Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplants!

So, my last "formal" clinical rotation (this week - yikes!), I'll be working with kids who've had bone marrow transplants. These kids have all sorts of cancer, and I'll even be seeing adults up to 35 years old. This is because there is an overflow from the main hospital.

Many of the patients I'll be seeing will be on TPN, so I'll get a lot of practice again this week. It will still be a challenge, especially since these kids weigh a lot more than the little preemie babies I was with for the past two weeks. So far I've worked with little preemie babies who are as small as 400g to elderly adults, and now it's going to be time to work with those inbetween. I feel like I'm really going to like it. 

One thing that I know I'm going to love about this patient population is the ability to interact with the kids. Now that I got some of that again today, I realize how much I've missed it over the past week. As "depressing" as it may seem to work with children who have cancer, it never seems that way. These kids have such high spirits and amazing attitudes! So I'll get patient interaction, more practice with TPN, formula feedings, diet education, and also, this rotation is only a week long...

But, I'm still restless. While I do love being in an internship and doing what I love, it's somewhat draining to be doing everything for free and having the stress of working 60+ hours a week at the hospital and endless homework, with no pay - and no ability to hold a side job. BUT like I've said many times, I'm forever grateful for the opportunity to even be in an internship...and even better...only have 3 more months to go!!

Which reminds me - congratulations to everyone who got placed yesterday! 

88 days!!