Teddy Bear Clinics

Abstract

It is very common for preschool children to be afraid of medical professionals, and much anxiety and fear is often accompanied with healthcare visits. This is the result of young children’s inability to understand the purpose behind medical exams, fear of medical equipment, and past experiences that were frightening, such as receiving an immunization. This can create serious problems as children age if they carry these fears into adulthood, avoiding yearly checkups that could prevent or recognize disease. The Teddy Bear Clinic eases children’s fears of medical professionals, while also providing nursing students the opportunity to practice working with children. The purpose of this MUSE project is to research and develop topics and activities to be implemented in the Teddy Bear Clinics that TCNJ pediatric junior nursing students will conduct throughout the school year. The goal was to provide TCNJ nursing students with health lessons they can teach to local preschool students during a Teddy Bear Clinic.