The Role of Child Life in the The Role of Child Life in the Hospital and Pediatric Burn Hospital and Pediatric Burn

UnitUnit

A presentation by Sherri Shouse, CCLS, A presentation by Sherri Shouse, CCLS, Director of Child Life for the Pediatric Director of Child Life for the Pediatric

Burn Unit Burn Unit Hope Children’s HospitalHope Children’s Hospital

Prince Edward Island, CanadaPrince Edward Island, Canada

Play TherapyPlay Therapy

• Child’s means of Child’s means of exploring his or her exploring his or her world.world.

• Able to express Able to express emotions emotions

• Gives insight into Gives insight into child’s frame of child’s frame of mind mind

Socio-Emotional HealthSocio-Emotional Health

• Many emotions Many emotions

• New experienceNew experience

• Interruption of lifeInterruption of life

• Provide some Provide some semblance of semblance of normalcynormalcy

• Emotional StabilityEmotional Stability

Preparation for Medical Preparation for Medical ServicesServices

• Provide educationProvide education

• Facilitate rehearsalFacilitate rehearsal

• Encourage Encourage autonomyautonomy

• Family-centeredFamily-centered

• Non-Non-pharmaceutical pharmaceutical

Therapeutic InterventionsTherapeutic Interventions

• MusicMusic

• ArtArt

• DramaDrama

• LiteratureLiterature

• SensorySensory

• SymbolicSymbolic

Why do we need Child Life?Why do we need Child Life?

• Hospitals can be emotionally traumatizing Hospitals can be emotionally traumatizing for many people, especially children.for many people, especially children.

• Emotional effects are not always related to Emotional effects are not always related to the seriousness of a child’s illness.the seriousness of a child’s illness.

• Children express their own feelings Children express their own feelings through play and make-believe.through play and make-believe.

• When a child is stable emotionally, it is When a child is stable emotionally, it is more likely for the child to recover from more likely for the child to recover from disease.disease.

The Role of Child Life within The Role of Child Life within the Pediatric Burn Unitthe Pediatric Burn Unit

• Our hospital has been committed to Our hospital has been committed to Family Centered Care and best care Family Centered Care and best care possible since 1982possible since 1982

• Child Life presence required for all Child Life presence required for all procedures within the treatment room.procedures within the treatment room.

• Some procedures, such as hydrotherapy, Some procedures, such as hydrotherapy, are very important but also very painful.are very important but also very painful.

• Assist the child in coping through Assist the child in coping through distraction techniques.distraction techniques.

Important Information Important Information Regarding BurnsRegarding Burns

• First Degree and First Degree and Superficial Second Superficial Second Degree BurnsDegree Burns– Resemble a deep Resemble a deep

sunburnsunburn– Heal in less than two Heal in less than two

weeks on their own.weeks on their own.

•It is not always possible to tell the It is not always possible to tell the depth of a burn from a patient’s first depth of a burn from a patient’s first admittance. The depth of the burn admittance. The depth of the burn can increase in severity over the next can increase in severity over the next 48 hours. 48 hours.

Important Information Important Information Regarding BurnsRegarding Burns

• Second Degree Second Degree Burns Burns – Very painful and can Very painful and can

include blistering. include blistering. These can take more These can take more than three weeks to than three weeks to heal. heal.

Third Degree BurnsThird Degree Burns– Damage all layers of Damage all layers of

the skin and require the skin and require skin grafting to heal.skin grafting to heal.

Hydrotherapy Hydrotherapy

• Hydrotherapy is the use of water in treatment of Hydrotherapy is the use of water in treatment of illness or injury.illness or injury.

• The burned child must utilize these tubs in the The burned child must utilize these tubs in the hospital that allow the cleaning of the burn wounds. hospital that allow the cleaning of the burn wounds.

• The heated water also acts as a sedative.The heated water also acts as a sedative.• Germs and bacteria can settle in the wounds or Germs and bacteria can settle in the wounds or

dressings. dressings. • The hydrotherapy process aids in the recovery of The hydrotherapy process aids in the recovery of

the child.the child.• The child will likely feel pain due to this treatment. The child will likely feel pain due to this treatment.

Be honest with them about the pain but keep it Be honest with them about the pain but keep it simple as you do not want to agitate their nerves simple as you do not want to agitate their nerves even farther. even farther.

Dressing ChangesDressing Changes

• Necessary to ensure the wounds are Necessary to ensure the wounds are clean and free of bacteriaclean and free of bacteria

• Distract child with an activity he or she Distract child with an activity he or she enjoys such as singing a silly songenjoys such as singing a silly song

• Provide support for the child Provide support for the child • Encourage compassion for the childEncourage compassion for the child• Provide education for the child as to Provide education for the child as to

why this is a necessary part of their why this is a necessary part of their recoveryrecovery

Skin Grafting Skin Grafting

• A skin graft is a section of skin that is removed A skin graft is a section of skin that is removed from one area of the body and transplanted to an from one area of the body and transplanted to an area that has been injured. area that has been injured.

• In small children, the skin is often taken from the In small children, the skin is often taken from the back of the skull. In older children and adults, the back of the skull. In older children and adults, the skin is taken from the inner thigh or buttocks.skin is taken from the inner thigh or buttocks.

• The graft is spread out on the burned area of the The graft is spread out on the burned area of the skin and held in place by dressing or stitches. skin and held in place by dressing or stitches.

• The site where the skin was taken, called the The site where the skin was taken, called the donor site, is covered in dressing for 3-5 days to donor site, is covered in dressing for 3-5 days to protect from infection.protect from infection.

NG TubesNG Tubes

• A nasogastric (NG) A nasogastric (NG) tube is inserted tube is inserted through the nose and through the nose and follows down the follows down the esophagus to the esophagus to the stomach. This tube is stomach. This tube is used to feed a patient used to feed a patient with digestion with digestion problems until they problems until they are able to eat are able to eat normally.normally.

Important PointsImportant Points

• We are here for the patient.We are here for the patient.• These children are most likely not These children are most likely not

sick, they are burned. But we must sick, they are burned. But we must be careful to not spread infections.be careful to not spread infections.

• Developing relationships is keyDeveloping relationships is key– Do what is most comfortable for you Do what is most comfortable for you

within your own limitations.within your own limitations.

• Never be afraid to ask questions.Never be afraid to ask questions.

picture source

To remember….To remember….