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Surgery is an extremely stressful and frightening experience for a child.
Imagine going to a place where you've never been before and being surrounded
by people wearing clothes that look like pajamas and speaking a strange
language. Now imagine doing that as a small, frightened child. The
compassionate and caring staff at Trinitas Hospital understands the fear and
anxiety children and their families may experience when a child needs to
have an operation. Our goal is to keep your child SAFE by providing a
Supportive And Friendly Environment. Fear can be relieved by getting to know
people and places before the actual day of a child's operation. Our
Operation:SAFE program includes the availability of:
Pre-Op Tours Of The Hospital
This individualized walking tour introduces you and your child to some of
the places and staff that you'll see on the day of surgery. Your child will
get to play with some of the equipment he/she will see before the operation
and can even take some home.
Parents In The Operating Room
We strongly encourage parents to stay with their child in the operating room
holding area. This is the place where your child will wait just before going
into surgery. Here, he/she will meet with doctors and nurses who will be
with him/her during the surgery. If you have had a Pre-op Tour and you and
our staff agree that your presence will be a support to your child, you may
be able to go right into the Operating Room with your child until he/she is
asleep. If this idea frightens you or you are uncomfortable in hospitals, we
don't encourage you to do this as your child will sense your fear and become
more nervous. Whether or not you accompany your child into the Operating
Room, you can still play a very active role in the preparation process. The
staff at Trinitas Hospital is committed to providing the highest quality
care to you and your family. Our highly expert staff works to meet the
healthcare needs of our community's youngest patients through the creation
of our SAFE program which combines advanced skill and technology with a
caring and compassionate approach.
Tips For Your Child's Surgery
Parents can take an active role in helping their child through the surgery
experience. A parent can start to create a SAFE feeling at home by following
these tips:
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Make the child feel more secure and calm by talking about the
hospital and the operation
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Provide comfort and support by talking, singing or touching the
child whenever they start to be scared about going to the hospital
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Attend the Pre-Op Tour and encourage your child to ask questions
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Bring your child's favorite stuffed animal, blanket, or toy to the
hospital on the day of the operation
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Encourage your child to speak up if something hurts or they are
scared
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Ask about things you don't understand and encourage your child to do
the same
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When it's all over and your child goes home, encourage your child to
make a book or story about the hospital stay and operation
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For more information, or to schedule an appointment, please call our Child
Life Department at 908-994-5357.
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