Your Care at Children’s Hospital

• Bring the medications your child is currently prescribed by your family physician or paediatrician, or a list of medications and your pharmacy’s phone number. This includes any over-the-counter, medications and vitamins, as well as creams, lotions, inhalers, and eye drops.
• Inform your child’s nurse and physician of any medications which have recently been stopped, and any allergies or adverse reactions to foods, medications, or environmental factors. 
• Medications prescribed and approved for use at LHSC will be supplied while in hospital.
• Any medications from home should not be taken unless approved by your child’s care team.
• If you receive a list of medications before leaving LHSC, ensure this list is shared with your family physician or paediatrician, as well as your home pharmacy.
• If you have questions about your child’s medications, a pharmacist is available to come and answer your questions or address any concerns. Ask your child’s nurse to contact a pharmacist on your behalf.
• If your child is on several medications, a medication calendar can be prepared by a pharmacist and reviewed with you prior to discharge. 

• Write down questions or observations about your child and share them with your team. Do not hesitate to ask to have something explained again or in a different way.
• Ask for explanations, benefits, risks or side effects of any medicines, tests, treatments, or procedures.
• Be honest with your child. Explain to your child why hospitalization is needed and what the doctors and nurses will do. Staff members are available to help you prepare your child for what they may see, hear, feel, and experience.
• Encourage your child to ask questions and express feelings.
• Please share your cultural customs or religious beliefs so that we can be sensitive to your needs. 

We invite you to take part in your child’s bedside shift change report. This is when nurses share updates during a shift change, and it’s a chance for you to hear about your child’s care, ask questions, and share any information you think is important. Your input helps us give the best care possible.

During bedside shift change report, which can take three to five minutes, you can expect the following:  

• The nurse starting their shift will introduce themselves
• The nurses will review your child’s plan of care
• The nurses will complete mandatory safety checks
• The nurses will ask you if you have any questions or any additional information to share

You will be encouraged to participate in a way that works for you and your child. Prior to leaving the room, your child’s nurse will let you know when you can expect them to return.