My Job as an Operating room nurse Educating children, to dissipate fears. Kelly Kidd-Wheaton

Oh No… I have to have surgery! For my “Tell the World” project, I decided to talk to my daughter’s 1st grade class about my job as a nurse. I created a power point presentation, Oh no... I have to have surgery, to discuss my role as a nurse in the operating room. Children are often intimidated and fearful of the prospect of needing surgery. By demystifying the process and familiarizing kids with the operating room environment, it is my hope to alleviate some of their fears surrounding surgery. By introducing the prospective of having surgery at a time that is not emotionally We are a lot alike, you and me… I began my presentation by introducing myself and talking to the student about our similarities. I talked a bit about my family, my pets, my hobbies, and explained that I, too, was a student.

I am a Nurse. It is my job to help you get better and keep you safe. We are a little different too… I also discussed some of our difference I asked the students, what they thought I might do for a job. They guessed that I was a teacher, a dentist, a waitress, doctor, and finally a nurse. I told the students that as a nurse, I work in the operating room at UVA Outpatient Surgery Center. I explained: We take care of hundreds of kids almost every week. Some kids are scared, but others are happy that after surgery, they will be feeling better soon. It’s okay to be nervous, but the doctors and nurses at the surgery center are there to help take care of you and make you feel better. I took the time to dispelling misconceptions about what a nurse looks like and discussed functions of the job.

Oh say can you see… The Waiting Room… The Pre-op/Recovery Room… We talked about our children’s waiting for and the child life specialist, as well as activities that they might do with her. We talked about what patients might see in the recovery room, spending the night at the hospital, the importance of therapy dogs to patients, getting to go home, and how they might feel.

Oh say can you see…The Operating Room… …as well as, who you might see in the operating room and the ways in which we would take care of them. We discussed what the operating room looks like, what equipment and supplies they might see, and what sounds they might hear…

(All in age appropriate language, with age appropriate pictures.) How can we help you? We discussed some of the surgeries that we do in the outpatient operating room. Removing tonsils Putting tubes in the ears Fixing hernias Repairing broken bones Fixing crossed eyes Removing cataracts (All in age appropriate language, with age appropriate pictures.) We also discussed: Spending the night at the hospital. The importance of therapy dogs. Getting to go and how you might feel after surgery

Time to Play… Lets take a look at: Stethoscope BP Cuff IV Catheter Face Mask for O2 Lets Try on: Surgical Gowns Surgical Gloves Surgical Cap Googles Face Mask ***I brought all of the above listed items for the kids to touch, feel, and try on***

What I learned At School Today… That after receiving my power point, the teacher was so excited about the presentation that she invited a second class to join us. Many of the kids thought that surgery was just like a regular trip to the doctor when they are sick. They thought that nurses give shots and work for doctors. About a third of the students that attended my presentation, had already had surgery. Lots of students thought that having stitched or having a broken bone casted was equivalent to a surgical procedure. The kids loved talking about and sharing their experience with having surgery and being sick (the teachers liked sharing their experiences too). The teachers were just as excited to learn about the operating room and how it functions. They asked almost as many questions as the kids. We have lots of kids who are super excited about becoming doctors and nurses. They loved playing with the stethoscope and listening to each others hearts. Their favorite part was dressing up in gowns, gloves, mask, hats, and goggles. The teachers asked if I could send them “dress up stuff” so they can be doctors and nurses next year for Halloween. Dress up time was my favorite part, too. I loved seeing the kids smile and get excited about being “doctors and nurses”.