My internship supervisor and I had decided that it was time I began gaining some independence- beginning with getting report from the nurses.
My stomach dropped and a look of sheer panic displayed on my face.
“What?” My supervisor asked. “Nurses don’t bite!”
No, believe it or not, nurses do not bite. So where did this worry come from?
When I was a practicum student, on my very first day a nurse pulled the child life specialist off to the side and began lecturing her about how “there aren’t enough crayons on the weekends. How disappointing and embarrassing for child life! This is your one job, please do it right.”
Then, as I began reading about child life, even the textbooks (like Child Life in Hospitals: Theory and Practice by Stanford and Thompson) have chapters dedicated on how to navigate the relationship with nursing and medical staff.
Clearly, there seemed to be some sort of tension between child life specialists and nurses, and it terrified me to step into that as a budding professional.
Child life specialists are the only fun ones in the hospital. Nurses are the ones that poke and just make kids cry. Child life specialists are the ones who slow down procedures and create inefficiency. Nurses are the ones who get things done quickly and save lives. Child life specialists get in the way. Nurses know what they are doing and don’t need to be educated on how to work with pediatric patients. Child life specialists only play and bring toys–a volunteer could do that! Nurses are the ones who actually heal patients.
Who all have heard these misconceptions before?
Oftentimes, these misconceptions and lack of education about both professions are what can cause division and tension with the nurse and child life specialist relationship.
And yet, child life specialists and nurses are on the same team. Each play a vital role in providing holistic care to the patient and family. Child life specialists and nurses can work harmoniously alongside of each other and truly compliment each other’s roles.
As I have worked as a child life specialist in various areas ranging from the ER, adult units, inpatient pediatrics, rehabilitation, NICU and outpatient clinics, I have had varied relationships with nurses. Some are much more open and receptive to child life, while other relationships with nurses are a work in progress and require me to provide gentle education and be very intentional and present.
Yet, no matter what area I have worked in or what sort of relationship I have with the nurses, I have always felt such deep respect and admiration for their vital role. Child life specialists are so fortunate to partner with these heroes!
So, in honor of nurses week, I just want to take a moment to thank our wonderful nurses for just a few of the many ways they serve patients, families and staff.
Thank you for studying with such stamina and determination in school. I tried to get a nursing degree in college for literally one day! I am amazed by all the knowledge you absorb!
Thank you for all the experience you faithfully gained with your various clinical rotations. I am sure you had to play a very humble role as a student (something every child life specialist can relate to!) and you put in a lot of hours to observe and be the shadow of other nurses.
Thank you for the way you are so attentive to detail. There are so many medications, vital signs and more that you have to keep track of. You have to constantly be maintaining accurate chart notes no matter how busy you are. Such impressive multi-tasking skills!
Thank you for doing the dirty work and dealing with bodily fluids. Enough said. Wow.
Thank you for choosing this field because you have such a heart of compassion to care and nurture others.
Thank you for being on the front lines to do the doctors bidding.
Thank you for all the times you advocate for best practice and for the needs of the patients.
Thank you for being such a humble servant to change the sheets, wipe down beds and re-stock supplies.
Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to sit with a patient and help them feel like a human.
Thank you for also making child life specialists feel like humans and like part of the team! Your simple “hello, how are you?” goes such a long way.
A hospital or doctor’s office could not function without nurses. Thank you so much to all of the nurses, our teammates.
Happy nurses week! Make sure you go out of your way to express your appreciation for nurses–I can guarantee you they don’t hear it enough.