Boys Town National Research Hospital strives to create the best care environment for our patients. Our Child Life Specialists work with the medical staff and caregivers of the patients to help alleviate fears and anxieties a child may experience during hospitalization. They identify potential sources of stress, provide accurate and age-appropriate information to the patient and family members and work with the child to plan and practice coping strategies. By combining play and education, Child Life Specialists are able to explain medical procedures and diagnoses in a way that children of all ages can understand.
Meet Our Child Life Specialists
What We Do
To meet the needs of our patients and families, the Boys Town Child Life team provides:
- Therapeutic and recreational play activities to help make the hospital feel more normal
- Medical education, preparation and sensory explanations using
- Medical Play - using actual medical equipment the child may encounter during his/her stay to help normalize those tools for them
- Hospital and surgery tours
- Procedural and diagnoses teaching (IVs, NGs, EEG,
Crohn’s/Colitis, etc.)
- Planning and implementing coping strategies
- Distraction
- Deep Breathing
- Non-pharmacological pain management techniques
- Support from siblings and other family members such as special events
- Christmas parties, birthday celebrations, car seat events
Our Child Life Specialists are professionals who have completed a Bachelor’s Degree in a child development-related field and specialize in the social, emotional and developmental aspects, as well as how to cope with a visit to the hospital.
Boys Town CARES Emotional Safety Program
We know that immunizations, blood draws, or other procedures can be stressful for children. Our
Boys Town CARES comfort options will help make your child feel safer during their office visit.
Boys Town CARES offers five steps to help you and our staff provide a
comfort hold,
alleviate pain,
refocus attention, provide a calm
environment, and
soothe your child at their doctor's office visit.
Learn more about the Boys Town CARES emotional safety program, through step-by-step videos,
here. These videos, tailored to specific age groups from newborn to 18 years, will show you what can be done to make the shot or blood draw a positive experience for your child. If you are an outside organization that is interested in learning more about our CARES Emotional Safety Program, please
fill out this form.
A Note to Parents
It is important to remember that your child notices your verbal and nonverbal signals. Before you begin to talk to your child about his/her upcoming medical experience, talk with your child’s doctor about your child’s condition or procedure so you are familiar with as much information as possible. The more you understand, the more time you will have to support your child and focus on his/her needs and questions.
Always remember, if you have any other questions or concerns, feel free to contact a Boys Town Child Life Specialist at
(531) 355‑6040.
AmazonSmile
A child life wish list has been added to
AmazonSmile. This will help supplement our budgetary constraints. If you cannot see this list you may need to enter "Boys Town Hospital" in the search.
Having Surgery at Boys Town National Research Hospital
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Child Life Practicum Offering
Child life specialists play a vital role in supporting a child's emotional well-being during treatment and hospitalization. Through play and education, patients and families are supported, helping to reduce stress and anxiety in healthcare settings. At Boys Town National Research Hospital (BTNRH), our child life team is dedicated to delivering high-quality education and training for future child life specialists.
Practicum experiences provide students with insight into the child life profession, exposure to the hospital environment and understanding of the unique needs of hospitalized children. Within our program, students observe our child life team in inpatient and outpatient settings and gain hands-on bedside experience.
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Applicants must have completed 4 out of 10 Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP) required courses by the start of the practicum. The unofficial academic transcript must show a passing grade or “in progress” status. The four courses must be successfully completed by the practicum start date.
Courses required include:
- Child development course
- Play course
- Child life course (child life course taught by a Certified Child Life Specialist)
- One additional ACLP course (i.e., medical terminology, family systems, death/dying)
The Boys Town practicum experience adheres to ACLP internship deadlines. Please refer to the following for details:
Clinical Internship
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Please
click here to complete the online practicum application
Within the online application, you will need to attach:
- Current one page resume
- Unofficial University transcripts from all universities attended
In addition to the online application, two reference forms are required to be submitted.
- One from an academic professor
- One from an individual who has observed your work with children
Please send the reference form link to the intended recipients:
online reference recommendation form. Recommendation forms must be received by the application deadline.
Boys Town National Research Hospital (BTNRH) follows the Association of Child Life Professionals' (ACLP) internship application deadlines as well as the offer and acceptance dates.
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Once applications have been reviewed, applicants will be notified via email on the status of their application. A brief phone screen may be requested. Once phone screens are completed, interviews will then be scheduled. Interviews will be conducted via WebEx and facilitated by Child Life student committee.
