Medically Fragile

Sorry, but I don't think you are going to get this job if you don't know what the position title is or what it entails, or what to even do with a medically fragile child. Do you have experience with medically fragile children and know how to take care of them or have training with them? Is it for a teacher assistant, nurses aide, just to help with playtime and cuddles... what? The more we know the more we can help. Are these children who are mentally capable, but have some minor physical disabilities, such as allergies, heart problems and such that just need meds given to them... or are these children severely mentally disabled, perhaps wheelchair bound and with things like feeding tubes that you need training on for care?

Technically, Medically fragile children are:

A child who is medically fragile may look normal and be developmentally age appropriate; or, he may have an obvious developmental and/or physical handicap. While definitions vary from state to state, experts generally agree that a medically fragile child has a medical condition that is both life threatening and requires skilled nursing care. Often, he is also technology dependent.

Medically fragile children are those children who are younger than 21 years of age and who are:

• Chronically ill or disabled and who require indefinite skilled nursing care to maintain existence in their home;

• Temporarily ill or disabled because of premature birth, accident or trauma and who have experienced a temporary lifestyle change requiring skilled nursing care;

• Suffering from uncontrollable seizures, diabetes, asthma or other chronic illness; or

• Chronically dependent upon medical devices to perform vital bodily functions.

from here, you can find more info:
http://medicallyfragilechildren.org/children.html

For simple volunteer and fun type of activities, this is what some organizations do for the children:
http://oregon.providence.org/patients/healthconditionscar...

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As for your nasty attacks to me, here is my reply:

You represented yourself as totally uneducated on the job and offered no explanation whatsoever on your qualifications on disabled children. It was a confusing question to not only myself, but other readers as it was filled with misspellings, poor sentence structure, didn't even explain what you needed, "I am interviewing for a positon tomorrow, to work with medically fragile children. can you give me some information on what this jobs would be like. this jobs is in a elementary school"

.... I'm not a mind reader and you provided very little. My only statement was because you represented yourself as unqualified to work with medically fragile children and that is it. What does 'you better be glad i saved' even have to do with anything? My response was clear, concise and in no way defamatory, and if anything I provided you with links and information to help in your research for the interview so that you could do well in the interview. So really you should be saying, "thank you". I'm in no way trying to break anyone's confidence and do not appreciate being called a tool of the devil or any of the other hateful words you said to me in that regard. So, solely for the information I provided, I simply offer a "You're welcome"

If you don't know what a medically fragile child is - you shouldn't be interviewing for the position.

I am unsure why, if you have no experience with medically fragile children, they would ask you to interview for the position....I really don't like to assume but going with what little you gave us - that's the reason for my response.

If you are new to the child development field - I'm not sure this is the job you want to get your feet wet with!!

EDIT: Sorry - forgot to answer this question...most children that are medically fragile require special treatment as they have feeding tubes, -osotomy bags (bladder or fecal) or are on a dialysis...something that requires close attention and in my personal opinion should not be in general education classes as the chances of cross contamination are just too high...

http://medicallyfragilechild.com/2010/04/13/medically-fra...
http://www.projectforum.org/docs/Medically%20Fragile-Stat...
http://www.aft.org/pdfs/healthcare/medicallyfragilechild0...

I think if you are questioning what the job entails perhaps it's not the right job for you.

I would sorta agree with Momma except they keep coming up with these stupid terms for the kids. I can't remember which title they gave the group my Andy was in so I was up at school and asked what is ______ oh Andy is in that. *blink*

Oh I am not saying that someone who is medically fragile is stupid or the title is, it is just it may not mean the same here as someone else. PC is just getting to darn confusing.

Ahh Cheryl to the rescue. Interesting that with everything that Andy has been though I have never heard this term but it does make sense.

Hi B.-

My daughter is considered 'medically fragile'...and over the years...in terms of the school system...that has meant MANY different things.

When she had a 'trach' and an oxygen requirement...that meant "A" nurse with her at all times (even when I was there with her)...when the trach was gone...she still had a feeding tube...and that meant a 'para professional' trained to deal with feedings...and a school nurse to deal with more 'emergent' issues...

Now...she is still 'medically fragile' as a cardiac kid...with chronic lung issues...but she is managed by her teacher...and the classroom aide...and the nurse in school (who ALL call ME with the SLIGHTEST concern...as per MY request...) and then I assess her.

"medically fragile" covers SUCH a broad spectrum...

I would definitely ask for clarification...do you have a background/personal experience with medical issues?

Best Luck!
Michele/cat

I think it would depend on the child. My nephew has someone to look after him while at school. He has EB which makes his skin so fragile that a simple rub could make a huge blister on his skin. He is wrapped from head to toe to attempt to keep his skin protected and the blisters from getting infected. Someone caring for him would have to prevent him from getting roughed up.

I have a medically fragile child, and the thing that comes to mind is Child Life, but that is at the hospital. I'm not sure what you would do at a school. Would you help assist with things the child might need? What is the actual job title? Working with medically fragile kids is pretty awesome, though. I hope it works out and that you figure out better what would be expected of you!