I usually try to relate it to them, saying we all go to the bathroom, they just have to do it in a different way. It’s almost like brushing their teeth – it has to become a habit. I tell them it’s just part of them, and try not to think of it as an impediment but rather as something that actually liberates them, because it gives them independence. Particularly when the child is doing it themselves, it really gives them independence. And if it’s the difference between making a kid dry, and preserving their kidney function so they don’t need a kidney transplant later on in life, it’s a winner, you just can’t beat it! Particularly because it gives them independence, and I think that’s what I try to tell them the most.

Richard Lee, MD, Department of Urology

If I’m teaching a child, I want to have the chance to either speak with the parent here in clinic before the actual appointment or do a telephone outreach. It’s always a big question for parents: “What do I tell my child?” It’s important that the child knows why they’re coming in for that appointment, because they’re going to spend at least an hour and a half with us, and maybe a little longer if they need extra support. So we’ll talk with the parents about how catheterization’s really important, and we’ll choose words that are appropriate for the kids and their usual language in their household – like “Everyone has to tinkle,” or “Everybody has to pee,” or “Everyone has to void or urinate,” it depends on where the family’s at. But I’ll tell them that it’s really important, and it keeps the whole inside of your body healthy; I stress the healthy aspect of things.
I also love our posters! We have these great posters with kidneys on the inside of every single exam room, and that’s the whole reason for our being here in Urology: we want healthy kidneys! So we talk about what kidneys do – I’ll have the child come over and I’ll tap on their back and show them where their kidneys live. I say, “They never go to sleep, and if they’re making all this pee throughout the night, it needs to come out somehow.” It gives the children an understanding of how they can participate in the process. And I’ll still use the poster for an older kid, but we’ll take it to a different level, just talk about body functions. It’s like science class, but everyone gets an A on the final exam!

Rosemary Grant, RN, Nurse