Hair care as part of health care at Children’s National Hospital

Starting Monday nurses and other medical care providers at Children s National Hospital in D C will have access to Hair for You a activity that trains nurses to competently care for the different hair types of all their patients Rene Roberts-Turner executive director of Nursing Excellence and Child and Family Services at Children s National explained providing care for patients hair is in line with helping aid all tasks of daily living That is really anything you do every day from brushing your teeth washing your face and in this development hair care she explained Nursing is a demanding job and field She explained the added video module that provides new training received a mixed reaction from the hospital s nurses I think people are like I m busy and then there are people that are very interested in it Roberts-Turner disclosed Head-to-toe assessments are a standard part of nursing care she stated such as checking the scalp for signs of skin cancers or pressure injuries that can conclusion from barrettes braids or cornrows Providing a medicated or special shampoo to patients can be part of the standard care as well Roberts-Turner recalled one parent s reaction after a nurse helped her following a child s test that included placing electrodes on the child s scalp The application of the electrodes required the use of a sticky substance that left a residue on the child s scalp and hair She talked about how much that meant that she could get her child s hair back to where it was originally she commented Caring for their patients hair isn t just about vanity Roberts-Turner declared It definitely is part of well-being and having particular guidance in caring for all kinds of hair from curly to coily to straight really does matter The undertaking at Children s National has been in the works for years but will roll out next week and it s something Roberts-Turner hopes to see become standard care in all facilities It s pivotal that we make people feel as much like themselves while they re in these spaces like in a medical care institution or a hospital where they don t have a whole lot of control Roberts-Turner reported The effort s tools include wide-tooth combs and brushes that are gentler for curly hair and a universal shampoo that works for all hair types Roberts-Turner declared That was something that we as a association took specific time to investigate she reported I keep thinking about the next generation When I go into the hospital I want this to be a standard of care too Roberts-Turner revealed Majority of people want their hair washed and clean and done every day Source