SLEEP - choosing wisely for sleep in children’s hospital

Sleep improvement amongst children

At the Wilhelmina Children's Hospital and the Tergooi Medical Center, 3,700 children are admitted annually, nearly half of whom are under 4 years old and need daytime naps. This sleep is crucial for their recovery and development, but in the hospital, children sleep significantly less and are frequently disturbed. While nighttime rest is considered, maintaining quiet surroundings during the day is more challenging due to the busy ward environment.

Aim and approach

To improve this, sleep-promoting interventions from the ‘appropriate nursing care’- list are being implemented. Together with parents, nurses, and (para) medical professionals, the most suitable measures are selected, and strategies are implemented to embed the new practices into care. Nurses and parents receive additional support to safeguard children's sleep more effectively. The acquired knowledge and results will be shared nationwide to achieve a broader impact.