Bedside Tutoring?

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Feb 20, 2012

This absolutely happens, in the larger hospitals anyway. Those children who are able go to an onsite classroom to work on assignments obtained from their teachers at home. Those who aren't able to go to the classroom have the teacher come to them. It's a great program. The kids are able to keep up with their classmates, the trips to the classroom or the teacher's visits are often the high point of the day and it all adds routine to the child's day which makes them feel less helpless.

Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN · Feb 20, 2012

I'm a school nurse and my district has a "homebound" program where certified teachers will go either to the home or hospital room of a student with an illness and teach them one-on-one. They will not have "school" 7 hours a day, every day, but they will get instruction and help keeping up with their peers. It is a great program.

Double-Helix, BSN, RN · Feb 20, 2012

At our facility, every child who is school-age who is hospitalized for more than a week is eligible for tutoring by a certified teacher. Our Child Life Specialists obtain consent from parents and fax the information to the child's school, who funds the tutoring. Even our children who don't attend traditional school (those with physical disabilities such as severe CP) but go to special education programs receive tutoring. This might mean that the tutor just comes in to read with the patient. We have a computer/school room for patients that are ambulatory, or the schooling takes place in their rooms. It usually lasts 2-3 hours per day, depending on the child, their ability and their needs.

If you're interested in doing this, OP, I suggest contacting the child life departments at local pediatric hospitals.

coopman712 · Feb 21, 2012

Thanks everyone!I was wondering if my nursing background would help at all.