- February 7, 2025
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Nicole Baxa has been working hard to provide more care for many of the children and teens throughout Volusia County.
Through a new program, Baxa, a child life specialist, is taking on a special role providing care to youth who come into the Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center's ER and the new inpatient pediatric unit. Baxa provides that care by comforting the children and helping them understand that they don’t need to be scared. She also focuses on educating the children and teens she sees, whether that means explaining what an X-ray is or telling them about what happens when their throats are swabbed.
“There is some psychology and meaning behind the way I question them or don't question them, and the way I play with them to help them show me their fears,” Baxa said. “It’s a fun job that helps provide normalcy for the kids and give them a good experience.”
The certified child life program was started in May 2017. Baxa is at the ER Monday through Friday and spends time in the pediatric unit when she has extra time.
“It’s a fun job that helps provide normalcy for the kids and give them a good experience.” Nicole Baxa, child life specialist
The program is a first for the Volusia hospital and focuses on infants as well as youth up to age 17. When families arrive, Baxa assesses the child’s understanding of the hospital before developing a care plan within the individual departments where the child is being treated. Additionally, Baxa works with siblings and parents in a bereavement setting if a child dies.
Baxa said the number of children being admitted into the hospital has grown to at least 40 per day, although it's common for the number to be high at this time of year because of respiratory illnesses.
The child care specialist sees her role to all these children as one similar to a teacher, but in a hospital setting. She noted that being able to have fun with them is also an important part of what she does.
“It’s educating the kids, but on their level, and child friendly,” Baxa said. “Play is huge for kids, fundamentally, that’s how they learn. So if you play with them and teach them, they grasp it and they cope better.”
