Section 2 Assignment: Assessment and Documentation in Child Life

Please read the situation below and utilize the Stress Potential Assessment Process (Handbook p. 119) to assess the level of potential stress this patient and family is experiencing. You do not have to assign a number for the rating, but please discuss the healthcare, family, and child variables pertinent to this patient and family. Write about what aspects you would consider in each category and how you think that would impact their overall coping. Even though we are not assigning the number to this to help the CCLS prioritize, based on your assessment, to what extent do you think this patient and family would benefit from child life support? Why?

Your discussion of the stress potential assessment and the responses to the questions above should be written in a 2-3-page double-spaced paper. Try to think of this assignment as a discussion about the case below. I want to know how you’re thinking about these variables, so please explain yourself fully in the explanation.

David is a 9-year old admitted with asthma exacerbation. His parents are separated, but both have a loving, supportive, relationship with him. David has been admitted to the hospital 5 times before this and knows the routine well. He has been in the hospital for 4 days and will likely need to stay for a few more. David attends and participates in hospital events in the family library and is often on the first floor engaging in activities with the staff (Bingo, art party, board game tournament, etc.). Usually his caregivers are with him. However, this time David’s grandfather has also been hospitalized and his mother has been spending a lot of time with him instead of with David. David’s dad has a big case at work and at the end of the day rushes to the hospital to be with David.  Today, he became frustrated and yelled at David when he did not want to stop playing to do his breathing treatment.  Noticing the stress in the room, the respiratory therapist suggested that dad go to the family garden to take a walk while she played with David and did his treatment.  Dad came back much more relaxed.