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WHY ARE YOU DRIVEN TO YOUR WORK? I want to help kids in any way that I can. Being able to change a child's life is priceless. Every day is a challenge in the Pediatric ICU because every child is different. They respond to treatment differently and they have different family dynamics. WHAT COULD PEOPLE DO TO MAKE YOUR JOB EASIER? Children can't tell you exactly what is wrong. A toddler can't speak like a teenager, and a teenager may not be completely honest with you. It is my job as a nurse to figure out what is wrong with that toddler or to establish a rapport with that teenager to figure out exactly what is going on. WHAT DO YOU WANT MORE PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR WORK? We are here to help you and your family through the good and the bad. We are human, though. We hurt with you on the inside even if we cannot show it on the outside. We have to be strong for the patient and the family. WHEN YOU WAKE UP IN THE NIGHT, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT? I will wake up from a dead sleep questioning if I finished giving a patient their medication or told the next nurse about a patient's rash. IF I HAD MORE TIME, I WOULD: Learn more about the illnesses and injuries we do not commonly see in the Pediatric ICU. WHY ARE YOU DRIVEN TO YOUR WORK? My work as a pediatric ER nurse is very challenging, but taking care of children is very rewarding. I'm glad I get to help people during some of their worst moments. WHAT COULD PEOPLE DO TO MAKE YOUR JOB EASIER? I've never expected my job to be easy. I signed up to do the hard stuff. However, having a little patience and gratitude goes a long way. WHAT MAKES YOU FEEL APPRECIATED? A simple "thank you" makes us feel appreciated. I recently received a thank-you card from a little boy and his family. It said, "Thank you for making my IV not hurt." This made my heart smile. The simple words "thank you" make all the hard work worth it! WHAT DO YOU WANT MORE PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR WORK? It's always my goal to do the best I can for all of my patients. As nurses, we are often taking care of multiple patients at a time, and we want what is best for each of them. We work hard to manage our time and prioritize needs, because we want them to be well. We tend to be very task oriented, but we are human, too. IF I HAD MORE TIME, I WOULD: Spend more time with my family and friends, travel more, finish all my home projects, the list could go on. ASHLEY DILLER, RN Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Beverly Knight Olson Children's Hospital, Navicent Health STEPHANIE DEFOE, RN, BSN, CPEN Emergency Center Clinical Lead, Beverly Knight Olson Children's Hospital, Navicent Health FEBRUARY/MARCH 2021 | maconmagazine.com 91