We were lucky enough to be placed on the children's ward for our first week. This came with a bundle of nerves and excitement especially since we haven't had much time working with the pediatric population since last year. Overall we felt that the nurses, physicians and other staff were extremely welcoming and inclusive. The level of acuity was much higher and more complex compared to our previous experiences which was definitely intimidating. However, having three students placed on the ward at a time made us all feel more supported and comfortable. There was a particular patient that resonated with all three of us through our interactions and play therapy throughout the day. It really became challenging when we had to assist her with a dressing change that was unlike anything we have ever seen before. Unfortunately she had deep burn wounds that covered her entire chest and torso which required daily dressing changes. Under normal circumstances the patient would be under anesthesia due to the severity, but in this case it was not an option. We assisted the physician with handling the supplies while I (Nikki) tried to help the patient. This consisted of telling her to squeeze me hands, recite her favourite animals and colours and asking her simple math equations (which she nailed every single question) in an attempt to distract her from the excruciating pain. Her wounds were very infected with moderate amounts of pus and blood, and despite her screaming, her resilience and strength was remarkable. We found all of the children on the unit possessed the same level of courage which was inspiring to us all.
Since our first day there was another patient that stood out for Steph. He was in the hospital working through complications from a serious burn which left his right hand unusable. He had rods placed into each finger in an attempt to prevent complete loss of his hand. It was nothing we had ever seen before and once again we were amazed by how tough this toddler was. Steph made valiant efforts to bond with him during the first two days, but he was very shy. At the end of the second day Steph gave him a toy car because of how brave he was during his dressing changes, but it seemed little progress had been made. However, by the third day a miracle happened. When Steph walked onto the unit, he came racing to her with his arms stretched wide and his toy car in his hand and jumped into her arms. She picked him up and they embraced one another and it was a moment that none of us will forget. Moments like these make us remember how important and valuable working with children can be. Despite the difficulty working with sick kids, it makes it all worth it.
We also spent a great deal of our time working on a program called play therapy. This entails trying to engage and play with kids as much as possible to not only help build rapport and relationships, but also decrease pain and stress. We attempted to implement play therapy throughout the week, but on the third day we began to see the difference. We had the biggest turnout of kids attend, including parents, and it was amazing to see how beneficial simple play can be. They especially enjoyed part of the session when we would read to them, and they began to participate and thrive when we asked them to count or recite the alaphabet. We are excited to see the play therapy program continue to grow and we will observe if any children request green eggs and ham (Seuss, 1960) for future meal times. -Steph and Nikki
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