Child Life Exam.
Elisabeth Kugler-Ross developed the stages of grief throughout her research (in the late 1960s). Dying
adults tend to progress through the stages in what order? -
Denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance
To provide emotional support & increase sense of connection between parents, siblings, & the patient, a
CCLS may provide tech-based communication resources. This intervention applies which theory into
child life practice? -
Family systems theory
When a person is internally having thoughts & feelings regarding a death, what are they experiencing?
-
Grief
Examples of cognitive coping strategies -
Distraction (conscious choice of alternate focus), therapeutic storytelling, spirituality/prayer, humor,
imagery, continuous positive self-talk
Relaxation Response -
Physical state of deep relaxation that helps turn off the fight/flight response, counteract effects of
stress, & induce state of calm (Dr. Benson)
Dignity of risk -
the principle that taking ordinary risks & chances is part of the human experience, & leads to self-
determination, increased self-esteem, & independence
Normal motor skills by age -
4 months: roll from abdomen to back
8 months: sit unsupported
10 months: pull self up to standing by holding onto furniture
11 months: walk while holding on to someone or something
15 months: walk independently
24 months: balance on one foot & kick at objects with other foot
30 months: jump up & down (in place)
36 months: throw ball overhand
Essential elements of a psychosocial assessment -
-Affect
-Mood & temperament
-Capacity for communication & interaction
-Prior physical health & medical history
-Personal/family stressors
-Coping skills
-Defense mechanisms
-Hx of any self-esteem issues
,Attachment theory -
John Bowlby
-Protest, despair, detachment
Most common pediatric stressors -
-Separation from caregivers/loved ones
-Any use of needles
-Long wait times (time for fears to develop/imagination to create misconceptions)
-Any procedure involving pain or unexpected sensation
-Any exposure/exam of private body parts
-Being the focus of groups (i.e. an OR team)
-Use of any large/unfamiliar medical equipment
Family systems theory -
Every individual is an interrelated part of many other broader social systems, such as the family,
community, society as a whole
Scientific/biomedical health model -
1) Determinism: belief that a cause-and-effect relationship exists for every natural event
2) Mechanism: "life" arises from structures that operate like a machine
3) Reductionism: everything can be reduced or disassembled into its constituent parts
4) Dualism: the mind and body are separate entities
Ethical principle of "veracity" -
The duty to be truthful with others
Ethical principle of "fidelity" -
Requires child life professionals to be honest, faithful, and ethical in all interactions with others, and
keep obligations imposed by laws, policy, or protocols
Ethical principle of "fiduciary" -
-Fiduciary (in child life context): has privileged information, standing, and/or education, and
therefore holds advantages over others.
-The ethical obligation to seek after the wellbeing of others by assisting them to fully attain their own
interests and rights
Rights of a child (receiving health care services) -
1) To be accompanied by a loved one whenever possible
2) To understand their health & treatment situation
3) To receive answers to questions asked
4) To be comforted when in distress
5) To play (even if it's just in bed)
6) To be given honest responses
7) To receive support, appropriate for development & needs
8) To be safe
9) To have control of their body
10) To be respected & have their rights and feelings honored
11) For their wellbeing to be paramount
, 12) To be part of a "whanau" (Maori word for family)
3 child life care categories -
-Direct care: face-to-face contact between specialists, patients, & families. Time charting, reporting,
consultations
-Indirect care: time spent making presentations, attending committee/meetings, in-services, staff
meetings
-Non-direct care: administrative stuff like marketing, policy development, event promotion, etc.
Children's universal needs -
-The need to feel competent and empowered
-The need to understand their situation
-The need to express and receive love
Year the term "child life" emerged -
1961
Stress point care -
Identifying the most crucial/highest stress points in a care experience, and focusing services there
(Key stressors: presurgical lab work, IV placement, events involving needles, etc)
Key steps of child preparation for a medical procedure -
1) Explain: use simple, plain terms and prep to the senses!
2) Give helpful directions: tell child what they need to do for things to go smoothly and well (i.e.
holding still, taking deep breaths, etc.)
3) Prevent fear
Key ways to manage child's fear during a medical procedure -
-Set a good example by staying calm & speaking in a relaxed, matter-of-fact way
-Use honesty to avoid surprises (e.g. be truthful about pain)
-Give simple directions (e.g. "hold your arm very still" instead of "don't cause trouble")
-Offer choices when reasonable
-Offer simple coping suggestions
-Give praise for ANY success, no matter how small
-Provide positive limits & follow through (no idle threats!)
-If child gets upset, offer brief sympathy but focus on positive coping by praising any success
Common coping strategies -
-Holding comfort item
-Deciding whether to watch the procedure, or focus on a distraction
-Engaging in an enjoyable activity
-Using deep breathing relaxation techniques
-Counting to begin the procedure
(-Going limp and relaxing "like spaghetti" ??)
Forms of health care play -
1) Expressive play: expressing feelings, especially when limited vocabulary or stress restrict their
capacity/ability to vent
2) Familiarization play: playing with anxiety-producing medical objects in a fun (not threatening) way
Elisabeth Kugler-Ross developed the stages of grief throughout her research (in the late 1960s). Dying
adults tend to progress through the stages in what order? -
Denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance
To provide emotional support & increase sense of connection between parents, siblings, & the patient, a
CCLS may provide tech-based communication resources. This intervention applies which theory into
child life practice? -
Family systems theory
When a person is internally having thoughts & feelings regarding a death, what are they experiencing?
-
Grief
Examples of cognitive coping strategies -
Distraction (conscious choice of alternate focus), therapeutic storytelling, spirituality/prayer, humor,
imagery, continuous positive self-talk
Relaxation Response -
Physical state of deep relaxation that helps turn off the fight/flight response, counteract effects of
stress, & induce state of calm (Dr. Benson)
Dignity of risk -
the principle that taking ordinary risks & chances is part of the human experience, & leads to self-
determination, increased self-esteem, & independence
Normal motor skills by age -
4 months: roll from abdomen to back
8 months: sit unsupported
10 months: pull self up to standing by holding onto furniture
11 months: walk while holding on to someone or something
15 months: walk independently
24 months: balance on one foot & kick at objects with other foot
30 months: jump up & down (in place)
36 months: throw ball overhand
Essential elements of a psychosocial assessment -
-Affect
-Mood & temperament
-Capacity for communication & interaction
-Prior physical health & medical history
-Personal/family stressors
-Coping skills
-Defense mechanisms
-Hx of any self-esteem issues
,Attachment theory -
John Bowlby
-Protest, despair, detachment
Most common pediatric stressors -
-Separation from caregivers/loved ones
-Any use of needles
-Long wait times (time for fears to develop/imagination to create misconceptions)
-Any procedure involving pain or unexpected sensation
-Any exposure/exam of private body parts
-Being the focus of groups (i.e. an OR team)
-Use of any large/unfamiliar medical equipment
Family systems theory -
Every individual is an interrelated part of many other broader social systems, such as the family,
community, society as a whole
Scientific/biomedical health model -
1) Determinism: belief that a cause-and-effect relationship exists for every natural event
2) Mechanism: "life" arises from structures that operate like a machine
3) Reductionism: everything can be reduced or disassembled into its constituent parts
4) Dualism: the mind and body are separate entities
Ethical principle of "veracity" -
The duty to be truthful with others
Ethical principle of "fidelity" -
Requires child life professionals to be honest, faithful, and ethical in all interactions with others, and
keep obligations imposed by laws, policy, or protocols
Ethical principle of "fiduciary" -
-Fiduciary (in child life context): has privileged information, standing, and/or education, and
therefore holds advantages over others.
-The ethical obligation to seek after the wellbeing of others by assisting them to fully attain their own
interests and rights
Rights of a child (receiving health care services) -
1) To be accompanied by a loved one whenever possible
2) To understand their health & treatment situation
3) To receive answers to questions asked
4) To be comforted when in distress
5) To play (even if it's just in bed)
6) To be given honest responses
7) To receive support, appropriate for development & needs
8) To be safe
9) To have control of their body
10) To be respected & have their rights and feelings honored
11) For their wellbeing to be paramount
, 12) To be part of a "whanau" (Maori word for family)
3 child life care categories -
-Direct care: face-to-face contact between specialists, patients, & families. Time charting, reporting,
consultations
-Indirect care: time spent making presentations, attending committee/meetings, in-services, staff
meetings
-Non-direct care: administrative stuff like marketing, policy development, event promotion, etc.
Children's universal needs -
-The need to feel competent and empowered
-The need to understand their situation
-The need to express and receive love
Year the term "child life" emerged -
1961
Stress point care -
Identifying the most crucial/highest stress points in a care experience, and focusing services there
(Key stressors: presurgical lab work, IV placement, events involving needles, etc)
Key steps of child preparation for a medical procedure -
1) Explain: use simple, plain terms and prep to the senses!
2) Give helpful directions: tell child what they need to do for things to go smoothly and well (i.e.
holding still, taking deep breaths, etc.)
3) Prevent fear
Key ways to manage child's fear during a medical procedure -
-Set a good example by staying calm & speaking in a relaxed, matter-of-fact way
-Use honesty to avoid surprises (e.g. be truthful about pain)
-Give simple directions (e.g. "hold your arm very still" instead of "don't cause trouble")
-Offer choices when reasonable
-Offer simple coping suggestions
-Give praise for ANY success, no matter how small
-Provide positive limits & follow through (no idle threats!)
-If child gets upset, offer brief sympathy but focus on positive coping by praising any success
Common coping strategies -
-Holding comfort item
-Deciding whether to watch the procedure, or focus on a distraction
-Engaging in an enjoyable activity
-Using deep breathing relaxation techniques
-Counting to begin the procedure
(-Going limp and relaxing "like spaghetti" ??)
Forms of health care play -
1) Expressive play: expressing feelings, especially when limited vocabulary or stress restrict their
capacity/ability to vent
2) Familiarization play: playing with anxiety-producing medical objects in a fun (not threatening) way
