'The world's a stage', Shakespeare tells us, and we, the actors, are cast in many roles in the production of our lives. We learn these roles as children by watching our parents act them out, and by engaging in play to mimic their performance. We've grown up now, and our children are learning from us, and considering carefully the lessons that we teach through our behavior. These pages provide some hints about how to effectively understand the role of the child patient, and contain suggestions to guide you as you assume the part of the "hospital parent".

If Amy needs to be hospitalized for the treatment of an infection, for the management of an illness, or for a hundred other of the reasons that children enter the doors of hospitals as "patients", she will watch you carefully to learn how to be in this new arena. Your response to her will depend on a number of factors, and paying attention to them is a good way of helping her to be successful in her role. 

If you've had any negative experiences with hospitals or with health care professionals, you'll have a tendency to carry the feelings associated with them to Amy's hospitalization. Talk to yourself. Remind yourself that every situation is different, and that many people have good experiences in hospitals. If you work on a positive attitude, Amy will decide that this is the way she should respond, too. You are her model.

Joan Fleitas, Ed.D., R.N.
Associate Professor of Nursing, Lehman College, CUNY
Bronx, New York 10468

Last updated: March 27, 2009