SPS Newsletter

An official publication of the Society for Pediatric Sedation

An official publication of the
Society for Pediatric Sedation®

Child Life

What Can Child Life Specialists Learn at SPS 2020?
By Laura Mitchell, CCLS
Child Life Specialist, Senior Staff
Nemours Children's Health System

From my perspective, the best way to enhance your Child Life practice is to have a comprehensive understanding of the team you are supporting. For Child Life Specialists working in sedation, this means we need to immerse ourselves in all things related to sedation/anesthesia, while at the same time being cognizant about our scope of practice.  We need to learn about medications … [Read more...] about What Can Child Life Specialists Learn at SPS 2020?

Is it a Child Life Specialist’s Role to Support an Adult Patient with Diagnosed Developmental Delays?
By Laura Mitchell, CCLS

At the SPS conference in Denver last May, one of the vignettes discussed during the Stump the Experts Panel centered around a 23 year-old patient diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. During the panel, we talked about the very real concerns surrounding the treatment of adult patients in pediatric facilities.  For Child Life Specialists supporting sedation teams in … [Read more...] about Is it a Child Life Specialist’s Role to Support an Adult Patient with Diagnosed Developmental Delays?

Don’t Hold Your Breath
By Laura Mitchell, CCLS

It has been well established that rhythmic (or controlled) breathing can be an effective non-pharmacologic technique for reducing procedure-related pain and anxiety. Controlled breathing can lower heart rates and promote vasodilation. (Tollison, 2002)  Bubbles and pinwheels are frequently used to demonstrate controlled breathing techniques for toddlers and preschoolers.  For s … [Read more...] about Don’t Hold Your Breath