Thank you for recognizing the value of experience in pediatrics ("Serious Play,"Editorial, and "The Eyes of a Pediatric Nurse,"Reflections, February). My early years in nursing, spent in maternal-child health and pediatrics, taught me to treat patients holistically-a lesson that turned out to be valuable in home care, in which I cared not only for the patient but also the family. Too often nurses emphasize the need for medical-surgical experience and forget that experience in other settings may also be an asset.

Patricia Fife, MPA, RN

Merrick, NY