IS IT CHILD LIFE?
Can a Child Life Specialist apply EMLA/numbing cream?
No. Child Life doesn't apply the medication, but can support conversations about available coping/pain-management options and advocate for the child's needs within the care plan.
Can Child Life develop an individualized coping plan with a child before a procedure?
Yes! Developing individualized coping strategies is a core part of Child Life.
What is the Child Life Cart?
A cart filled with items to borrow or provide to patients and families to support coping with the wait or to support in rapport and trust building.
Is playing with a child in clinic part of the Child Life role?
Yes! Normative play can support comfort, engagement, development, and adjustment to the healthcare environment and provides an opportunity for a child life assessment.
Should Child Life check with nursing before offering a child food or drinks?
Yes. Checking with nursing allows Child Life to understand relevant clinical considerations before offering food/drink.
Can a Child Life Specialist disclose a new diagnosis to a child?
No. The appropriate medical provider discloses the diagnosis. Child Life can support the child before, during, and after the conversation and help explain/process information in a developmentally appropriate way.
Can Child Life advocate for a child's preferred coping strategies during a procedure?
Yes. Child Life can help children and families identify coping options and advocate for their individual needs and preferences.
You are preparing a child for a poke. What are some simple choices you can offer without changing what medically needs to happen?
Offer choices such as:
Is Child Life play primarily about keeping children entertained while they wait?
No. Play can be an intentional therapeutic intervention used for coping, expression, learning, normalization, and preparation.
If Child Life is supporting a procedure, does that mean nursing steps back from supporting the child's coping?
No. Child Life doesn't replace nursing support, and nursing doesn't replace Child Life. Both bring different expertise to the child's experience.
Can Child Life suggest changes to how a medical procedure is approached?
Yes, within the Child Life scope. Child Life can make recommendations about the child's experience, such as preparation, positioning, choices, language, distraction, pacing, and other coping supports, while the healthcare provider remains responsible for the clinical procedure.
Does Child Life have to be present during a procedure to contribute to the child's coping plan?
No. Child Life can assess, prepare, educate, collaborate, and develop a coping plan that can be shared with the team even when Child Life isn't physically present for the procedure.
A child or caregiver tells you they are struggling with the wait, the procedure, or their experience. What is one of the most important things you can do?
VALIDATE → THEN OFFER WHAT YOU CAN
“I can see this has been a lot for you. I can step out for a couple of minutes and give you some time to prepare, if that would help.”
“It makes sense that this is hard. I can ask our Child Life Specialist to come see you and explore some options that might make this feel a little easier.”
Can medical play be used to help a child prepare for or understand a healthcare experience?
Yes. Medical play can support understanding, familiarization, preparation, expression, and coping with healthcare experiences.
Child Life and nursing have different ideas about how to approach a child's procedure. What should happen next?
Collaborate. Share the relevant clinical and psychosocial information, listen to each discipline's perspective, and develop an approach that maintains safe care while supporting the child's coping needs.