Stay Involved

We encourage you to get involved in all aspects of your child's care, including:

• talking with your child's caregivers
• keeping track of the medications your child is taking
• following hospital guidelines regarding identification bands
• helping us prevent hospital falls
• being aware of special resources available for you and your child 

Talk With Caregivers

• Tell us what works best to keep your child comfortable.
• Tell us your routines so that we can try to keep them as closely as possible.
• Tell us if you see a change in your child's condition.
• Tell the nurse when you are leaving your child alone.
• Ask for an interpreter to help with language. 
• Ask for a chaplain if you would like spiritual support.
• Ask for all test results to be explained to you.
• Ask your doctor or nurse to use a drawing or a picture to explain a procedure or concept.
• Write down questions you want to ask heatlhcare professionals in a journal.
• Write down when something has been explained but you want to know more.
• Write important dates, appointments, or activities in a calendar or datebook.

Keep Track of Medications

Your child's nurse will tell you what a medicine is for and show it to you. 
Tell your doctor or nurse if your child is allergic to medicine (or foods). 
Ask your child's caregivers the questions below about each medicine given to your child:

• What the medicine is and what is it for?
• Will the medicine cause a problem with other medicines your child is taking
• How often your child needs to take the medicine each day?
• How many days or weeks does your child need to take this medicine?
• How soon will the medicine start working?
• What side effects does the medicine have?
• Ask for handouts on your child's medicine.
• If a medicine looks different from what your child received before, ask the nurse or doctor to double-check.

Other considerations to keep in mind regarding medicine:

• If a nurse or doctor comes to give medicine, ask the medicine's name and what it is for.
• If a medicine looks different from what your child received before, ask the nurse or doctor to double check.
• Please tell your doctor or nurse how the medicines make your child feel.

Your Child's Identification Band

• Make sure your child is always wearing his or her identification band.
• If your child's identification band is removed or falls off, please ask your child's nurse to make a new one.
• Make sure all caregivers check your child’s nameband before giving your child medicine.
• Do not tape your child's identification band to the bed or crib.

Prevent Hospital Falls

• If your child is in a crib, please raise the crib rails BEFORE walking away, even if you are going to the door or stepping away to get something. Remember, rails up first BEFORE you walk away, even if you are in the room.
• Older children fall too.  Know if your child is taking certain medicines or has a condition that makes them unsteady when walking.  Your child may be able to sit up or walk only wth someone's help to prevent them from falling.

Access Special Resources

• If your child needs blood, ask about how the blood is given and possible reactions.
• Make sure all doctors and nurses are aware of your child’s special needs.
  Consider placing a special message above your child's bed with your child's needs. 
  Feel free to discuss your child's needs with new nurses and doctors.
• Give the nurse telephone numbers where you can be reached if you are needed while your child is in the hospital. 
• To receive help communicating in your own language with English-speaking caregivers, request a Language & Cultural Specialist or Interpreter.  Call ext. 12596 from within the hospital, or (323) 361-2596 from outside the hospital.