In 2017, a new School of Behavioral Health program that offers pediatric nurses from China the opportunity to be trained as Child Life Specialists was launched in Fall 2017. It is a product of a four-year exchange program visiting the School of Behavioral Health to the Zhejiang University Children's Hospital (ZUCH).
Nang Wu is among the first ZUCH nurse recipients enrolled in the program. Wu, just like other students, is strongly interested in the study of child life approaches since her first exposure to the field during her visit to the Seattle Children's Hospital in 2014. She served as one of the translators for presentations by visiting Loma Linda University Health groups. She was supported by the ZUCH leadership in her desire to enjoy the advantages of the new SBH educational Program.
According to Michelle Minyard-Widman, Program director for the child life specialist master's program, there has been a shift in China is becoming more open to family-centered care. She added that Zhejiang University Children's Hospital and Loma Linda Universities have strong partnerships since they started in 2007. She said that it was a natural extension of the partnership to visit and introduce child life techniques.
Minyard-Widman and Alisha Saavedra, assistant professor, had their first visit in the Zhejiang University Children's Hospital in 2014. During the visit, they shared the importance of family-centered care and the support for children in the hospital for the nurses. The group was reported to have given several lectures and they have presented hands-on demonstrations with therapeutic play with stuffed animals that are designed to help to help a child understand procedures in the hospital that they faced. The students of the Loma Limba University and the faculty members are annually returning to the ZUCH.
A child life program was established in ZUCH as a result of a foundation grant to the ZUCH nursing staff. Before the grant, there was only one child life specialist in the People's Republic of China. The creation of the program was initiated as a result of conversations between ZUCH leaders, the decision makers of the Loma Linda University Global Health Institute, SBH leaders, and the LLC child life managers.
According to Wu, she learned many valuable techniques during the visit. She said that the type of language used with the parents and the children is important. She said that she also learned that the techniques in guiding parents and children through the different procedures that they are facing and also she learned the importance of a clear explanation of the medical technology that could ease the fears that the patients are experiencing.
