How can I comfort a homesick child? (NAI case)

[xyrhana]

I'm a student currently doing my attachment in a paediatric ward.

I have a patient that keeps telling us he wants to go home. I suspect that he has been crying but he does not admits to it. He shows attention seeking behaviours by being mischievous and purposely going against whatever we tell him to do. Today he even tried to run out of the ward on his own and I am very worried about him absconding especially when he is so small and agile.

The boy is admitted for suspected abuse by a family member and comes from a broken family hence we cannot ask for their cooperation.

Is there any way I can help to make this patient feel better?

[Fiona59]

What is an NAI case?

My first thought was you were referring to a child of native background, is this correct?

If so, does your hospital have a First Nations liaison worker? We use our programme to arrange smudging and sweet grass ceremonies. "Comfort" foods will be obtained. The worker usually knows someone from the same band background that can come in and visit.

My hospital serves aboriginal peoples from the Arctic to the 49th parallel and it's amazing the connections our workers have.

[xyrhana]

Non-accidental injury

He's not of native background but he wants to go home to his family despite the suspected abuse from home.

[Kaltia]

Suspected abuse doesn't mean that he doesn't have feelings for his family. Especially with a child I'd be worried about him blaming himself for the family getting into trouble. Very complicated issues here and not something you can deal with, he needs social services child psych eval ect. I would not try and discuss anything with him related to the abuse, especially with young children, it's very hard to question without influencing them and is far better left to a professional. Not to mention the legal issues esp if he needs to testify. or the fact that it may not be abuse. If he talks to you be supportive listener only. Distract and entertainer like you would for any other kid. Worse thing you can do is tip-toe around like oh no there's something wrong

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

I'm not sure why you wouldn't be able to ask for cooperation from a "broken family". By this do you mean the parents are separated/divorced? How would that automatically lead the hospital to conclude that they cannot cooperate?

Who is the suspected perpetrator? What restrictions are in place for the child? Is he in state custody? Is the family allowed visitation?

Most kids don't want to be in the hospital, whether their home is abusive or not. Is child life involved with this child? They can at least try to make sure he gets to feel like a normal kid despite his situation. Social work and Pedi Psych are also needed.