FAQs child life
I’ve gotten a lot of questions lately that are similar so I decided to do a quick FAQs blog post to hopefully help you all that have the same questions as others!
1. Favorite and least favorite things about being a CCLS?
I currently am not practicing but when I worked it was a super rewarding job. I loved the satisfaction of working with children and making a big difference in kids lives. I also loved that it was very independent work and I created what my day looked like based on the needs of my patients. My manager trusted we would get the work done and I had a great relationship with the staff on my unit. Although it took growing pains to get there and I still had a select few special nurses that needed reminders of child life’s role! Some of the difficult things were not having enough time in the day to see all the patients I felt deserved child life services. We had a lot of meetings during the day on my floor. I really tried to get to the ones that would aide me in being the best I can be for my patients. It also can be difficult if your staff doesn’t understand what you do and use you appropriately. You really have to work on building rapport with staff from day 1. They are your eyes and ears for all of your patients. Without them, you will miss out on a lot of opportunities to provide child life services to patients. You also aren’t going to make a whole lot of money but it’s a livable wage. I always tell teachers who reach out to me that their income is very similar to child life’s. They do get summers and “breaks” throughout the year that child life does not get. Something to keep in mind if you are a teacher!
2.What degree do you recommend for child life?
Personally I wish I would’ve chosen Child development because I feel it’s more applicable to the exam and the child life field. I chose psychology in the case that I wanted to go on to get my masters and do therapy of some sort. I think it depends if you want other options in the future! I love child life and right now it works with my family but I still have other future options just in case my life takes me elsewhere :) also there are so many “child life” majors available now! I think it’s amazing and if you’re dead set on being a CCLS this is the route to go. If you want to have the option of another career in your future it may be better to choose a more broad major.
3. Any tips and advice for the exam?
I am not a good test taker so my goal was to get as many relevant practice tests in and study a little bit every week leading up to the week of the exam. Then I studied every night for about an hour. I retain more when I do it in smaller spurts. I would definitely see what study material is out there and read reviews about how others did after using that material! I took the test over 5 years ago so I’m sure the books/test has changed since then. Sorry I don’t have more specifics! Just study up on the most up to date competencies and you’ll do great.
3b. Any resources you would recommend for taking the exam?
I got the study guide that was offered through the ACLP but I just did a quick search and I don’t think they offer it anymore! I did a search for “Child life practice exam” on google and found one from the website study blue that was made by someone from Tennessee technological university and I quickly looked through and it looks like a good one. Mometrix also has a “child life exam secrets study guide” that has some good reviews from people who have taken the exam. That ones a little more pricey though so you might want to research a little more if it’s truly up to date on current exams prior to purchasing. On the ACLP website they also have a candidate manual and it references all the books they would utilize as resources for the exam. (This is written in 2020 so keep that in mind)
4. Would I be a good child life specialist if I’m sensitive or have a fear of blood?
To put it bluntly, probably not. You will have many very sensitive situations like death, difficult diagnoses, abuse cases, etc. and those are not for the faint of heart. I’ll never forget a fellow coworker (who had quite a few years of experience under her belt) saying that we are not there to cry in front of the families. We need to be the strength for them and the comfort but we did not lose a child like they did. Not to say you can’t cry, but keep it in a place where parents can’t see you. It may be difficult for you but you could never imagine losing a child/sibling like they are. By crying with them you’re not able to support them. Be empathetic, absolutely, but keep the tears to yourself or with your other coworkers. As for blood/puke/other fluids you will definitely experience seeing/having them on you or around you. You will be immersed in procedures and you wear protective gear to protect yourself and your patient but you will definitely be near them. I will never forget the smell of vomit after a g tube feed. A very close patient of mine projectile vomited all over me. I was fortunate enough to have an amazing coworker who stole me (I mean borrowed) survival scrubs so I wouldn’t have to walk around in vomit all day. If you feel queasy just reading that, it may not be for you.
5. What are the hours/days like?
Varies according to unit/hospital. Usually an ER (emergency room) position is going to have later hours, think 3 pm-11:30 pm, and have at least 1 weekend day. Your inpatient areas are more of a typical 8:30-5 or 8-4:30 and most are Monday-Friday but some hospitals have a weekend rotation so one CCLS is covering the weekends for high priority needs. This means you could work every 4th weekend or 5th/6th/7th weekend but get the Monday/Friday off around that time. Radiology and surgery is normally Monday-Friday because they have the most procedures/surgical cases during that time and are usually an earlier morning, 7-3:30 or even 6:30-3. This is what I’ve seen in the hospitals I work in but definitely a good question to ask when interviewing at different hospitals.
6. I’m currently a teacher/majoring in education but considering a career change/major change to become a CCLS. What are my next steps? What are your your thoughts on child life vs. teaching?
Check out my blog post on how to become a CCLS and see if your personal education and the time and dedication it takes to become a CCLS would work with your current lifestyle. For those thinking about making a major switch I just want to say weigh the pros and cons. I think child life is a very rewarding job but so is teaching in very different ways.
Teaching, you’re going to be making lessons plans ahead of time and have the same schedule daily (For the most part) but you develop relationships with your students for an entire year and get to know them on a very deep level. You will be grading a lot of papers and logging them as well as having parent teacher conferences before and after school hours. You get holidays and summers off (although I’m sure lots of teachers use this time to prepare for the school year).
For child life you will have a completely different schedule every day. You will have to fly by the seat of your pants for the most part and create teaching tools on the go or grab what you need when you have that doctor ask “can you go prep my patient for a spicy cast. They will be going down for surgery in 30 minutes”. It’s fast paced, a lot of turnover with patients and your days never look the same. You also need to fit in charting on patients daily. Typically you’re looking at Monday-friday and the hours vary per unit. Sometimes you’ll work weekends and a lot of holidays. The salary in my area for a teacher and child life specialist is about the same.
It is such a personal decision. I will say my lifestyle with having 2 children at home is more conducive to teaching. I substitute taught while pregnant with my daughter and really enjoyed it. I also know a lot of moms who work as CCLS’ and it works for their families! Every situation is so different. So just really weigh your options.
7. Can you answer some questions for a class assignment of mine?
I absolutely love helping any students but I do not currently practice. Make sure your teacher is okay with a currently certified but formerly working (for 4 years) child life specialist answering questions. If this is the case you can email me at dayinthelifeofaccls@gmail.com
If you have any other questions feel free to DM on Instagram or email me! I’m happy to answer any of your child life/student/mom questions.
