'Play lady? helps children during hospitalization

To the children who come to St. John's Hospital, 1235 E. Cherokee, for out-patient or inpatient care, Jennifer Boaz, a certified child life specialist, is known as the "play lady." That title comes as a result of one of her job responsibilities.

"It's important to have the newest mo-vies and games available for the children who come here," she said. "We want to try and make this like home as much as possible. We want to have the toys they're used to having at home. So, we keep Nintendo and Play Station games, TVs, VCRs, books, puzzles, arts and crafts activities, and board games available."

Boaz works on the fifth floor of St. John's in the pediatric unit. The unit, for children from birth to 18 years old, has 29 beds. There's also an eight-bed intensive care unit.

"Because this hospital is a trauma center, we do get kids in here with trauma resulting from a car or bike accident," she said.

While the pediatric unit can be busy year-round, Boaz said winter is the busiest time of the year. "That's when we get kids in here with upper respiratory illnesses," she said.

Background

Boaz has a bachelor of science degree in therapeutic recreation with a minor in child development. "I started out majoring in special education," she said. "But I was interested in the medical aspect of the field. I've always known I wanted to work with kids."

As part of her education, Boaz had to complete a 12-week, 480-hour internship and an exam to certify her as a certified child life specialist.

"Child life specialists have to know normal child growth and development, basic medical terminology and procedures," she said. "We learn guidance techniques in order to learn what the children are afraid of. Then we explain those things to a child in a way that he or she can understand. For example, an IV is described as a straw that gives your body a drink. X-rays are special pictures of the insides of your body."

Boaz said that while adults have the understanding that they're in a hospital to get better, some kids think they're in the hospital as a punishment for something they did wrong.

She offers bereavement support to children who have lost a parent after they've come to the hospital. She's also on hand to explain surgical procedures to children whose parents are having surgery on another floor of the hospital.

Pre-op parties

Children who will undergo surgery are invited to a pre-op party Boaz hosts every Thursday night. "During the party, we watch a video that discusses the kind of surgery they'll be having," she said. "The kids can play with the equipment they'll be seeing during their hospital stay. We take a tour of the surgery suite and end our time with a question-and-answer session for the parents."

Boaz said she's seen a big difference in the children who attend the pre-op party compared with those who don't attend. "We had two girls in here, the same age, who were having their tonsils and adenoids removed," she said. "The one who attended the pre-op party was able to go home the same day she had her surgery. She knew how important it is to drink a lot of liquids after having your tonsils taken out. If they don't drink liquids, they become dehydrated. The one who didn't attend the pre-op party had to stay in the hospital for four days. She wouldn't drink liquids as often as she needed to. Now I don't know for a fact that the girl who attended the pre-op party got to leave the hospital sooner just because she knew what was going to happen. It could have something to do with the difference in the girls' temperaments. It's my observation that the kids who attend the pre-op party do a lot better after surgery."

Child life specialists

Boaz believes child life is a field that will always be important. "There are child life specialists working in dentists' offices in the bigger cities now," she said. "I would like to see this area expand to doctors' offices and the emergency room. There could be a lot of growth in Springfield in child life."

Boaz said the doctors, nurses and staff at St. John's are very supportive of child life and her job at the hospital.

"They all know what child life is and how important it is," she said. "The nurses and nurses aides assist me on a regular basis."

Boaz "absolutely loves" the job she's had at St. John's for two years.

"It's rewarding to help a child through their hospitalization," she said. "I get to see them go from being very frightened to being at ease."