Top 10 Observations of the Pediatric ICU

After 2 weeks on the Pediatric ICU floor, we've made some observations that may help others when facing these challenges:

1. You don't have to join one of the hospital gangs to survive. I wish we knew this earlier. Anyway - Crips forever!

2. When you initially register in the emergency room, the extended warranty is probably a worthwhile expense.

3. Don't try to charge your cell phone with the defibrillator. However, it makes great English Muffins.

4. When you say to yourself "Boy, I love this clear broth. I'll never get tired of it", you're wrong (twice).

5. Once you sleep in a bedside chair for a few days, Pilates is no longer necessary.

6. After 14 continuous days, Spongebob is still funny. On the other hand, the fact that they run the same ESPN SportsCenter from 12:00 midnight through 6:00 a.m. is mentally corrosive.

7. You don't have to personally taste all of the medications they give your child.

8. Did you know that all those bionic accessories on the Six Million Dollar Man really don't exist (at least according to the staff)? Given how much we're spending, I thought we could at least get a bionic eye or something.

9. Practical jokes are strongly discouraged in the ICU. I think this was part of the Geneva Convention.

10. Since everything you do, see, and hear for your child is very important, you have to keep your spirits up to stay sane. Don't take yourself too seriously.