First Day on Project

First off, a little background on what I am doing... I am working as a volunteer for Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital, following a child life specialist (Angela). Basically, the job of a child life specialist is to help children cope with and understand their new surroundings in the hospital. Her job varies from medical doll play (to show the children what is happening to them in a way that they can understand), to helping children take their medicines (especially those that may not taste good). Without the training that Angela has had, my job is more on the level of making kids feel comfortable and occupying them with games and stories when they get bored.

I was assigned to Rainbow 2, the immuno compromised division. The patients range in age from 4 months to 24 years. Most of them are suffering from cancer (childhood leukemia) or a blood disorder, that would cause them to have a weakened immune system. The division can only be entered after calling in and washing one's hands because of the patients susceptibility to infection. One is also expected to use purell or wash their hands before and after interaction with each patient.

So, both Monday and Wednesday I had AP tests, so I couldn't go to project. Therefore, my first day was Tuesday. The first few hours of project I spent going through orientation - hospital policy, specific regulations for Rainbow 2 (etc.).

I'll go into details about what I am doing in my next post.