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

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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 Childrens Hospital
• Prince Edward Island, Canada

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Play Therapy

• Childs means of exploring his or her world.
• Able to express emotions
• Gives insight into childs frame of mind

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Socio-Emotional Health

• Many emotions
• New experience
• Interruption of life
• Provide some semblance of normalcy
• Emotional Stability

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Preparation for Medical Services

• Provide education
• Facilitate rehearsal
• Encourage autonomy
• Family-centered
• Non-pharmaceutical

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Therapeutic Interventions

• Music
• Art
• Drama

• Literature
• Sensory
• Symbolic

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Why do we need Child Life?

• Hospitals can be emotionally traumatizing for
  many people, especially children.
• Emotional effects are not always related to the
  seriousness of a childs 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.

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The Role of Child Life within the Pediatric Burn
Unit

• Our hospital has been committed to Family
  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.

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Important Information Regarding Burns

• It is not always possible to tell the depth of a
  burn from a patients 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.

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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.

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Hydrotherapy

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

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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

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Skin Grafting

• A skin graft is a section of skin that is removed
  from one 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.

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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.

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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.

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To remember.
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