Jesse 10 years with KinderThuisZorg

What makes working at KinderThuisZorg so special to you?
No day is the same, there is so much variety in a work day. Working at different locations makes it never boring. We always think along with the child and family in order to provide safe care whenever possible. I have been to many places to provide care, with the child's family, at vacation addresses and even at amusement parks! Being able to act ad hoc and move quickly gives me energy. The age of the care children is very diverse. We provide care for newborns to teenagers. Each age has its charms and for me it is a fun challenge to communicate appropriately at the child's level.

What is the funniest thing you have experienced?
I guess when I rang the bell at the wrong vacation address in pitch darkness. It's always a fun challenge when you're at a vacation park looking for the child's temporary care address. Delighted, when I found the right cottage. But then an elderly man answered the door and reacted very surprised when I told him I was a pediatric nurse at KinderThuisZorg. Oops, I turned out to be in the wrong vacation park. Fortunately, the vacation park where I was supposed to be was nearby.

What is the saddest thing you have experienced?
At the service office in Lichtenvoorde, we have a memorial corner/memorial wall. Written on this wall are names of children (with parents' permission) who have died and were in care at KinderThuisZorg. It is a place where parents, siblings are also welcome to commemorate.
It moves me when I see that new children's names have been added to the wall. As a pediatric nurse, the saddest part of the job is having to say goodbye to children. This does something to your feelings as a human being and as a pediatric nurse and this is where sadness and often a tear comes in.

What important knowledge and experience do you take away from these 10 years?
Every child is different, through experience I have learned to assess better and better what works for some children and what does not work, when performing a nursing act. Among other things, we focus on the prevention of anxiety and compulsion and are trained in the application of focus language. Focus language is a form of "helping language. You replace negative words with positive words and phrases. So instead of "You're getting a shot, it may hurt for a while," you say "I'm giving you medicine so you'll feel better.

When is a day at work successful for you?
We work very solo at KinderThuisZorg, yet I am closely connected to my team. Because we drive a lot in the car, we often call each other on the road to check how our colleague is doing and if we can still help each other.

We are a learning organization and train many new nurses to become pediatric nurses. In addition to caring for children, I have the role of learning coach where I coach pediatric nurses in training. With the aim of guiding these aspiring pediatric nurses during their learning process.

In addition, I am someone who loves finished lists. I am fulfilled after a ticked off to-do list at the end of a shift.

Look back to when you started here. Who were you as a person then and who are you now?
In 2014, I started working at KinderThuisZorg. My first job after college-v. As an early twenty-something with no experience in child care. Now that I am a mother of 2 children myself and have a life experience richer, I feel that I can better empathize with the child, parent and the illness process they have to go through as a family.

What are the biggest changes you've experienced in healthcare recently?
Child care never stands still. There have been an awful lot of developments in recent years. One big change is that pediatric nurses are starting to self-diagnose. Where we used to get forms from hospitals with how much time on average can be performed per procedure, nowadays we indicate ourselves. We take into account the 4 child life domains and not just the act but the context within a family where the care takes place.

Another change in recent years is that we have become much more efficient. Where a few years ago we were still taking over a lot of care, we are now entering into many learning processes so that, where possible, the family is not dependent on care by pediatric nurses. We always try to leave the child and family in their power as much as possible and work towards self-reliance.

It has also shown that nursing leadership is a very important part of our profession, and we as pediatric nurses have become increasingly empowered. Super proud of this!

What has made you loyal to KinderThuisZorg year after year?
The freedom I experience, working in a very nice and cozy team from Brabant/Limburg, not working within four walls and good working hours that are also easy to combine privately.

In addition, it remains incredibly special to be able to help a child in the home situation, very close to the child and family but also to myself. KinderThuisZorg is a wonderful, self-willed organization that has heart for its employees. We are often spoiled and surprised with new developments.

How do you see yourself in 10 years?
Good question! I like to keep developing and challenging myself within child care. We have already come so far within child care and are the largest child care organization in the Netherlands. Every day I am glad that I can contribute to this and hope to still be doing so in 10 years time.

What else should we know about you?
I have only liked coffee for 5 years! Before I got pregnant, I found the smell of coffee really gross. Nowadays I can't live without it. I love to go somewhere for a cappuccino during a route and report back at my leisure. But the coffee at the service office in Lichtenvoorde tastes the best!

I am also very proud of myself and my colleagues. Our multifaceted profession sometimes demands a lot from you as a person. Cooperation and venting is incredibly important.
As a pediatric home care nurse, you are actually all in one. Thereby, we are there 24/7 for child and family when they need us.