The infirmary of La Maison, a mission!

THE DAILY LIFE OF TWO NURSES AT LA MAISON

36 children celebrated New Year’s Eve at La Maison. Then there were 166 children from 23 countries, all facing real medical challenges. Among them, 154 were battling heart diseases, 6 had the after-effects of noma, 2 were affected by caustic stenosis of the oesophagus, and 4 by various pathologies.

La Maison, a unique medicalised children’s home, atypical in the Swiss medical landscape, stands out for its essential role in caring for children facing a variety of medical challenges. It offers specialist support in a deeply human and caring environment, encouraging healing and development.

It is thanks to its highly professional and committed staff that La Maison achieves this mission.

In this article, we give the floor to two nurses, Chloé and Emilie, whose day-to-day experiences bear witness to the importance of a personalised approach.

MEET TWO NURSES FROM LA MAISON

Emilie Tiquet and Chloé Biselx, two of the institution’s five nurses, share their responsibilities in the infirmary. Their dynamism reveals the vitality of this essential service.

Emilie, who has had a varied career, has made a bold 180° turn, moving from a variety of adult surgical services to the delicate care of children. For her part, Chloé, with a wealth of experience in paediatrics and surgery, chose to hone her skills by training in tropical medicine. These career choices reflect their dedication to constantly adapting and evolving. Today, they meet the specific needs of the young patients at La Maison.

Blood sampling session in the infirmary at La Maison.

“Dialogue, smiling and listening are the universal tools for building relationships with patients.”

Emilie and Chloé, nurses at La Maison

A DAILY ROUTINE OF CARE AND HUMANITY

These two nurses, who work in the infirmary, which is the hub of La Maison, describe their daily routine as one of welcome, reassurance, supervision, pre- and post-operative support, administrative management and preparation for the children’s return home. They all agree that the infirmary is much more than just a medical space for them. It’s a place where emotions mingle, where laughter resounds, tears flow, worries are expressed, listening is omnipresent and support is constant. It’s a space that aims to provide maximum attention and human warmth, so that the children experience the care they receive with peace of mind.

PERSONALISED CARE AND EXEMPLARY COLLABORATION

Chloé and Emilie emphasise the importance of the children’s well-being, saying that “their psychological and physical well-being is essential, especially during their first few days of integration”. They add: “We adapt our care to each child. This personalised approach demonstrates our desire to offer adapted and attentive care, in an environment conducive to healing.

It’s a dynamic day-to-day operation where information is passed on to ensure the children’s well-being. “We have a meeting every morning with the educators and the administration to discuss any problems of the day, as well as the children’s medical appointments,” explains Chloé. Emilie also stresses the importance of these daily exchanges: “We pass on information about the children and their state of health every evening to the night watchmen who take over from us.

CREATING LINKS AT THE HEART OF THE INSTITUTION

What sets La Maison apart is the fact that we get to know each child personally and individually, providing an environment that fosters bonds of trust. The two women testify that dialogue, smiling and listening are the universal tools for establishing relationships with patients. For them, the community context really does play a key role in integrating the children, who are also very familiar with the people who look after them.

CONCERNS AND FEARS ADDRESSED WITH EMPATHY

Emilie and Chloé highlight the children’s main concerns, namely their recovery and returning home in good health to their parents. They also point out that some children are worried about their stay in hospital. La Maison has specially designed a picture book to put their minds at rest. This initiative demonstrates La Maison’s ongoing commitment to making children’s journeys as painless as possible.

CHALLENGES MET WITH COMMITMENT AND VISION

Emilie, Chloé and their colleagues at La Maison face significant challenges, such as language barriers and urgent medical decisions. The whole department stresses the importance of a holistic approach to anticipate and detect complications early on. This integrated approach reflects its commitment to the safety and well-being of the children it cares for, highlighting the professional skills required within the infirmary of La Maison.

La Maison is a testament to the exceptional commitment of its staff in welcoming and caring for children facing medical challenges. Their dedication helps to make La Maison a unique place where hope takes shape and where collaboration between services creates an exemplary care ecosystem.