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A day in the life of a hospital play specialist
Insights
Hospital Play Specialists support children (0-16 years) in day surgery wards, using therapeutic play to ease anxiety and improve the hospitalization experience. This approach aims to reduce stress for both children and their parents.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Healthcare
- Child Psychology
Background:
- The role of a Hospital Play Specialist is crucial for addressing the emotional needs of pediatric patients.
- Alder Hey Children's Hospital appointed its first Play Specialist to enhance patient care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To implement therapeutic play programs for children aged 0-16 years undergoing day surgery.
- To reduce preoperative stress and anxiety in hospitalized children.
- To foster a more positive hospitalization experience.
Main Methods:
- Working as part of the pediatric team to provide individualized care.
- Developing and implementing tailored therapeutic play programs.
- Utilizing play as a method to explain surgical procedures to children.
Main Results:
- Successfully provided therapeutic play to meet individual patient needs.
- Reduced stress and anxiety in children through pre-operative preparation via play.
- Contributed to a more relaxed environment for both children and parents.
Conclusions:
- Therapeutic play is an effective method for managing pediatric patients' emotional well-being during hospitalization.
- The presence of a Hospital Play Specialist can significantly improve the surgical experience for children.
- A child's reduced anxiety positively impacts parental stress levels.
Abstract:
During the last eighteen months I have worked as a Hospital Play Specialist on the day surgery ward at Alder Hey Children's Hospital. I am the first Play Specialist to be appointed at Alder Hey. My role is to work as a member of the paediatric team and to attend to the emotional needs of hospitalised children from the ages of 0-16 years. My aim is to make hospitalization a positive experience by providing therapeutic play programmes and preparing children, pre-operatively, for surgery. My day begins at 8:30am when the children have been admitted to the ward. I have devised a programme to meet each child's individual needs, explaining about their operation through play and so reducing stress and anxiety. A relaxed child often creates a relaxed parent.