Talk about some of the ways that you would build rapport and trust with your pediatric patients. Why is this important?

"To build trust with my patients, I first would rely on my instincts to gauge how they were feeling in the moment and use the best technique for gaining their trust. If a young patient is brave and determined, I will communicate openly with them to educate them and let them talk me through stories. If a patient is scared, I would be very reassuring and compliment them with every step we take. If needed in any situation, I wouldn't hesitate to use a toy to help distract them in any necessary procedures."

With pediatric patients, building trust and rapport doesn't necessarily mean getting the patient to like you. But more often than not, building solid trust with pediatric patients comes down to positive communications and a harmonious relationship during your time together. There are many great methods and tools to building trust in your work with patients, so be sure to think of what will be your go-to methods. These can include but are not limited to, using words of encouragement for positive reinforcement, expressing interest in the child, making small talk, and using toys (or other props) to make them more comfortable.