Thoughts about childcare during procedures

ktwlpn, LPN · May 23, 2004

I have been thinking of this for a long time now. Some of you may actually have some sort of system set up in your hospitals since you are in bigger cities, etc. What would you think of this idea or does your hosptial already have something similar?
When going for a procedure (ex. my u/s with my third child) I sometimes have to drag the other two kiddos with me. This can become very inconvenient for everyone involved, including whoever is actually doing the test or procedure. I think that volunteers could be utilized in this instance and they could set up a playroom of sorts for children to go to for the duration of whatever I am having done, whether is be a blood draw or an x-ray or an MRI. What do you think?

I don't feel that young children belong in the building unless they are patients in PEDS (safety and infection control) LIability is a real issue and I would want anyone sitting for my child to either be a licensed provider,friend or family...Not some decrepit old volunteer or the middle-aged male pedophile with a medical fetish....I also don't think children are the responsibility of anyone other then their parents-sure-they are your precious little miracles and cute as a bug's ear to you but lots of people just don't want to be bothered by other people's kids....they are like second hand smoke,you know?

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · May 23, 2004

Whew! I didn't expect rude responses. I was just inquiring. Forget I said anything for goodness sake!

Being realistic is rude?

Energizer Bunny · May 23, 2004

Deb, for what it's worth I wasn't talking about you at all. I was simply inquiring into what you all thought. I didn't think it warranted the sarcastic responses it got.

Energizer Bunny · May 23, 2004

If I were a parent with little ones, I think I would try to arrange a co-op with other parents from my neighborhood, religious organization, or group of
friends, to help each other with childcare needs for these situations. Seems like it would be better than trusting their care to strangers anyway.

Believe me, If I could I would. I really do not know anyone other than my upstairs neighbor who is never home and only has family babysit for her. My only family works regular 9-5 hours, etc. I was wondering at the logistics of this and if there were any places that might do some sort of utilization of it. My local hospital has bored volunteers that seem to have nothing to do. Picture three elderly women sitting at the desk twiddling their thumbs most of the day. Even if one of these volunteers could go with the patient during their test (how long does it take to draw blood anyways?) just to keep an eye on the little ones so they aren't grabbing anything they shouldn't be. I was also asking more as a convenience for the person doing the test, not for the mother. I can handle taking them, but I always worry that they are in the way.

roxannekkb · May 23, 2004

Even if one of these volunteers could go with the patient during their test (how long does it take to draw blood anyways?) just to keep an eye on the little ones so they aren't grabbing anything they shouldn't be. I was also asking more as a convenience for the person doing the test, not for the mother. I can handle taking them, but I always worry that they are in the way.

But there's still the issue of liability, regardless of how bored the volunteer is, or how willing they are to watch your child. If the child slips and falls (which can happen within seconds), and injures herself, who is responsible? The volunteer? The hospital? In this day and age of lawsuits (and I'm not saying you would sue) believe me, there are moms who would be on the phone to a lawyer within five minutes. And demanding the hospital eat the cost of medical care for the child.

These are real issues, and I can well understand why a facility does not offer babysitting--unless it is by qualified, bonded personnel who offer an independent childcare service on the premises.

Energizer Bunny · May 24, 2004

I completely see where you are coming from, but I hope that as a nurse everyone is able to see that there aren't always options available to everyone (such as me). I hate to inconvenience people and that's why this question came up.

Poppy_Petal · May 24, 2004

CNM2B

I know what you mean! I also have two children and frequently have no one to sit with them. If one goes-they both go. I realize this is not ideal-but much of a single mothers (or mother with a busy or uninvolved father) is not ideal.

I can only pay a babysitter for hours I am drawing a paycheck (and even then it is very difficult). The other posters 'realistic disagreement' made sense, but the sarcasm was not necessary.

Energizer Bunny · May 24, 2004

Poppy...LOL..this is why we really do not go anywhere. I can't take three kids most places and they are all under five. I was hoping to find a reliable sitter, but no one wants to do it anymore unless you pay them a fortune! I tend to do my errands when dh is home to watch the kids, or I'll take one of them with me just to spend special mommy time with them. It's hard.

Poppy_Petal · May 24, 2004

CNM2B,

I read your post and all I can picture is the movie Parenthood where the actress (short hair-remembered her name 30 seconds ago) was explaining her vibrator to her teenage daughter by jumping up and down in her business suit and heels yelling "...I stayed to raise two children and I have no life".

It isn't just single mothers either. I can honestly say that when my husband was still at home it was not much different. I am lucky in that I have taken my children MANY PLACES-MANY TIMES and everyone has been very kind about it so far.

SmilingBluEyes · May 24, 2004

You know, the years pass quickly, CNM, and you will soon enough have 3 teens on your hands who can care for themselves while you have medical appts, etc. THEN you will REALLY have full hands. (rofl)

As a military wife, I can relate to your difficult situation. My husband is out of town at times, and sometimes for a long time. (wartime sigh). Heck, I have curtailed so much through the years due to daycare issues, including sidelining my entire career for them. Social life? What is that? My family all live more than 2000 miles from me, so no help there, either. And friends come and go in military life so that can be tough, too.

But hey, having to make sacrifices and cope, well, that is what parents do. It's not easy and there are not easy answers. But don't expect the hospitals to be able to help you. You will have to find friends to do that..........or family---(if you are lucky), or pay a daycare provider who does "drop ins"----coping like the rest of us have had to do. Childcare is a HUGE issue, to be sure. I have felt the pain for 12 years now. It won't be easier once you go to work as a nurse, unfortunately, but at least your kids will be a bit older.

Have a good day, and no hard feelings, ok? Hugs.

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · May 24, 2004

I can only pay a babysitter for hours I am drawing a paycheck (and even then it is very difficult). The other posters 'realistic disagreement' made sense, but the sarcasm was not necessary.

I am still having a problem seeing the sarcasm....

I am a single traveling nurse. Two weeks into an assignment, I was found to have a lung mass that required "immediate bronchoscopy" per the pulmonary attending at Cornell University. Problem is despite the immediacy needed, the hospital refused to do the procedure until there was a responsible adult present to sign for taking me home. I was at least 985miles from anyone of reseanable aquantance.

No matter, well behaved your children are, they generally won't be in the hospital, for even a short time. And I repeat that have had plenty of parents try to drop children with volunteers to find that they refuse to take care of them. And I have dealt with more than a few volunteers that voice exasperation with someone's "little darlings" running rampant on the floor.

If you truly think that this is a wonderful idea be proactive. Put an ad in the paper offering your services to care for somene else's (a stranger's) kids at the drop of a hat for free, in exchange for them doing the same for you. You can create a whole network of people to do this and manage it. And then you will have plenty of volunteer childcare. Advertise for bored seniors that are twiddling their thumbs (in the words of another poster - as I have never seen people that bored) , to come do this for you and for the community's good. It would be an awesome service. And ya'll refuse to hold anyone liable.

And if you are student, why not ask a fellow student. If you are working, ask a coworker. That is how it has been done for ages and can still be done now.

SmilingBluEyes · May 24, 2004

where is the sarcasm? just wondering..............

if I ever come across as sarcastic, I apologize here and now. But Frankly all I see here is honest feedback, which WAS solicited.