Transcript The Role of Child Life and the Hospital Child

The Role of Child Life in the
Hospital and Pediatric Burn Unit
A presentation by Sherri Shouse, CCLS, Director
of Child Life for the Pediatric Burn Unit
Hope Children’s Hospital
Prince Edward Island, Canada
Play Therapy
• Child’s means of
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exploring his or her
world.
Able to express
emotions
Gives insight into
child’s frame of mind
Socio-Emotional Health
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Many emotions
New experience
Interruption of life
Provide some
semblance of
normalcy
Emotional Stability
Preparation for Medical Services
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Provide education
Facilitate rehearsal
Encourage autonomy
Family-centered
Non-pharmaceutical
Therapeutic Interventions
• Music
• Art
• Drama
• Literature
• Sensory
• Symbolic
Why do we need Child Life?
• Hospitals can be emotionally traumatizing for
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many people, especially children.
Emotional effects are not always related to the
seriousness of a child’s illness.
Children express their own feelings through play
and make-believe.
When a child is stable emotionally, it is more
likely for the child to recover from disease.
The Role of Child Life within the
Pediatric Burn Unit
• Our hospital has been committed to Family
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Centered Care and best care possible since 1982
Child Life presence required for all procedures
within the treatment room.
Some procedures, such as hydrotherapy, are
very important but also very painful.
Assist the child in coping through distraction
techniques.
Important Information Regarding
Burns
•It is not always possible to tell the depth
of a burn from a patient’s first admittance.
The depth of the burn can increase in
severity over the next 48 hours.
• First Degree and Superficial
Second Degree Burns
– Resemble a deep
sunburn
– Heal in less than two
weeks on their own.
Important Information Regarding
Burns
• Second Degree Burns
– Very painful and can
include blistering.
These can take more
than three weeks to
heal.
Third Degree Burns
– Damage all layers of
the skin and require
skin grafting to heal.
Hydrotherapy
• Hydrotherapy is the use of water in treatment of illness
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or injury.
The burned child must utilize these tubs in the hospital
that allow the cleaning of the burn wounds.
The heated water also acts as a sedative.
Germs and bacteria can settle in the wounds or
dressings.
The hydrotherapy process aids in the recovery of the
child.
The child will likely feel pain due to this treatment. Be
honest with them about the pain but keep it simple as
you do not want to agitate their nerves even farther.
Dressing Changes
• Necessary to ensure the wounds are clean
and free of bacteria
• Distract child with an activity he or she
enjoys such as singing a silly song
• Provide support for the child
• Encourage compassion for the child
• Provide education for the child as to why
this is a necessary part of their recovery
Skin Grafting
• A skin graft is a section of skin that is removed from one
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area of the body and transplanted to an area that has
been injured.
In small children, the skin is often taken from the back
of the skull. In older children and adults, the skin is
taken from the inner thigh or buttocks.
The graft is spread out on the burned area of the skin
and held in place by dressing or stitches.
The site where the skin was taken, called the donor site,
is covered in dressing for 3-5 days to protect from
infection.
NG Tubes
• A nasogastric (NG) tube
is inserted through the
nose and follows down
the esophagus to the
stomach. This tube is
used to feed a patient
with digestion problems
until they are able to eat
normally.
Important Points
• We are here for the patient.
• These children are most likely not sick,
they are burned. But we must be careful
to not spread infections.
• Developing relationships is key
– Do what is most comfortable for you within
your own limitations.
• Never be afraid to ask questions.
To remember….
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