Children's Fear of Hospitalization

Children's Reaction to Hospitalization may vary depend on child growth and development.

5 month – 3 years

Fear of separation from mother or usual caregiver.

Nursing Intervention:
Encourage rooming in and bring familiar object from home e.g. toys and blanket.


3-6 years

• A toddler views hospitalization as punishment.
• A school age or adolescent will fear of harm and mutilation

Nursing Intervention:

• Kindly explain nursing procedure in simple terms and do not inform child of painful far in advance.
• Nurse can demonstrate procedures with dolls.
• Do not discourage crying and allow parents to be with child during painful procedures.
• Nurse should be honest regarding pain experienced during procedures.

6-18 years

Separation from parents, peers and lost of control

Nursing Intervention:

• Allow child to be visited by family and friends.
• Allow child to use the telephone to maintain family and peer contact.
• Give child choices when it is possible.
• Explain procedures in simple terms.
• Do not discourage child to cry.
• Restrain can be applied for a procedure if necessary and tell that this will help him / her hold still.

Immunization Schedule

Immunization is the process by which an individual's immune system becomes fortified against an agent (known as the immunogen).

Recommendations of immunization schedules are issued by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and are subject to change. The schedule may vary from state to state, so please always check current recommendations of the CDS and your local board of health.

The current recommended routine administration of immunization licensed childhood vaccines as of December 2007 for children age ) through 6 years may be accessed HERE.
For adolescent and adult immunization schedule may be accessed HERE.


Just to be remembered for nurses giving immunization schedule that :

• Moderate or severe acute illness, with or without fever, is a contraindication to immunization.
• Previous severe reaction to the vaccine or any of its components is a contraindication to immunization
• The common cold without fever is NOT a contraindication to immunization