Staying in Monash Children's

Staying in touch

Most people miss their friends when they’re in hospital, but they can come in to visit you. Your family and relatives can usually visit anytime. But, in some hospitals there may be special times when people are asked to visit you, which your hospital will tell you about.

There are usually payphones on every ward, and you can have a phone at your bedside, just for your calls.

If you are staying in hospital for a while friends and family can write to you on the ward that you are staying on. Just ask your nurse for the ward and hospital address.

Feelings

When you are in hospital away from home it can feel strange. But, don’t worry as it can take you a little while to get used to it. It’s okay to miss the things you do at home and even school. Some days you might feel happy and other days you may feel a bit sad. It’s okay to feel anyway you want to, and there are lots of people in hospital that you can talk to.

In some situations you may have your own room. But generally you will be staying on a ward with other children your age. Wherever you will be staying you can put up you own posters and have some of your own stuff around you.

Hospital food

Everyone gets used to the food they eat every day. Most people have favourite foods they eat at home or at school. So when you go into hospital mealtime can seem a bit different.

You will get a menu each day, so that you can choose what you want to eat the next day. Breakfast usually comes at around 7.30am, lunch at about 12.15 and dinner at around 5.30pm. The food isn't usually that different from at home, and having a choice can be really good.

Things to do

If you are staying in Monash Children's for more than a few days, take some of your favourite games, DVDs and reading books with you. In most hospitals there is stuff to do, but it’s best to find out before you go into hospital, so you know what to bring.

Monash Children’s hospitals have a space just for young people to meet and hang out and you can access games and other fun stuff including a supply of Nintendo/Video machines. We have a limited supply of these machines and you should book through them your nurse. During busier times there may be a 30 minute time limit. Also, due to age mixes within the wards, we might restrict the use of the machines after 8.00pm to ensure younger kids get enough rest.

If you are going to be in hospital for a little while, it’s a good idea to bring your schoolwork with you, so you don’t need to worry about missing out on school. We also have teachers to make sure that you keep up with your school work.

Published Date: September 17, 2009
Printed from http://www.monashchildrens.org.au/page/Kids_and_Teens/Staying_in_Monash_Childrens/
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