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Kids and Bloodwork
April 6, 2009 |
“I don’t think you can 100% prepare a child. They’re going to have apprehensions.
No matter how you handle it,”
says Connie Rose, a phlebotomist for Lee Memorial Health System. I
t can be a scary moment for kids and a heartbreaking one for parents but a little
teamwork could make that blood drawing procedure a bit easier. For parents, it’s all about how you present the situation to your child. “Some parents will say, ‘oh,
we’re going for a ride, or parents might say, ‘you’re going to get blood work and
they’re going to poke you with a needle.' You don’t want to be too descriptive,
you just want to put the child at ease,”
explains Rose.
Some outpatient centers have kid-friendly rooms to make children more comfortable,
once they do arrive for bloodwork. “We try to make friends with them first. Make
conversation. Make note of their shirt. We try to wear kid-friendly clothes, it puts them at ease,” adds Rose.
During the procedure, laying a hand on the child or having them look at you and
not the needle can also be comforting. |
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