Child Life Documentation and Communication Questions and Answers

Question 1

Which of the following statements represents the MOST objective and professional documentation of a patient's behavior in a child life chart note?

Accepted Answer

The patient threw the medical play doll across the room and stated, 'I don't want to do this anymore.'

Answer

The patient was angry and uncooperative during the intervention.

Answer

The session did not go well because the patient was in a difficult mood.

Answer

The patient clearly has a bad attitude and is manipulating his parents.

Question 2

A Child Life Specialist is in the hospital cafeteria and overhears a nurse loudly discussing a patient's new diagnosis and emotional state with a colleague. What is the Child Life Specialist's most appropriate INITIAL action?

Accepted Answer

Approach the nurse privately at a later time and gently remind her about the importance of patient confidentiality in public spaces.

Answer

Immediately confront the nurse in the cafeteria and tell her she is violating HIPAA.

Answer

Ignore the conversation as it does not directly involve the Child Life department.

Answer

Anonymously report the nurse to the hospital's compliance officer.

Question 3

A Child Life Specialist facilitates a medical play session with a 6-year-old who shows significant anxiety about an upcoming IV start. The child uses a doll to express fears of being held down. What is the MOST critical information for the specialist to document in the patient's chart?

Accepted Answer

The child's expressed fear of being held down and the successful use of the doll for expression and processing.

Answer

The specific toys the child used during the medical play session.

Answer

A verbatim transcript of the entire conversation with the child.

Answer

The specialist's personal opinion that the child will be difficult during the procedure.

Question 4

Which of the following is the BEST example of effective interdisciplinary communication by a Child Life Specialist?

Accepted Answer

Participating in daily rounds and briefly sharing key psychosocial assessments and the child life plan of care.

Answer

Writing a detailed note in the electronic health record and assuming the team will read it.

Answer

Only speaking to the charge nurse about a patient's specific psychosocial needs.

Answer

Sending a group email to all providers involved in the patient's care at the end of the day.

Question 5

When using the SOAP format for documentation, a Child Life Specialist would chart the patient's direct quote, "I'm scared the shot will hurt a lot," under which section?

Accepted Answer

S - Subjective

Answer

O - Objective

Answer

A - Assessment

Answer

P - Plan

Question 6

A Child Life Specialist is meeting with the parents of a newly diagnosed 8-year-old with a chronic illness. The parents are visibly overwhelmed and tearful. When explaining the child life plan of care, which communication strategy is MOST effective?

Accepted Answer

Using open-ended questions to assess their current understanding and primary concerns before explaining services.

Answer

Providing a comprehensive packet of written materials and encouraging them to read it later.

Answer

Describing the full range of child life services available in the hospital to show the value of the program.

Answer

Focusing solely on the child's needs and waiting for the parents to ask questions directly.