Day 6 - The lost PICU day

Yesterday, I volunteered to cover the pediatric intensive care unit to make some extra money. In my mind I thought, "How busy can it be in April? It's spring, the weather is getting nice - it should be a piece of cake!" I seriously do not think I could have been more wrong! Not only was I managing a full 17 bed unit with some of the sickest kids I've ever taken care of, we were constantly being called by smaller hospitals requesting we take patients that they couldn't handle the acuity of! I've never been so busy in the ICU in any of the full two months I've already spent there. On the bright side, post-call sleep is the best feeling in the world.

As an FYI to anyone local who ever has a sick child in the ICU, the resident caring for your child is working a 27 hour shift from 8am - 11am the next day. As much as we try to offer you all the understanding and sympathy in the world while giving your child the best care possible, please try to be nice to us too:-)