Nursing strategies supporting the sick child and family during the hospitalization?

Double-Helix, BSN, RN · Apr 25, 2011

I think that the best thing you can do for a family is to show them that their child is getting the best care possible. Ask them if they have questions, ask them if they think there is something more than can be done for their child. Ask them if there is a certain way that they care for their child that can be incorportated into the care. Ask the family if they need coffee, water, an extra pillow, etc. Allow the parent to particiipate in their child's care when appropriate and explain what you are doing and why. Ask if they have questions and answer them honestly, in ways they can understand. It makes a family feel so much better when they know their input is valued. Often, having a hospitilized child makes parents feel very inadequate. Reassuring them that their child is taken care of and they can still be active participants in caring for their child is very important.

Ashley

2011NursingStudent · Apr 26, 2011

When my son was in the hospital for 3 days I left once to take a shower. The staff put his food on a tray next to the bed, and left it there. Problem was, he was 7 years old, but he had one arm that had surgery he couldn't move, and another arm with an IV and such that he couldn't move. I came back and he hadn't eaten all night and the food was cold and he was hungry. (Couldn't ring the call bell either without being able to move either arm, although he didn't know which of the many things hooked up to him was the call bell.) So my suggestion would be to make sure the injury doesn't prevent them from doing something like eating, and if so, help them eat. Every kid has a different injury, so its important to just think about what specifically is injured (or ill).

Also, it really helps to think about what the side effects are of the medicine the kids are taking. I had one nurse act shocked that my son wet the bed, probably b/c he was 7, but he'd had large amounts of morphine and anesthesia only a couple hours before, if that. So being supportive/understanding of the side effects of the medications they are given would help a lot, too.

jaywife · Apr 27, 2011

I think that the best thing you can do for a family is to show them that their child is getting the best care possible. Ask them if they have questions, ask them if they think there is something more than can be done for their child. Ask them if there is a certain way that they care for their child that can be incorportated into the care. Ask the family if they need coffee, water, an extra pillow, etc. Allow the parent to particiipate in their child's care when appropriate and explain what you are doing and why. Ask if they have questions and answer them honestly, in ways they can understand. It makes a family feel so much better when they know their input is valued. Often, having a hospitilized child makes parents feel very inadequate. Reassuring them that their child is taken care of and they can still be active participants in caring for their child is very important.
Ashley

thanks Ashley,

maintaining the parent's role is significant and it is the same as i thought, thanks:up:

jaywife · Apr 27, 2011

When my son was in the hospital for 3 days I left once to take a shower. The staff put his food on a tray next to the bed, and left it there. Problem was, he was 7 years old, but he had one arm that had surgery he couldn't move, and another arm with an IV and such that he couldn't move. I came back and he hadn't eaten all night and the food was cold and he was hungry. (Couldn't ring the call bell either without being able to move either arm, although he didn't know which of the many things hooked up to him was the call bell.) So my suggestion would be to make sure the injury doesn't prevent them from doing something like eating, and if so, help them eat. Every kid has a different injury, so its important to just think about what specifically is injured (or ill).
Also, it really helps to think about what the side effects are of the medicine the kids are taking. I had one nurse act shocked that my son wet the bed, probably b/c he was 7, but he'd had large amounts of morphine and anesthesia only a couple hours before, if that. So being supportive/understanding of the side effects of the medications they are given would help a lot, too.

thanks for the story!

standing in the family's shoe is the best way to give care to a sick child:)