Let it Go

It was a busy day in the ER and I glanced at my computer before entering the new patient's room to see what was coming my way. Doc had already ordered labs which meant sticking the kiddo and starting an IV. This task, while a basic nursing skill, was always emotional with kids. Deciding I would be prepared, I grabbed the numbing shot from the fridge to help make the experience a little less traumatic for the patient. 

I entered the room where patient and family were watching cartoons and the kiddo seemed calm enough. Her eyes met mine and looked my scrubs up and down until they came to rest on the medication in my hand. Her eyes widened and she began to hyperventilate and her volume escalated: "Oh my gosh what is that? You're going to poke me oh mY GOSH YOU'RE GOING TO POKE ME!!" The tears began as she tried to get off the bed and to mom. 

"Hold on there, hun, this is not a needle". I revealed to her the object in my hand as I sat on the stool beside her. "And we haven't even met yet!" I exclaimed with a smile, trying to earn her trust. She lowered her voice and came back to the center of the bed. "Tell me why you're here". 

The young girl voiced her complaint of belly pain and I chatted her up as I assessed her condition. I looked her square in the eyes and began to explain why we needed to draw blood and start an IV. Her eyes widened again and she demonstrated extreme anxiety for a kid her age with writhing, hyperventilation, and escalation of worries not typical for her age. She was a "drama queen" as her mother put it, laughing.

"Deeeeeep breath," I encouraged her. I worked with her on breathing as I explained the process. She voiced that the needle was what scared her most but then insisted on seeing it and wanted to watch; both of which started the panic cycle all over again. At each step she freaked out a little more. I looked to mom and we began to brainstorm distraction techniques. Mom's eyes lit up as she exclaimed: "I know! While the nurse pokes you, we'll sing Let it Go!" Brilliant! She, as any other mother in this day with a daughter between the ages of 5 and 11 knew the ultimate calming mechanism. She got the patient to agree. I applied the numbing medication which gave a loud whoosh  noise as it was administered. After a few breaths from the tears from that, we began to sing. Mom, patient, tech, and myself included were in full blown song of Disney's famous Let it Go. Sure enough, the patient calmed and blood was successfully drawn. 

While comical at the time, I walked out of the room reflecting on anxiety as a whole. Patients come to the ER in times of trial and they, along with family are wrought with anxiety of different levels. "Letting it go" is a lot easier said than done.

How often do we carry the anxieties of our lives with us?

When the anxieties of life surround and overwhelm me I take a deep breath and step back. How much control do I have in this moment? For what I can't control I pray that God takes away the anxiety to allow me to focus on what I can change. Worrying doesn't make it better, just more stressful. So when work is crazy and I'm frustrated, anxious, and tired, a little bird comes to the back of my head and begins to sing to let it go....

and I stop, pray, let go, and let God.