Internship

I was fortunate enough to experience quite a few rotations during my internship at Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital, each one teaching me different valuable child life skills. I spent the majority of my time with the inpatient and outpatient hematology/oncology units, which allowed me to develop my rapport-building and assessment skills with long-term patients. During my rotation in surgery, I learned how to prepare patients for procedures and adapt my language based on the patient’s developmental level. For general pediatrics, I gained exposure to a variety of diagnoses, learned how to introduce services, and developed skills in educating patients on their diagnoses and treatment plans in a way they will understand. In the infusion center, I developed skills in procedural support and distraction during needle procedures. Of course, all of these skills overlap in each unit, but some units allowed me to focus on specific skills better than others. I also had incredible opportunities to sit in on music, art, and dance/movement therapy sessions, which showed me different perspectives and approaches from members of the psychosocial team on how best to support patients. In April, I'll assist with a Sib Shop, which will be the first in-person session since COVID-19 began. I look forward to sharing more of my experiences and my final project as I continue through my internship!