Knitting Group Helps Parents Cope With Hospitalization

from The Children's Hospital (TCH) News, July 2006

Although it seems just like yesterday that The Children’s Hospital submitted 1,048 pages of documentation to be considered for Magnet Status, it won’t be long before the process must begin again, said Ann Froese-Fretz, Magnet Program coordinator.

“We must reapply for Magnet Status every four years,” she said. “If people could be thinking about programs that make Children’s unique, the process will be much easier” than last time, when collection of documentation took a whopping 15 months and filled seven volumes.

To keep Children’s Magnet Status top of mind, Children’s News will feature a Magnet exemplar – or unique project – periodically. Past exemplars include the Dry Time (potty training) Clinic and the Night Shift Education Series – both piloted and implemented by Children’s nurses.

Another program unique to Children’s is the Kindred Knitting Group. Nurse Cynthia Teague, RN, MA, CPC, an avid knitter, was coaching her nursing peers in the art last year when her nurse manager suggested she offer a group for parents.

“It’s a creative way for parents to come together to form a support system as a result of their child being in the hospital,” she said. “It’s a new outlet for stress relief.”

The group, held every Wednesday evening from 6:30 to 8:30 in the outpatient oncology waiting room on the fourth floor, so far has attracted 30 parents since it began in November of 2005. The yarn and needles are donated, Teague said, so all supplies are free. Instruction is provided as well.

First-time visitors learn how to make scarves; parents who return to the group learn more intricate projects.

And although the skills learned are valuable, Teague said, most parents attend for another reason.

“A lot of these parents never get out of their child’s room,” she said. “They are isolated. This gives them a chance to get to know their neighbors. They can open up and have some adult conversation.”

The group is open to all parents and caretakers, but recently has included several older teen girls who are patients.

“The group is helpful for them,” Teague said. “They told me it’s better than watching TV all day long. Children’s has a lot of activities geared toward younger children – this one is a little more mature.”

So far, the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, she said. In fact, Teague recently received a call from another hospital asking to replicate the program.

“Knitting is a very soothing art that can be done at any time and any place,” Teague said. “Parents have a sense of accomplishment as they create a piece of clothing that can be used.”