Patricia O'Brien, RN, MSN, PNP (Pediatric Nurse Practitioner) at Children's Hospital Boston answered the following questions:

Do you have any suggestions for parents that may make the transition from hospital to home a little less stressful?

At Hospital Discharge:

• Write down your questions about care at home as you think of them.

• Think about your home situation and how your child's health needs will fit with your usual routines.

• Many things can be modified to better fit you and your child's usual home routines.

• Take notes when hospital staff are reviewing discharge plans so you will remember.

• Make sure all of your questions are answered before you leave.

• No question is too small.

Once Home:

• Plan to "hibernate" at home for the first few days after discharge. You and your child have been through a stressful event and are tired. Give yourselves time to rest and get settled into a routine at home before you begin entertaining visitors or planning lots of extra activities.

• Make sure you have the phone number for the hospital and for your doctors and know who to call in an emergency. Put the phone numbers near your phone at home for the first few weeks.

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