Optimal Effects of Child Life Involvement in Pediatric Nursing

Jgomulinski

Caring for the pediatric population can be extremely demanding on the nurse at times. Incorporating multi-disciplinary care along with family centered care can be difficult and challenging, yet provides such a remarkable experience for the patient. A large part of this is the result of child life specialists. The child life specialist alleviates a great deal of pressure for the nurse as it allows for a crucial and trusting relationship to be formed between the child life specialist and patient.

Forming this bond creates a "safe place" for the children and they even look forward to having their child life specialist attend procedures and exams with them. The patients, as well as their families and nurses, are often left feeling relieved and comforted experiencing less anxiety and fear. Child life along side of nursing encompasses a healing and healthy relationship between all.

The child life specialist attends four years of college majoring in childhood growth and development, psychology, and education. They are able to provide care based on identifying the developmental and age level of the patients. Upon meeting their educational requirements, the child life specialist begins an internship followed by a certification. This extensive training and education becomes the foundation of creating long lasting, caring, and trusting relationships.

Many of the patients experience great relief when they are made aware that their favorite child life specialist will be first in line in, possibly even holding hands, during their procedures. The child life specialist explains step by step what is to be expected of that particular procedure and what they may experience in an appropriate way that the patient can understand.

Most patients are scared and even terrified at times while visiting a hospital. The child life specialist is known to turn the perceived frightening experience into a happy, reassuring, and calming experience. This alleviates extra stress and tension on the nurse who is able to focus on the patient as a whole, as well as each part, and allow room for greater caring and healing.

The nurse and child life specialist working concurrently strengthens the emotional, physical, spiritual, and mental healing process. Incorporating child life into your patients care allows the kids to still be kids during their hospital stay. The patients are still able to play and act out any feelings of anxiety, nervousness, or fear in their play. Many times the patients just need to still feel like a kid, free from pain, and distrust. Child life assists the patients in having an experience that hopefully will leave them with a positive hospital stay.

Child life specialists take opportunity to spend quality time with the patients and allow the kids freedom of play through expression of feelings and emotions. This connection encourages the act of caring and trust.

Child life specialists take on a whole new approach and dynamic to caring for the patient and patient care, growth and development. Child life specialists add a unique advantage to the pediatric patient experience within the hospital by allowing understanding and acceptance for the patient, family and other healthcare professionals.

Optimal Effects of Child Life Involvement in Pediatric Nursing

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