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Preparing
Your Child for Surgery
What Parents should know:
Knowing how to prepare your child for hospitalization/surgery
can be a crucial factor in helping him/her to cope effectively
with
the experience. Parents are the most important resource for answering
your child's questions, so it is vital that you understand what
will happen during your child's experience with the hospital/surgery.
You may wish to bring your child to the hospital before the surgery
for a tour and special pre-operative preparation. Tours are offered
on Monday and Wednesday at 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM. Please call
225-3058 or 1-800-562-9753 ext. 3058 to schedule a tour.
Preparation
for younger children (one to four years) should occur as close
to the event date as possible. Children between four to seven
years should prepare about one week in advance to allow them
time to
think of and ask any questions they may have. The timing of preparation
for older children is not critical.
During your child's procedure, you may wait in the OR waiting
lounge. Someone will come for you when your child is returned
to his/her
room. The nurse who is caring for your child can answer any last
minute questions you may have before your child is taken to the
operative suite.
Toddler (One to Two years)
Parents should:
| • |
Provide
simple, honest explanations to their child's questions. Avoid
promising what will or will not happen because it is difficult
to predict what may be necessary for medical care (example, "you
won't have any shots"). |
| • |
Focus
on the fact that surgery helps them get better (avoid any
feelings that the child is being punished). |
| • |
Prepare
to provide support and reassurance:
Bring a favorite toy, security object, or familiar item with the child that he/she
may take with him during the time that you will be separated (please be sure
to write your child's name on their personal objects) |
| • |
Bring
books or small toys that can be used for distraction during
waiting times |
| • |
Separation
anxiety when your child is taken to the operative suite is
a normal response during this age. It is expected that your
child will object to the separation. This can be helped by:
| 1. |
Telling
your child that you will leave and will see him again
after he "wakes up from his nap and returns to
his room" |
| 2. |
Make
sure the nurse knows the appropriate name/nickname
your child is accustomed to and things you do for comfort
when he/she is fussy |
| 3. |
Make
sure your child has his familiar security item |
| 4. |
Introduce
your child to the nurse who will be with him/her in
your absence (the nurse will provide support/cuddling
as needed during the time your child is away from you).
Frequently, children stop fussing soon after the parents
are out of sight. |
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| • |
Prepare
to keep the child's routine for care as much as possible
(bring sippy cup that they are used to, or other familiar
items used in their care). |
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Pre-school (Three to Five years)
| • |
Careful
preparation and teaching before surgery is extremely important
for relieving anxiety
| - |
books/pictures
about hospitals or surgery |
| - |
opportunity
to play- with medical equipment (toy medical kit, hospital
tour/coloring books) |
| - |
use
carefully chosen words to provide explanations as children
of this age take meanings very literally (i.e., anesthesia
mask is "special air", going to sleep is "becoming
sleepy" or "taking a nap", surgical
incision is "opening into" or "fix" (don't
use the words "cut" or "knife"),
operating table is "special bed", recovery
room is "wake up room" |
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| • |
Repetition
is important; children of this age may need the same concepts
explained several times |
| • |
Bring
favorite toys/books for distraction during wait times |
| • |
Regressive
behavior can be normal during these times |
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School age child (Six to Twelve years)
| • |
If
possible, schedule a hospital tour before the surgery. Adequate
preparation can greatly reduce anxiety during this age |
| • |
Use anatomically
correct models/pictures for teaching about their procedure |
| • |
Answer
questions honestly; explore reasons behind questions to get
at underlying fears |
| • |
Involve
the child in decision making when possible |
| • |
Bring
activities to keep the child entertained/distracted during
wait times |
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Adolescents (Thirteen to Seventeen Years)
| • |
Avoid "talking
down" during pre-op instructions; use correct models
and correct medical terminology. Find out what they already
know to avoid re-teaching a familiar concept. |
| • |
Provide
privacy and confidentiality when discussing their illness/procedure
with them. |
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Siblings
During your pre-operative tour/instructions, arrange to leave
other children at home so that you may focus on supporting and
helping
your child to prepare for the surgical event. Your child's siblings
may demonstrate anxiety for their brother/sister and for themselves.
Depending on the age, it may not be helpful for the sibling to
visit their brother or sister in the hospital if it produces
more anxiety. It will be important to explain to the siblings
the nature
of the illness, who will care for them while you are at the hospital
with their brother/sister, and for how long.
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Comfort after Surgery
Every effort
will be made to keep your child comfortable after his/her procedure.
To assist in this effort, your child will be
asked to rate his pain according to a number from one to ten. For
children ages 4 to 10, a faces scale will be used. Explaining this
process to your child before surgery will help to more accurately
determine his level of comfort afterwards.
Printable chart
- click here
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