Question

Case Studies, Chapter 8, Atraumatic Care of Children and Families

1. Libby, 4 years old, is being admitted into the medical/surgical unit of the local children’s hospital. Libby has been diagnosed with pneumonia and requires IV antibiotics over several days. She is being accompanied by her parents, George and Martha. The nurse who is admitting Libby and her family to the unit explains that the unit practices atraumatic care and incorporates such techniques as child life specialists to minimize the stress on Libby and her parents during their hospital stay. George and Martha ask about atraumatic care and the child life specialists.

a. What can the nurse teach George and Martha about atraumatic care?

b. What are child life specialists and how do they contribute to the quality of care Libby will receive in the hospital?

c. What are some other techniques the nurse can utilize to minimize the amount of physical stress Libby and her family experience during her hospital stay?

Answer 1

1) a) The nurse can teach George and Martha about atraumatic care is that it is a therapeutic care which minimizes or eliminates the psychological and physical distress experienced by children and their families in the health care system. Nurse can explain all the procedures and also prepare the child physically .

b) A child life specialist is a specially trained individual who provides programs to prepare a child for surgery, hospitalization and other procedures that could be painful. The child life specialist is a member of the multidisciplinary team and works in conjunction with health care providers.

c) The nurse can minimize the amount of physical stress of Libby by encouraging the child to count aloud, singing a song and have child sing along.Nurse can point out the pictures on the ceiling. She should allow Libby to blow bubbles and play.

Nurse can also minimize physical stress of Libby's family by support ing their choices related to child's health care and also assist the emotional and other support the family require.