Personal Profile
Of course we have to start with your favorite selfie.
1, What is your favorite vacation spot?
The mountains! Especially Colorado!
2. If you could be any animal what animal would you be?
I think I would have to say a dog, I mean you get to spend your days chilling, run and play as much as you want outside, and then snuggle on the couch or the rug with your people!
3. What is your favorite way to pass the time?
I love going thrift store shopping, especially for furniture that I can redo!
Child Life Questions
1. What made you pursue Child Life?
As a child I was involved in a car accident that caused some serious injuries, so I spent a long time in the hospital where I learned firsthand how difficult it was to be on the patient side of hospitalization, especially as a child. When I started looking into potential careers, I knew that I wanted to be able to make that experience better for kids and to help families who are in those moments of crisis or difficulty. Once I began pursuing Child Life, I loved how Child Life Specialists get to be the ‘safe’ person, the one who is totally focused on supporting the child during the hospital or medical experience.
2. Will you describe what it means to be a PRN CCLS for those who do not know?
PRN in the medical world means ‘as needed’. It’s a lot like substitute teaching. I am trained to work in nearly every unit of our hospital that has a Child Life presence, so that when one of those Child Life Specialists takes time off, whether that’s one day or an entire maternity leave, I can work in that area and see those patients. It’s a somewhat unpredictable schedule, but I love the variety of areas that I get to spend time in.
3. Since you have some experience on most units, is there any unit you like working on most?
Whatever unit I am working on that day is usually my favorite! There are differences between each unit and how it operates, and there are aspects that I like about every unit. I will say that I love getting to work with families over an extended period of time, whether that is a patient who is hospitalized for a long period of time or one of the patients that are our ‘frequent flyers’ with medical conditions that require recurrent hospital visits. I love being able to have that ongoing relationship with families and walk alongside them during the ups and the downs.
4. How long have you been a CCLS?
I have been a CCLS for a little over two years.
5. Do you have any advice for those pursuing a career in Child Life?
My advice would be to get as much experience as you can with healthy kids in addition to kids with medical issues. Not only will this help you in getting an internship or applying for jobs, but those normative experiences with kids are what prepare you to in turn normalize the hospital environment. Volunteering, working at camps, being a nanny, it is all valuable experience that will help you better relate with kids and ultimately be a better Child Life Specialist!
6. Describe Child Life using one word.
Advocate.
7. What does Child Life mean to you?
To me, Child Life means that out of all the healthcare professionals a child may see, we are the one that exists for them. Whether that means bringing in a fun bedside activity, providing support during a difficult procedure, or advocating for them with the medical team, our goal is to do what we can to reduce the stress of medical experiences and promote optimal child development and resiliency.
8. How does Child Life affect your personal life, if at all?
It definitely affects my personal life. Even when you have appropriate boundaries in place, you can’t help but take the situations that you see every day to heart. When a patient that I have worked with over a long period of time passes away, I feel that. When a patient who was incredibly nervous about a procedure shows so much bravery in coping with it, I feel that. You’re there for the successes as well as the setbacks; the good outcomes and the bad. I believe that in order to make a difference you have to genuinely care, and therefore it affects you personally.
9. What are some characteristics/personality traits a person should have if they want to go into Child Life or that would make someone cut out to be a good CCLS?
Flexibility, creativity, genuine compassion, and self-motivation.
10. How can someone help with Child Life without becoming a CCLS?
Volunteer, volunteer, volunteer! Donate so that we have the tools we need to support our patients! Spread awareness of Child Life to pediatric medical environments that do not have it.
