Ode to Pediatric Residency

Walking into work,
before the daybreak;
The cold air on my face,
leaving in the night.

14 hour days,
No time to pee;
Did I drink water,
or only coffee?

Pleasing parents,
Soothing upset babies;
They like me now,
Will this last?

Upset parents,
screaming children;
Now they hate me,
Where's the attending?

Write this order,
No you did it wrong;
That order too,
Hurry, now.

Another admission,
Talk, examine, repeat;
Snot, cough, fever;
Where's the Tylenol?

Call this consult,
Call that consult;
You forgot this,
You forgot that.

No time for lunch,
Eat chips;
Eat nothing,
Got hummus?

He lost his IV,
She's not pooping;
He's got diarrhea,
So there's this rash...

Doctor can you,
Nurse can you;
Answer that page,
Check that lab.

What was I doing?
Update that PMD;
Complete the discharge,
Can you call my scripts in instead?

Fever, culture, antibiotics,
Pneumonia, no bronchiolitis;
Wheezing, rales, rhonchi,
Who knows, let's try Albuterol!

She's still not pooping...
Doctor, fix that order;
New admission,
Let's try Miralax!

Bathroom break,
Leave pager at desk;
Sit on toilet,
5 minute sanity break.

Interning,
Senioring;
What was I thinking,
Can I go back?

Bad blood gas,
Lactic acidoses;
Baby crashes,
Bag, PPV, chest compressions.

Good for now,
Go home;
Worry about baby,
Will he live through the night?

Baby makes it,
So happy;
The little miracles,
make it all worth it.

Tragedy, accidents, traumas,
Hurting, dying children;
Heartbroken families,
Stay strong.

Make it through the shift,
Don't show your fear;
Keep the tears in,
Why, God?

Hug the families,
Where are the tissues;
Separate work and feelings,
Forget that, you're only human.

Is my baby better?
Yes, you assure them;
False hope,
Baby crashes.

Palliative care,
Tough decision;
Be a better doctor,
Support the family.

Little, precious babies;
Brain masses, bone tumors;
Bald little heads;
Fighters, such tough fighters.

Ring that bell,
Beat that cancer;
Victory happens;
It's worth it again.

She was doing so well,
Reoccurence, secondary malignancy;
Aggressive, non-resectable,
Hospice care.

Can't afford a funeral,
Gather money;
Love that family,
until the very end.

How to learn it all?
Will I ever be good?
It's so hard,
Is it time for vacation?

Study, pass those boards;
Time for inservice exams;
Dang it,
I knew that answer.

I'm tired,
I need sleep;
What's exercise?
When did I last see my husband?

Dirty house,
Dirty clothes;
Ooops wore those pants yesterday too;
Need a haircut.

Life passing by,
The days are long;
The years are short,
It's done in a flash.

Some days suck,
Don't dwell;
The good outweighs the bad,
At least I think so.

Love work,
Love fellow residents;
Surviving each day,
Supporting one another.

Pediatrics.
It's worth it.