Psychosocial Considerations for Pediatric Care in Emergency Departments

Abstract

When pediatric patients are admitted into emergency departments a different course of psychological care is required. Often, when admitted, children are scared and in pain. Fear and pain at any age introduces unexpected behavioral responses, and this is not an exception for children. This makes children quite vulnerable in emergency departments, regardless if caregivers are trained to work with pediatric patients. Within the urgency of delivering emergent medical care, as well as maintaining strong statistics noting minutes of care, there is little time for explanations or emotional containment for pediatric patients. Emergency medical caregivers can mitigate potential fear and reduce behavioral issues in their pediatric patients by implementing developmentally appropriate psychosocial interventions. The following case study focuses on choice-giving as a means of offering psychological safety to pediatric patients in the emergency department.