In this episode of Code Brew, Jo King and Luke Warm sit down with Sunny D, a certified Child Life Specialist, to dive into the world of pediatric emotional support and the role of child life specialists in healthcare. This special episode, released in honor of Child Life Month, sheds light on how child life specialists help children and families navigate the hospital experience.

Key Topics Covered:

• What is a Child Life Specialist?

• Their role in supporting children and families in medical settings

• How their background in child development, psychology, and family studies prepares them for their work

• The importance of play therapy, emotional support, and developmental understanding

• The Power of Facility Dogs in Healthcare

• G-Man, a yellow lab facility dog, works alongside Sunny D to provide emotional support

• How facility dogs help reduce anxiety, encourage mobility, and bring comfort to both patients and staff

• The growing presence of facility dogs in pediatric and adult hospitals

• How Children Process Medical Situations Differently

• Developmental stages impact how kids understand and cope with medical experiences

• The importance of using simple, clear language to explain procedures to kids

• Creative coping strategies, like using toys, play, and facility dogs, to make hospital experiences less scary

• Child Life Specialists & Nurses: A Team Approach

• How child life specialists and nurses work together to make procedures less traumatic

• Trauma choreography: The role of child life specialists in pediatric trauma care

• Techniques to help children take medications, stay calm during procedures, and process hospital stays positively

• Memorable Stories & Impactful Moments

• A burn patient using G-Man for emotional healing

• A heartbreaking but powerful moment supporting two young children visiting their dying mother

• How small interventions—like a simple toy or distraction—can completely change a child’s hospital experience

• Tip for New Grads from Sunny D

• “You treat a disease, you win, you lose. You treat a person, I guarantee you, will win, no matter what the outcome.” – Patch Adams

• Encouraging healthcare providers to see beyond the illness and treat the whole person

• The importance of using psychosocial supports like child life specialists, therapy animals, music therapy, and chaplains

Wrap-Up:

The episode highlights the invaluable role of child life specialists and facility dogs in pediatric care. Jo King, Luke Warm, and Sunny D emphasize the need for multidisciplinary teamwork to improve patient experiences. The conversation ends with a reminder for nurses and healthcare providers to advocate for child life services in their facilities.

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