Child Life Staff Contact Information Meagan Krizek-Fonseca Volunteer and Special Event Manager (407) 303-5600 ext. 110-6392 Meagan.Krizek@flhosp.or Pediatric Medical Surgical Units Heather Lazarus Pediatrics 7th floor (407) 303-5600 ext. 110-4697 Heather.Lazarus@flhosp.org And Jenna Stewart Pediatrics 6th floor (407) 303-5600 ext. 110-6362 Jenna.Stewart@flhosp.org Pediatric Progressive Care Unit and Pediatric Cardiac Unit Chelsea McGann ext. 110-6614 Chelsea.McGann@flhosp.org Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant Debbie Spencer (407) 303-5600 ext. 1105295 Deborah.Spencer@flhosp.org Pediatric Intensive Care Trish Polito (407) 303-5600 ext.1102729 Patricia.Polito@flhosp.org Pediatric Surgery Jessie Wente (407) 303-5600 ext. 1102729 Jessica.Wente@flhosp.org Pediatrics Emergency Department JJ. Lullen and Nicole Baxa (407) 303-5600 ext. 1104360 Nicole.Baxa@flhosp.org or James.LullenIii@flhosp.org Pediatric Outpatient Procedure and Sedation Unit Emily Onderick 407-303-5600 ext. 1107052 Emily.Onderick@flhosp.org Pediatric Radiology Kari Webb Kari.Webb@flhosp.org Outpatient Surgery Meghan Vickers Meghan.vickers@flhosp.org
Florida Hospital for Children Welcome to the Florida Hospital for Children Volunteer Program! As a volunteer, you will provide hospitalized children with opportunities to play, laugh, and enjoy the company of others! Hospitalized children are often frightened, have feelings of abandonment, and loss of control. Please help us provide patients and families with positive experiences during their hospital stay. Thank you for your interest and commitment to our program! Role of a Child Life Specialist Child Life Specialists work throughout the hospital to promote normal growth and development to hospitalized children. Ease a child s fear and anxiety with therapeutic and recreational play activities. Advocate for family-centered and a-traumatic care. Engage and energize children and families by coordinating special events, activities and entertainment. Provide medical play and education. Provide procedural education, support and distraction.. Suggestions for Supporting Children and Families Be friendly and welcoming. Focus on the needs of the patients and their families. Be sensitive and compassionate. Meet the families at their level. Respect and maintain a patient s right to confidentiality and privacy. When entering a patient s room, introduce yourself, give a warm and friendly welcome and let the family know why you have come. Be personable;; put yourself on the child s eye level and call him/her by name. Respect expressions of emotion. Always remain professional. SMILE!
It is your job to Play a lot!! Smile often! Help within your scope of practice! Provide opportunities for fun in the playroom and in patient s rooms. Promote a safe environment. MOST OF ALL, CREATE MOMENTS! It is not your job to Provide counseling to patients and families. Be a distraction during medical procedures. Ask the child or parent about the patient s illness. Touch or fix any medical equipment. Take patients off the unit. Share your personal infoamtion (home/cell phone number or E-mail) with patients or families. Avoid Making promises you may not be able to keep. Comparing, pitying, or judging patients and their families. Being afraid of silence. Visiting with patients on your off time. **Please DO NOT come to volunteer if you are sick! It is important that you call your supervisor whenever you are unable to volunteer! You are an important part of our team and we count on you.
Purpose of Play Illness and hospitalization are major sources of stress for a child and his/her family. The child finds himself surrounded by unfamiliar sights, sounds, smells and unfamiliar people who often hurt them or cause pain. Play restores the normal aspects of living for a child and therefore helps to reduce stress and anxiety. In a hospital setting where a child has little or no control over their medical treatment, play allows opportunities to regain some control by allowing children to make choices and gain mastery over difficult situations. The playroom provides patients with a place where there are NO medical procedures and where they can relax and enjoy themselves while practicing developmental and social skills. Beginning Your Day and Interacting with Patients Upon arriving at Florida Hospital for Children, please clock-in and begin your patient, staff and family interactions. There will be a designated place where you can lock up your personal belongings during your volunteer shift. Use the volunteer assignment list as a guide to determine which patients will require activities at bedside and which patients can participate in playroom activities. If a list is unavailable, please take initiative to interact with appropriate patients or call the Child Life Specialist from any phone on the unit. Encourage and invite each child to the playroom that is on the list but do not force participation (give the child a choice). You may invite as many children as you feel comfortable. Please keep in mind that children must be at least 8 years old to be in the playroom without supervision from a parent or staff member. Parents are always welcome to join their child in the playroom. ALWAYS communicate with patient s bedside nurse before entering and/or leaving patient s room, especially if the patient is alone at bedside. You can interact with patients who will require activities at bedside. Introduce yourself to each patient and find out what activities may interest them. You may bring art supplies, toys and other items found in the playroom to be used in the patient s room. If the patient is on contact precautions (yellow, green, or pink sign), only plastic toys that can be cleaned or disposable items can be brought into the patient s room. Playroom: Sit across the table from the patient, beside the patient, or on the floor. In-Room: Sit in a chair at the patient s beside, or ASK them if it is okay to sit across from them on their bed.
In-Room Patient Visitation Guidelines Use the Volunteer Assignment List as a guideline in determining which patients require in-room activities. If the list is unavailable, please take the initiative to interact with appropriate patients or call the Child Life Specialist from any phone on the unit. Wash your hands before and after leaving a patient s room. ALWAYS communicate with patient s bedside nurse before entering and/or leaving patient s room, especially if the patient is alone at bedside. Knock on the patient s door prior to entering their room. Introduce yourself to each patient and find out what activities may interest them. Be sure to include both the family and the patient as you meet the family. This will assist you in gaining the patients trust. Hi, my name is. I m a volunteer. I came to see if you needed some toys in your room, or if you wanted to play in the playroom with me. If a child is unresponsive or occupied when you visit their room, try to return later. Assist patients with I.V. poles, wheelchairs, wagons, etc. in and out of the rooms. Please ask staff for assistance with unfamiliar equipment. Introduce patients to each other and encourage socialization amongst peers. Bring age-appropriate art supplies, toys, and other items found in the playroom to be used in the patient s room. Either return the items to the playroom and CLEAN THEM before putting them away, or leave them with the patient if he/she is still engaged in the activity. If the patient is on contact precautions, (yellow, green, or pink sign), only plastic toys that can be cleaned or disposable items can be brought into the patient s room. (plastic toys, coloring sheets, and crayons, etc.) Strictly as a last option should you deliver toys that are unable to be cleaned (cardboard games, puzzles, or books.) to a patient s room. If you have been with an infant or toddler, make sure the crib area is safe! The side rails should be in the up position `and no small objects should be within REACHING distance. Prepare patients for your departure to aid in separation. (15 min. warning, 10 min warning and 5 min warning).
Playroom Guidelines Use the Volunteer Assignment List as a guideline in determining which patients require in-room activities. If the list is unavailable, please take the initiative to interact with appropriate patients or call the Child Life Specialist from any phone on the unit. Do not provide any patient with food or drink before asking his/her Nurse. There is NO eating or drinking in the playroom by patients, families or staff unless there is a special event. If a patient needs to use the restroom, assist them back to their room and notify patient s nurse or tech. Please keep socialization among volunteers to a minimum. Limit conversations to before or after your scheduled time. This applies to parents also; try to redirect attention back to the patient. For visitation of Siblings/Cousins/Friends to the playroom, please refer to the patient s unit s guidelines. Define and explain limits regarding craft projects. Provide protection for the patient s clothing and furniture as needed. (socks, gowns etc.) Respond to spills or messes in a calm and supportive manner. Report them to a staff member. Any bodily fluid exposure must be immediately reported to housekeeping STAT. Remain supportive while removing other patients from the area. Patients may remain in the playroom unless the bodily fluid is on the carpet. In this case, the playroom would be closed and housekeeping would be notified to shampoo the carpet. The playroom is a SAFE PLACE. All procedures must take place outside of the playroom including but not limited to: blood pressure, temperature and taking medications. Please step out of the playroom to talk to staff. Give notice to patients, of when they will need to clean up and return to their rooms (15 minutes, 10 minutes, etc.) When play is over, end on a positive note: It s time for the playroom to close. Would you like to pick a toy from the shelf to take back to your room? Thank you so much for playing with me today. I had a lot of fun. I hope you did, too. Clean and organize toys and cubbies. Prior to leaving the playroom, check to see that the floor is clean and free of any small objects that a child could swallow. Before your shift ends, make sure you have completed your volunteer task that has been assigned to you by child life. Please remember to clock out..
Toy Cleaning Guidelines Please refer to the following protocol when cleaning ALL toys. Toy cleaning supplies can be found on all pediatric units in the hospital. Please ask the Child Life Specialist on your unit where the supplies are kept. For your personal protection, when cleaning the toys you must wear gloves, a gown, and a mask. These items can be found in various places around Pediatrics (playroom, clean supply room, patient s rooms, etc.) Please ask the Child Life staff on your unit where the supplies are kept. The toys must be cleaned in a well ventilated area like the playroom or other designated areas by Child Life Staff. (Note: open doors for proper ventilation.) Make sure there are no patients or family members in the area during the cleaning process (so the patients are not exposed to the chemical.) Any paper products i.e. puzzles, books, board games, etc. need to be scanned for dirty spots such as food spills, bodily fluids, etc. If any of those spots are present the items must be discarded in the trash. Steps to properly clean all toys Wipe down all toys with germicidal wipes (purple top) Lay toys out on a clean bed sheet (found in clean supply rooms) Wipe all toys with disinfectant (Virex 256) Leave toys to dry for 10 minutes with Virex 256 on them Thoroughly wipe clean toys off with a wet towel or wash cloth Dry clean toys with a clean towel or wash cloth (found in clean supply rooms). Place clean toys in the appropriate place in the playroom or teen room.
Volunteer Opportunities at Florida Hospital for Children There are many opportunities to do the things you enjoy while volunteering at Florida Hospital for Children. Whether it is art, music, or organizational skills, we want to know what your talents and hobbies are so you can utilize them at the hospital! Opportunities to utilize your skills and talents Artist in Motion Parent/Visitor Snack Cart Attendant Patient Companion Comfort Rounding Pet Therapy Leader Special Events Assistant Disney Animal Outreach Holiday events and festivals Activity Time Assistant Music Volunteer Sibling Watch Pediatric Surgery concierge Peds ED concierge Walt Disney Pavilion monitor Infant Cuddler Administrative Assistant Please refer to our website www.floridahospitalforchildren.com upper right hand corner volunteer tab for brief descriptions of the roles and many more volunteer opportunities! Areas to volunteer at F.H.F.C. General Pediatrics (Medical/Surgical, Pediatric Intensive Care, Pediatric Emergency Department, Pediatric Progressive Care, Pediatric Oncology, Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Out Patient Pediatrics, Procedure Unit, Pediatric Surgery, Pediatric Radiology, Florida Hospital for Children Marketing, Pediatric Dermatology, Florida Center for Pediatric Endocrinology, Mission Fit, Pediatric, Outpatient Rehabilitation, Medical Staff Services, Healthy 100kids, and Pediatric Outpatient Orthopedics
Notes