT

The other day I received friend request on Facebook. I had no idea who he was, and I'm always wary of the random requests that pop up. I sent back a guarded but polite reply: ‘Hi, I was just wondering how I know you. Thanks!" The response sent my mind...(read more)

How Many RTs Does It Take?

Stephanie Scarbrough — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 12:51:00 GMT

I am happy to say that I have five days off. They are so earned after last night. I'm pretty sure that we may have had the craziest night I have ever seen. We had seven RTs in NICU, and we could tell at shift change that it wouldn't be enough. Now that's...(read more)

Knowing Too Much

Stephanie Scarbrough — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 17:44:00 GMT

A close friend of mine is expecting. She also works in neo/peds, so what should be a happy occasion, is a time of nerves. We know too much. Things like alveolar capillary dysplasia and Cornelia de Lange syndrome are floating through her head. I can't...(read more)