Your Child Is Going To The Hospital
Not sure what to expect? See It Before You Experience It
As nurses, we feel strongly that parents and children need resources that explain in a fun and engaging way some of the things that will happen when you have to go to the hospital. Even though doctors, nurses and hospitals all differ slightly, the videos and articles are here to help prepare you, for what might come.
Tips from Doctors and Nurses
How to Prepare Your Child for an Outpatient Procedure
Preparation is key to helping reduce anxiety about hospital visits, which is a goal that all families and staff share. These tips can help you–and your child–get ready.
5 Ways to Prepare Your Child for Surgery
These five tips from Dr. Cheryl Lane are easy to read, and all are free. Each takes self awareness, effort, and some planning, but from our experience, these steps make a difference!
Who will hold my hand?
A guide for parents whose child needs an operation, available for free online. Written by Dr. Kathryn D. Anderson, former President of the American College of Surgeons, with the goal of taking away some of the fear and helplessness parents feel when they hear the word surgery related to their child.
Why It Is Important To Be Honest With Your Children
Hania, Child Life Specialist UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland, explains the importance of being honest with your child about what is happening during medical encounters, this includes doctor’s appointments, hospital visits, surgery, and other medical procdures.
Prepare Your Child for Medical Encounters
Maddie, Child Life Specialist UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland, explains to parents how to prepare their child for a medical appointment for procedure in the hospital.
Anesthesiologist Explains Anesthesia for Surgery
Dr. Kasman, Pediatric Anesthesiologist at Cincinnati Children’s, explains how she gets kids off to sleep for surgery.
The 2 RNs Give Tips On A Pre-Operative Call
The 2RNs, Julie and Laura, give tips on what your pre-operative call might be like.
The 2RNs - Tips On What Might Happen In The Recovery Room Part 1
The 2RNs, Julie and Laura, give you tips about some of the things you and your child might experience in the recovery room.
The 2RNs - Tips On What Might Happen In The Recovery Room Part 3
The 2RNs, Julie and Laura, give you more tips about some of the things you and your child might experience in the recovery room.
The 2RNs - Tips On What Might Happen In The Recovery Room Part 2
The 2RNs, Julie and Laura, give you more tips about some of the things you and your child might experience in the recovery room.
Tips from Other Parents
Preparing for Toddler Surgery
As this parent says, going through a child’s surgery, routine or not, can be a physically and emotionally exhausting experience. Our hope is that reading tips like these from a parent who has been through the experience can help you prepare.
How to Prepare Your Toddler For Surgery: My Own Story
A very real mom with very real strategies that worked to help her daughter prepare for eye surgery. She shares all 14 plus a few bonus tips. Personal and practical.
Kids and Surgery: How to Prepare Them
Not every parent has the same parenting style, and so preparing your child for surgery will vary depending on your relationship with your kid. This is another article with tips, and our hope is that you’ll find advice that resonates with you.
{Pediatric Surgery} Prepare Yourself, Ask Questions
No parent wants to see their child go through pain but pediatric surgery can be especially difficult. Do what you can to prepare yourself ahead of time so you know what to expect.
Pain Management – Take Control
Wong-Baker FACES Pain Scale
Wong-Baker Foundation exists to provide global access to their pain scale and to promote optimal pain assessment, pain management, and altrumatic care.
It Doesn't Have to Hurt
An initiative led by the Centre for Pediatric Pain Research to get research evidence about children’s pain directly into the hands of parents who can use it.
Team Approach to Treat Pediatric Chronic Pain
Chronic pain syndromes can affect children of all ages, often affecting children as young as 9 year old. A multidisiplinary pain program usually focuses on the return of function which can result in improvement of function and pain.
Medical Procedures and Conditions
Getting an IV
This video is designed to orient parents to the steps involved in getting an IV started in your child. http://www.stlouischildrens.org/
Starting an IV
Watch the nurse start an IV in a real hospital visit setting. A video for parents to see the steps of starting and IV, and observe a parent using an iPad to distract a child during the stick. St Louis Children’s Hospital
The Induction Room
Anesthesia is used for patients having major surgery. This video is an orientation to the induction room, where child goes to receive anesthesia.
What Are Allergy Shots?
Allergy shots are an effective way to help your body get used to various allergens that can cause discomfort. Allergy shots introduce tiny amounts of the substance you are allergic to and help your body develop a tolerance. Doctors say allergy shots won’t cure you, but can help you be much more comfortable. For more information visit https://www.viachristi.org/
Middle Ear Infection Symptoms
Middle ear infections are very common health problems for infants and young children. A Pediatrician from St. Louis Children’s Hospital discusses symptoms and treatment options, including when it might be time to consider ear tubes.
Pediatric Sleep Center Appointment
Your child may be referred for a sleep study to provide help for children suffering from a variety of sleep related issues. Sleep is an essential part of a child’s development, it is important to do everything possible in order to help a child achieve the best quality of sleep. The results of a sleep study will help you child’s doctor to determine what he can do to improve your child’s sleep quality.
Tonsillectomy: A Kids Perspective
What Is Diaper Rash?
Appendicitis - Causes, and Symptoms
Special Needs Child
10 Ways To Help Prepare Your Special Needs Child For A Hospital Emergency Visit. These are some practical tips you can follow now that can make things go as smoothly as possible for your child with special needs, should the need to visit an emergency room arise in the future.
Glossary of Medical Terms & Conditions
Anesthesia
These medications enable the painless performance of medical procedures. Often referred to as “going to sleep.” Really, being under anesthesia is nothing at all like sleep. There are many medications, both gas and IV, that are used to have your child go to sleep and stay asleep. Because of this, the medicines must be continuously given to keep your child anesthetized.
NPO Guidelines
NPO means “Nothing by Mouth.” Your child will need to stop eating and drinking for a certain time period before their surgery for their safety. You will be given clear instructions on when to stop eating and drinking. It is important to abide by these times or your surgery may be delayed or cancelled.
IV
IV means intravenous and gives medicine or fluids through a needle or tube inserted into a vein. This allows the medicine or fluid to enter the bloodstream right away. A needle is inserted into a vein, most often near the wrist. A thin plastic tube called a catheter is then pushed over the needle. The needle is removed, and the tube remains.
Induction Room
This is a room outside the operating room where anesthesia may be given. You may be allowed to be with your child in the induction room when he/she receives anesthesia. This decision is up to the anesthesiologist. You may not be allowed into the induction room because you are too anxious, feel faint, or are pregnant.
Activities and Gifts to Keep Your Child Relaxed and Happy
Care Package Ideas for Children in the Hospital
The more relaxed and happily occupied a child is prior to surgery or when admitted to the hospital, the less likely it is that they’ll get anxious. This article shares some ideas with you for creating a care package for children in hospital. Each item here can be used when confined to a bed, and helps a child to use their imagination, while providing them with the opportunity to play and create without exerting too much energy.
Get Well Gift for Kids: Boredom Eraser
If family or friends want to help out, ask them to gift this for your child. Having a Boredom Eraser on the ready can be a lifesaver while waiting for surgery, or later during recovery!
Bare Heart Buddy Keeping Loved Ones Connected
Bare Heart Buddy was created by Certified Child Life Specialist, Molly Eiche, to provide comfort, love and support to children and families who are experiencing grief from the loss or separation of a loved one. It is a memory keepsake that can be used in circumstances of hospitalization, military leave, divorce, loss of a loved one or any other life-changing occurrence that may cause a person to grieve.
Apple iPad best sedative for kids before surgery
New research shows that allowing children to use iPads to distract them before surgery requiring general anaesthesia is as effective at lowering their anxiety as conventional sedatives.
Other Resources
Checklists To Help Parents And Caregivers Prepare
(Chick on the links below to view and download lists)
Surgery Day Checklist
Pre-Operative Questions
Post-operative Questions
Books for Parents and Kids
Books for Parents
Who Will Hold My Hand? A Guide for Parents Whose Child Needs an Operation
by Katheryn D. Anderson, MD, FACS, FRCS
A Parent’s Guide to Ear Tubes
by Richard M. Rosenfeld, MD, MPH
Getting Your Child Ready for Outpatient Surgery
by Jerry C Vaughan
Hannah’s Gift: Lessons from a Life Fully Lived
by Maria Housden
Far Fom the Tree: Parents, Children and the Search for Identity
by Andrew Solomon
In a Different Key: The Story of Autism
by John Donvan
The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down: A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures
by Anne Fadiman
When Someone Has a Very Serious Illness: Children Can Learn to Cope with Loss and Change
Marge Heegaard
Books for Kids
General:
Franklin Goes to the Hospital
by Paulette Bourgeoisy
Henry Goes to Surgery
by Renita De Chellis
Curious George Goes to the Hospital
by Margaret and H.A. Ray
The Surgery Book for Kids
by Shivani Bhatia MD
Tonsillectomy:
Danny’s Tonsil Story
by Marjory Yacco
Good-bye Tonsils
by Craig Hatkoff
Let’s Talk About When You Have Your Tonsils Out
by Melanie Gordon
All About Tonsils. A Kids Picture Book on Tonsils, Tonsillitis and Tonsillectomy
by Jennifer Garcia
Ear Tubes:
Koko Bear’s Big Earache
by Vicky Lansky
Chris Get’s Ear Tubes
by Betty Pace
Tubes in My Ears: My Trip to the Hospital
by Virginia Dooley
Growing Up:
The Adventures of the Prickly Pear and the Happy Hoglet
Pit Bully: The Mental Ninja Awakens
The Tale of Fenny Fox: The Mental Ninja Emerges
by Edward P. Buchanan, MD
Coping With Illness:
Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie
Jordan Sonnenblick
When Someone Very Special Dies: Children Can Learn to Cope with Grief
Marge Heegaard
Websites
Teaching Children Philosophy
This website presents all the tools that you need to discuss even the most mind-boggling questions your child can throw at you. The basic idea is to get them to say what they think rather than to stumble over an answer you don’t really believe in or to change the subject. All that this involves is faith that your child actually has a lot to discuss with you about the ideas that intrigue and puzzle them. So, instead of panicking when your child gets that puzzled look on his or her face, dive right in and explore together ideas that you are also intrigued by. You’ll be surprised at the results.
What's the Big Idea?
Introducing middle school students to philosophy through film.
Desk of Doctor Smarty.com
General Health Website for Families. It’s no secret that going to the doctor can sometimes be intimidating, whether you’re 4-years-old or 40. Dr. Smarty is an online outlet where anyone can learn more about the health topics they are interested in without the complicated medical terminology.
