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 if needed
- check their temperature, blood pressure, weight, and height
- ask you or your child a few questions about their health
- give your child hospital pajamas to change into and a bracelet with their name to wear on their wrist
Delays or cancellations
Your child’s nurse will let you know when it’s time for your child to go to the operating room. They’ll do their best to stay on schedule. Sometimes there’s an emergency, which may delay your child’s surgery. In rare cases, your child’s surgery may need to be cancelled. If this happens, your healthcare team will talk to you about what happens next. The hospital team will do their best to keep you informed of any delays in the schedule. If you have any questions, please talk to your healthcare team.
When your child goes to the operating room
When your child goes to the operating room, you’ll keep all of their belongings with you. Bring only what you and your child need for the first 24 hours in the hospital. Only bring what you can carry. 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 the best contact number for you. 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 a waiting area outside of your child’s unit or any of the public spaces in the hospital.
Take the time to take care of yourself while your child is in surgery by getting something to eat and drink.
