“Rea’sure me” Tools for the Visiting Child in the Intensive Care Unit

Abstract

Nowadays, most of the intensive care units (ICUs) allow adult family members to visit critically ill patients 24/7, whereas the presence of children is somewhat still a controversial topic. At the surgical ICU in Caen University Hospital, we have decided to change our policy and allow children at the bedside. However, understanding and managing children’s rapport to illness and death cannot be taken lightly. The presence of this small visitor requires a specific frame, more complex than that of the adult. In response to this need, our ICU team has built various tools (welcome room and leaflet, miniature ICU room) to support the children and nursing teams with this difficult phase through a friendly and comforting environment.