The nurses Helen, Karen, Trish and Peter are busy around you all day long. They help you in many ways: they make your bed, give you pills, wash you, bring your food, take your temperature, and take a blood sample. They will check on you every so often in case you might need something. At night, before you go to sleep, they will tuck you in. Most nurses are women, but of course there are men too.
They are really great fun, but when it’s busy and there are lots of children, they may not have much time to play with you, since they have to rush to see every child.
And here comes the doctor who will answer all your questions:
- how much longer must I stay here?
- what will you do to me?
- will you make me feel better?
A doctor can be either a very kind man or a very kind woman. They usually have a thingamajig hanging around their neck with a cold metal bit which they use to listen to your heart.
Next up is the surgeon (say “Sir John”). This is a doctor who operates on you. He may for example remove the small end of your appendix from your tummy, or work on your eyes so that they look pretty again. But before the surgeon can do his thing, you will encounter the anaesthetist (say “a knees-the-tist”). He puts you to sleep, even when you’re not tired at all.
He will do this with an injection, or by putting a transparent mask on your face, just like a jet pilot. The anaesthetist will usually ask you to count to 10, and by the time you reach 3, you’ll be fast asleep.
Some children have to stay quiet in bed for days on end. They are hardly allowed to get up. Your legs will feel quite strange then. It’s as if you have to learn how to walk all over again. To do this, you will be helped by a physiotherapist (say “fizzy-o-therapist”). A physiotherapist is someone who teaches you various exercises and helps to get your muscles back in shape. Sometimes when you return home you will have to continue visiting the physiotherapist for a while.
And who ensures that everything is clean? The cleaner. Its great fun isn’t it to watch from the comfort of your bed how everything gets cleaned? You can also have a nice little chat with her!
There is also a school teacher at the hospital. She is really nice. Have you found out her name yet? She’s not the only teacher. There is another teacher who invents all kinds of fun games in the large playroom. When you feel a little better, you may use this room to play games or listen to music. There is also a puppet house which you can use to put on your very own puppet show. Sometimes you can listen to exciting stories. The teacher can also help you with your sums or grammar.
Of course you will not be alone. All children who are well enough can use the playroom or the classroom. Bet you’ll soon make plenty of friends?
If you can’t come to the playroom or attend classes because you’re too ill, then the teacher will drop by and see you each day. She can bring you a book from the library or a puzzle.
Every so often you will meet the … hospital clowns. They are real funny people with red noses who will do many crazy things with you and the nurses.