Thank You, Arizona Robbins

At my college, we begin our nursing classes from our first semester as a freshman. Our first class is called Introduction to Professional Nursing. You learn about the history and extensive job description of a professional nurse. Our very first assignment is to write about why we want to become a nurse along with any interest in specialties (cardiac, emergency room, psychiatric, labor and delivery, pediatrics, operation room and the list goes on). I thought this assignment was very interesting because everybody enters nursing school for a different reason. I went to nursing school because I have this natural ability to care for people and I find the profession flexible, growing and enjoyable.

For a specialty, I have always been very open. The only nurse I said I would not be is a geriatric nurse. However, pediatrics has always had a special place in my heart, especially after volunteering at the Hershey Medical Center's Children's Hospital as a teen. Then taking anatomy my freshman year, I found my self fascinated with hematology (blood). Therefore, I hope to become a pediatric nurse specialized in hematology and oncology (these two specializations always work together). People ask me why in the world I would want to work with sick children. This question is especially difficult to answer because I can never put my thoughts or passion into words. I have always loved children, but I have a special place in my heart for sick children. The heartbreak, weakness and worry found within a pediatric oncology unit is enough to break anybody’s heart just by walking through the unit. Working in a pediatric unit takes a special kind of person, so why would I want to be this person?

Of course, I am a vivid "Grey’s Anatomy" fan. Amelia Shepard is my favorite character but I have always been a fan of Alex Karev and Arizona Robbin’s incredible work within pediatrics. Arizona is especially amazing with her world-renowned surgeries on tiny, tiny humans in the womb. During my second or third time re-watching Grey’s Anatomy on Netflix (Yeah, I plan to watch it again and again), Arizona Robbins said the perfect thought to sum up exactly why I want to work in pediatrics,

“These are the tiny humans. There are children. They believe in magic. They play pretend. There is fairy dust in their IV bags. They hope and they cross their fingers and they make wishes. And that’s what makes them more resilient than adults. They recover fast, survive worse, they believe. In Peds., we have miracles and magic. In Peds., anything in possible…”

Wait, did I just read “fairy dust in IV bags?” No adult would ever think of something like this (we would think they’re crazy, right?). Miracles? They always seem to happen in worse case scenarios for children. The 4-year-old girl with stage four leukemia? She went home today. Anything is possible? No, really, anything is possible in pediatrics! I do not think people realize how different pediatrics is from ordinary nursing. The nurses must especially be compassionate because they are not only dealing with scared, growing child but also their family. A pediatric nurse must make up a story line for a child to understand what is going on and you must play along to make sure they are comfortable at all times. A pediatric nurse can also never lose hope even if there is no hope. This creativity, hope and positivity is exactly why I want to go into pediatrics. So thank you, Arizona Robbins, for giving me the inspiration to be a pediatric nurse. I hope to be as good with children and as kick-a** as you someday.