Psychic in the PICU

Lately, I think I'm psychic. 

And I know what you're thinking.  Because I thought it too.  I'd see commercials for psychics and roll my eyes. 

But let me tell you, I'm starting to change some of my habits in the PICU because of this new little trait I've inherited...or honed in on.

You see, it all started a couple of weeks ago.  I was working a night shift, and there was actually a little bit of downtime.  So I decided that I would look up a topic of interest and educate myself a bit. 

We hadn't admitted a patient in DKA (diabetic ketoacidosis) in awhile, so I thought I'd start there. After about 30 minutes of reading, I got a call from the fellow working with me saying we were admitting a patient in the ED. 

The patient was 4 years old, new onset diabetic, in DKA.

Weird!

Then about a week later, during the day, I was sent several research and educational articles from an attending to read.  I decided that I'd read about status asthmaticus and adjunct therapies used in the PICU. 

Lo and behold, an hour later, guess what type of patient I admitted!?  An 8 year old in status asthmaticus.

Only 3 nights later, I was on call with one of my favorite fellows.  We had a little bit of time to sit down, and I jokingly told her that I WAS NOT going to look up a topic because we would inevitably get that admission a short time later.  She laughed at me and rolled her eyes (just like I did with psychic commercials!). 

So she asked what procedure she would like me to review with her instead, and I said Lumbar Puncture.  I hadn't done one in about 9 months, and felt like I needed a refresher.  So we reviewed the quick procedure.  Then we started talking about LP results and diagnosing meningitis (viral vs bacterial).  So I started looking all that up and refreshing myself on taht information. 

And I'm not even lying...less than 10 minutes later we get a call saying we were admitting a kid from an outside hospital with likely meningitis!

What the what!?!?

So I'm not sure what's going on here! I'm batting 3 for 3.  And really, it's 3 for 3...because we've been so busy lately there's been no other time for reading during my shifts!

You may call me psychic.  You may call me crazy.  You may call me lucky.  

But whatever you call me, I call it...well, I'm not sure what to call it.  But I think the lesson here is to start looking up "colds" or "varicella"...something that will not lead to such a crazy busy shift! 

Or maybe just read about "instant weight loss" or "being a natural at running marathons and enjoying it".  That wouldn't be too shabby of a delivery 10 minutes after reading it, huh!?

What would you read about if you knew it would come to pass shortly after???