For many children, going to the hospital is a frightening thing. Our job as nurses is to make our young patients feel as comfortable as possible during their stay at the hospital. This task is easier said than done, especially when it comes to children. Here is a list of ideas you can use to help your younger patients feel more at ease.
NursesAnnouncementsArchiveArticle
One of the first things a child will see at a doctor's visit is the examination table, which can be intimidating to small children. To relieve their anxiety, draw a fun cartoon or colorful scene! Don't forget to personalize it with their name!
Provide First Aid for Their Stuffed Animal
Many children are so nervous when going to the hospital that often times they will bring with their favorite stuffed animal. Most of these stuffed animals will have rips and tears. Repair those rips and tears by stitching, casing, or bandaging it. This will make the child feel like they are not going through this alone, especially if they are undergoing surgery.
Throw a Party
Some children, as you know, are in the hospital for a long period of time. They might even be there over their birthday or holiday. To bring a bit of home into the hospital, throw a party for them. The party doesn't need to be extravagant or very long (as nurses have busy and fast-paced schedules). It can be as simple as singing, playing music, doing a simple art project and playing a fun game.
Decorate the Pediatrics Unit
The overall decor of a room can affect your patient's mood. Suggest to management that the pediatrics unit needs a makeover. Each room can have its own theme such as underwater, jungle, rock n' roll, outer space, whimsical, sports, or superhero. Although this can be costly, the joy on a child's face when they walk into a decorated room is priceless.
Window Washer Superheroes
One group of window washers decided to surprise patients by dressing up as superheroes while they were washing windows! This is something you can coordinate at your hospital too and is something a child will remember forever, and just maybe, it will make them excited to be at the hospital. If you can't get your window washers to dress up, ask the staff at your clinic if they would be willing to dress up and visit the pediatrics unit.
Talk to Them
Sometimes having a nice talk with children is the best way to cure their fear of a hospital. This helps build a level of trust. The conversation doesn't have to be about their illness or procedure. It is actually better to talk to them about their interests and hobbies. Remember, have fun when talking to children!
How have you gone out of your way to make a pediatric patient's day? Just a little effort on your part can go a long way to make a child more comfortable.
