Welcome to Holmes' Pediatric Unit

Your child's room number is __________.

The phone number in your child's room is 434-7000, ext. __________.

Your child's doctor will visit once a day, and a nurse can contact the doctor if you need to speak with him or her at another time.

What to expect

Going to the hospital can be a stressful time for your child — and your whole family. Your child will meet a lot of people and be exposed to a new environment filled with new sights, sounds, and smells. She may wonder and worry about what is going to happen, if it will hurt, and if you will stay with her. In addition, your child's daily home routines of eating, sleeping, and playing will be disrupted. This can make staying in the hospital even more frightening.

Children under five are most concerned with being separated from their parents and being abandoned in a strange environment. Children worry about their bodies not working right and not being like the other kids. They don't understand why things that hurt (like a shot) can help them get well. Some children think that going to the hospital is punishment for doing something bad. They may not understand why what is wrong can't be fixed at home or the doctor's office. Teen-agers have different concerns, such as lack of privacy, loss of control, and fear of looking different or disfigured.

What you can do to help

Get answers to all your medical questions. Knowing what may happen helps you feel more comfortable and in control. Write down all your questions, including any your child might have. Go through the list with your child's doctor and nurse until you're comfortable with the answers.

Play with your child using toy medical kits. As they explore medical activities with a doll or stuffed animal, talk about what he's doing and feeling. This will help you find out what kinds of misconceptions he may have, and give you an opportunity to clear them up.

Always tell the truth. Your child will lose trust if you don't tell the truth. Even if it seems hard, always tell her if something is going to hurt. Explain that even if something hurts or is uncomfortable, it will help her get better.

Stay with your child. Being separated from you during this stressful time is hard for your child. We encourage you or another family member to stay with your child as much as possible. We provide sleeping accommodations in your child's room. If there are times when you have to leave, always tell your child when and where you have to go and when you will be back. If you can't be back when promised, call to let him know. Leaving photos of your family or a special object of yours in the room can also help your child feel safe.

Reassure your child that she is not in the hospital because she did something wrong. Explain that she is in the hospital to get better and go home. Also reassure her that the hospital staff are not there to hurt her, but to help her.

Bring familiar items from home. That favorite toy, blanket, pajamas, music tape, or book from home will give your child something to hold on to in stressful times, and something to play with when he's bored. Always clearly label anything you bring in from home with your child's name. Please don't bring latex balloons; they can be a choking hazard for children. Mylar (foil) balloons are fine.

Get involved. You're the best person to care for, comfort, and speak for your child. Talk with the nurses about how you can take part in your child's care. You may be able to feed or bathe her, or change bandages.

"It's okay to cry." It's normal for children to cry when something hurts. Reassure your child that he doesn't have to "be brave," or be "a big kid." Talk with your child about different ways he can cope with uncomfortable situations. For example, you can say, "Do you want to look the other way and hold my hand?" or "Let's count to 10." Always reassure your child that he did a good job.

Hold and talk to your child as much as possible during the hospital visit. If your child has an IV (intravenous line), or many tubes, the nurse will help you so you can hold your child comfortably and safely.

Watch for behavior changes. Children may have changes in their behavior before, during, and after a hospital stay. Many act younger than their age, or may regress in behavior such as bed wetting or wanting a bottle again. Others don't want to eat, are whiny, or want you to hold them all the time. These are normal reactions and usually go away with time. Letting your child express her feelings through play, reading books about hospitals, and talking about the hospital experience may help.

Meals

Throughout the day, our staff will ask you what your child has had to eat and drink — it's very important that we keep track of this information. Our young patients may choose their favorite meals (with their doctor's approval) from our special children's menu. We also have formula and baby food, however, if your child is too young or sick to eat a regular meal, we'll provide you with a complimentary meal instead.

You're welcome to bring food from home, but please check with your nurse before you give any to your child.

The cafeteria is open throughout the day with a variety of menu selections:

Visitors

Visiting hours are from 11 am to 8:30 pm We encourage visitors, including brothers and sisters to visit your child in his room. This minimizes patients' and visitor's exposure to illness. To protect our patients, we request that visitors with any signs or symptoms of illness please report to the nurse's station before entering the patient's room.

Playroom

Our playroom is open to patients and their siblings with parental supervision. Please don't allow the children to climb on the toys. If your child can't go to the playroom, you may bring toys back to her room. Please keep these toys in your child's room, and let the staff know when you're finished so we can clean them before returning them to the playroom.

For your child's safety

We use a variety of safety and security measures in the pediatric unit to protect our patients. A special electronic monitoring system keeps the doors to the unit locked at all times. To enter, all visitors (including family members) must call us from the courtesy phone just outside the unit entrance, and tell us their name and the name of the patient they want to visit.

Also, the main hospital entrances are closed during the late evening and night hours. Visitors can enter the hospital through the Safety & Security office, just inside the Emergency Department entrance. For information on other security measures, please ask your nurse.

Please let the nursing staff know when you are leaving.

Even if your child doesn't climb out of his crib at home, please keep the side rails up at all times. In a new environment, children often become frightened, and may unexpectedly try to climb out.

Car safety — Accidents are the leading cause of death in children. Florida law requires that all children under 4 years old must be in a crash tested, federally approved child restraint seat. Older children are required by law to wear a seat belt or ride in a booster-type car seat. Upon discharge from the hospital, all children must be properly restrained before departing. If you have questions, ask your child's nurse.

Balloon safety — Balloons make a nice gift for children in the hospital, but because rubber or latex balloons are a choking hazard for children, they are not allowed in the pediatric patient rooms. Instead, please buy mylar balloons. They are very shiny and colorful, and available in the hospital gift shop as well as many local gift shops.

If you have any special requests or need assistance,
please call a member of the pediatric management staff at 434-7208:

Patti Donahue, RNC, director
Brenda Carnevale, RNC, manager
Vicki Howlett, RN, BSN, supervisor
Penny Davis, RNC, supervisor

From the Parent/Patient Education Series
Holmes Regional Medical Center Pediatric Services

Peds: Pt Ed 2. Revised 7/01.

Welcome

What to expect

What you can do to help

Meals

Visitors

Playroom

For your child's safety