-
Step 1
Find a hospital troupe to join through your local clown club. To find a club nearby, visit the Clowns of America International website.
-
Step 2
Take classes and seminars. You can find listings in the "Hospital Clown Newsletter" or through your local clown club.
-
Step 3
Read books, such as "The Hospital Clown: A Closer Look" by Patty Wooten and Shobhana Schwebke.
-
Step 1
Make a list of the hospital personnel you'll work with, such as volunteers and recreation therapists, as well as the person you'll report to when you arrive.
-
Step 2
Communicate with the hospital personnel and find out what they expect of you on your visit.
-
Step 3
Find out if any patients are having a birthday soon or if any patients speak another language.
-
Step 4
Learn about the average ages of the patients and if any of them have special needs, such as those who are hearing or vision impaired.
-
Step 5
Review the hospital rules and follow them closely. Ask about the regulations regarding balloons and props.
-
Step 1
Find out if any of the kids on the list have medical needs that will take them away from their rooms during part of your tour. Visit them first.
-
Step 2
Determine the length of each visit by the needs of the patients, the number of rooms you'll visit and the amount of time you have for the total hospital visit.
-
Step 3
Entertain the youngest children before the older ones if you plan to visit at night.
-
Step 1
Stay away if a child doesn't want to see you or the parent doesn't want you to enter the room.
-
Step 2
Ask the nurse before entering a room if you aren't sure if it's appropriate to, or have a staff person escort you. Let her enter the room first to ask if you can come in the room. Enter the room and reintroduce yourself in a gentle voice with warmth and sincerity.
-
Step 3
Be mindful of special circumstances such as protective clear plastic walls, which you must stand behind, or tubes and monitors that require the child to be still. Find out if you need to wear a mask and gown.
-
Step 4
Remember that the doctors don't need to watch you on the patient's monitor. Keep yourself away from the camera mounted on the wall or on a tripod.
-
Step 5
Tailor the length and intensity of your performance to be considerate of the patient's condition and feelings.
-
Step 1
Pull up your sleeves and wash your hands and lower arms at the sink before entering the room. If a sink isn't available, use the hand sanitizer dispenser at the door, and keep hand sanitizer in your clown bag or cart. Turn off faucets and open doors with a paper towel or use foot pedals to avoid recontamination.
-
Step 2
Abide by hospital hygiene standards when it comes to props such as puppets and magic supplies. When in doubt ask a staff member. If he's busy, don't use the prop.
-
Step 3
Make it a habit to keep your fingers away from your mouth or eyes. Wash your hands before you eat.
-
Step 4
Cover any open wounds with bandages.
-
Step 5
Tell a medical professional immediately if you're exposed to any bodily fluids.
-
Step 6
Disinfect anything that falls on the floor before it's used because the floor is the most contagious place in the hospital. Clown bags or props shouldn't be placed on the floor and then on a patient's bed or a chair. A cart on wheels is the ideal place to store your supplies.
-
Step 7
Look for personal protection equipment advisories, or PPE advisories, used in isolation rooms.
-
Step 1
Read about HIPAA, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, a comprehensive set of requirements to ensure patients' privacy, at the HIPAA advisory website.
-
Step 2
Attend a HIPAA meeting. You can find a meeting near you at the American Academy of Medical Colleges website.
-
Step 3
Be careful about referring to any patient or any patient's family members inside or outside of the hospital. Never repeat what you hear from the doctor to anyone.
