Objective: To appraise the affective state of healthcare personnel at Medellin pediatric ICU, 2010. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted in pediatric intensive care units in the city of Medellin. The sample was made at the convenience of the researchers and 16 semi-structured surveys were administered to doctors, nurses, nursing assistants and respiratory therapists. The surveys analyzed categories related to safety, confidence, stress, disappointment, sadness, fatigue, attachment and compassion while seeing patients. Results: The experiences and personal stories of professionals in these areas reveal some important issues that deserve attention: loss of patients without grief, unreal expectations, family abandonment, physical abuse, uncertainty when interacting with patients and their families, unanswered questions, pain, and unexplained death. Conclusions: Although the health personnel’s worries reflect a concern for the preservation of life, their good judgment is not jeopardized under such circumstances.