Your child’s nurse will come to greet you and begin getting your child ready for surgery. The nurse will:
- listen to your child's heart and lungs
- check their temperature, blood pressure, weight, and height
- ask you a few questions about your child's health
- give your child hospital pajamas to change into and a bracelet with their name to wear on their wrist
Once your child is ready for surgery, they can play with toys, read, or watch a movie.
Delays or cancellations
Your child’s nurse will let you know when it is time for your child to go to the operating room. We do our best to stay on schedule, but sometimes there is an emergency which may delay your child’s surgery. In rare cases your child’s surgery may need to be cancelled. If this happens, a member of the healthcare team will talk to you about next steps. We will do our best to keep you informed of any delays in the schedule. If you have any questions or concerns, please talk to a member of the healthcare team. We are here to help.
When your child goes to the operating room
When your child goes to the operating room, you will keep all of their belongings with you. Bring only what you and your child need for the first 24 hours in the hospital, and only what you can carry. This includes any medical equipment, supplies, or medicine that you or your child needs. We ask you to bring your child’s own medicine for the first 24 hours to help prevent your child from missing a dose of their medicine. Please keep other personal items in your car, hotel room, or at home until you need them.
Before you leave the unit, please make sure the healthcare team has your correct cell phone number in your child’s chart and ask which unit your child will be going to after surgery. A parent or legal guardian must stay at the hospital during your child’s surgery.
The best place to wait for your child is in one of the waiting areas outside of your child’s unit.
Take the time to eat and drink while your child is in surgery.
