Reflection

My pediatric rotation was conducted at Dr. Nicasio Arana’s Office. This rotation was my first in pediatrics, and I am very grateful for the patients, preceptors, and staff who made the experience so educational. The preceptors were always willing to teach and took the time to explain important aspects of pediatric care, from common illnesses like URIs to more complex conditions such as OSA, appendicitis, or children with a history of ASD or tracheostomy. I learned how to approach a wide range of pediatric patients and gained exposure to both routine and more serious cases, which helped me develop a more comprehensive understanding of pediatric care.

During the rotation, I quickly became comfortable performing procedural tasks, including venipuncture and vaccinations. After the first week, I began seeing patients in my own “mini office” before bringing them to the preceptor, which helped me gain confidence in conducting physical exams, administering vaccines, and performing venipuncture independently. I also learned the importance of recognizing patients, as it often built trust especially in a pediatric office where you essentially watch the patients grow from a baby to a young adult. I found remembering patients made encounters more rewarding especially when children remembered me or expressed that they liked me.

I did find some challenges during the rotation. Communicating with Spanish-speaking patients was difficult at times, as I didn’t fully understand them and they didn’t fully understand me. I also struggled with uncooperative children, especially when they were running away or refusing care, which required creativity, patience, and support from the parents to manage effectively. Additionally, I initially had difficulty remembering the vaccination schedule and calculating medication doses based on weight, though I improved significantly over the course of the rotation.

Overall, this rotation was incredibly valuable in building both my procedural skills and my confidence in pediatric care. I enjoyed working with a wide range of patients and learning how to adapt to different situations, and I hope to continue developing these skills throughout my future rotations and career.

This entry is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International license.