By Article Author
We recently sat down with our Teen Advisory Council and asked the teens what they needed from their visitors and the staff during their stay:
- Friends are our life! Please make sure we have opportunities to connect with our friends.
- We love sleep. Sleep is even more important when we’re dealing with an illness or surgery. Please keep sleep sacred. That goes doubly for hospital staff. Please don’t flick on the lights when we’re sleeping, and if we can avoid having our vitals taken through the night that would be great.
- We want to know what’s going on with our bodies, too. Include us in conversations when discussing our medical care, or at least ask us if we want to be included. Parents, you can advocate for us to be included
- Respect our privacy. Knock before you enter our rooms. If you’re a visitor, please step outside during examinations. If you’re a doctor or a nurse, please uncover us selectively for exams and tell us everything you’re going to do before you do it.
- Don’t just focus on our illness. Don’t just ask about our pain or the medical condition. Consider asking us if we’re comfortable in the room, bed, etc.
- Recognizing we’re on the path to adulthood. While we’re on a pediatrics unit, we’re not little kids. Sometimes when we’re sick, both visitors and staff treat us like we’re much younger than we are. And while we’re not little kids our bodies might still be too small for medical equipment for adults.
- Take it slow. Just like for other patients don’t ask too many questions at once, and please don’t rush me. If I’m in pain, it’s real.
