Most of us can recall at least one encounter with a school nurse during our childhoods. Perhaps your school nurse was the comforting presence you needed when you suddenly came down with a raging fever, or put your mind at ease while patching up a playground injury. But while these experiences are certainly common, school nurses do much more than take temperatures and slap bandaids on scraped knees. And their job is ever-evolving.
Contrary to many beliefs, children are not just mini-adults. Children of all ages are continuously developing physically, psychologically and socially. Whether they are 6 or 16, they react differently than adults when confronted with challenges and changes in their routines. This is especially true when children enter the hospital. Because they may not fully understand what is happening to them, they may become resistant to the care offered. At the same time, family members may be anxious and may unknowingly add to the child’s fears.
Many adults experience at least some level of anxiety when preparing for a needle procedure — but for young patients, it can be especially traumatic. Often, children’s apprehension originates from a fear of bodily harm, their lack of control over the situation, and their lack of experience undergoing venipuncture.
When many people think of taking a child to the doctors, even if it is for a routine check-up, the words “fast” and “efficient” are probably not in their top-ten list of adjectives to describe the experience. Although there is an unimaginably long list of variables to consider when keeping a pediatric patient (especially younger ones) calm during the visit, there are some fairly manageable techniques and changes you can consider implementing into your routine that may help smooth out the experience.
The month of March is all about Child Life. Child Life Specialists, that is. These men and women are often the secret ingredient to many successful pediatric departments. As we recognize these professionals this month, let’s shine the spotlight on three reasons why Child Life Specialists are so important to your facility:
