A children's hospital care team is led by an attending physician, the doctor in charge of your child's care. Around the attending, children's hospitals list roles like these: doctors in training (fellows, residents, and medical students), nurses, and specialists such as child life specialists, social workers, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, and dietitians.

Below is what each role does, in the words of children's hospitals and professional groups that describe them.

If you are not sure who someone is, you can ask. Children's Minnesota and the University of Rochester's Golisano Children's Hospital both tell parents to do exactly that.

The doctors, and who is in charge

Attending physician. Children's Minnesota says the attending "has primary responsibility for the care of the patient." Stanford Medicine Children's Health says attendings "lead the healthcare team and are responsible for your child's care while in the hospital," and Nationwide Children's Hospital adds: "All major decisions are made by the attending." At Golisano Children's Hospital, the attending may be your child's own pediatrician, a hospital pediatrician called a hospitalist, or a specialty physician such as a surgeon or cardiologist.

Fellow. A fellow is a doctor who has finished residency and is getting more training in a specialty. Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) describes a fellow as training "to practice in a more specialized branch of medicine."

Resident. A resident has graduated from medical school and is now training in a specific area, such as pediatrics. A pediatric resident writing on the Nemours Children's Health blog explains that residents are real doctors, and that a board-certified doctor always supervises them. Nemours and Nationwide Children's both put pediatric residency at three years, and Nationwide notes that the first year of residency is also called internship.

Medical student. A medical student is still in medical school, studying to become a doctor. Nationwide Children's says students "cannot write prescriptions nor work independently," and Golisano Children's Hospital says they work under the close supervision of physicians. Children's Minnesota notes that medical students usually spend the last two years of medical school seeing patients in hospital and office settings.

Your child's nurses

Registered nurse (RN). Children's Minnesota says a registered nurse "gives medication, performs small procedures such as drawing blood, and closely follows a child's condition." Stanford adds that RNs take vital signs and do physical exams. At CHOP, a primary nurse is a registered nurse responsible for planning and coordinating your child's care throughout the hospital stay.

Nurse practitioner (NP). Stanford describes a nurse practitioner as a nurse with an advanced degree in nursing. CHOP describes its NPs as master's-prepared advanced practice registered nurses.

Is a child life specialist a nurse?

No. Hospitals such as CHOP and Stanford list child life specialists and registered nurses as separate roles. The American Academy of Pediatrics describes child life specialists as collaborating with nurses, physicians, social workers, and other members of the health care team.

Child life also has its own credential. The Association of Child Life Professionals calls the Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) credential "the exclusive credential for the child life profession." The Child Life Certification Commission issues it. Requirements include a bachelor's degree, required coursework, a clinical internship of at least 600 hours under the direct supervision of a CCLS, and passing a certification exam.

They are healthcare professionals: Cleveland Clinic calls a child life specialist "a healthcare provider." In one line from Children's Minnesota, they "work to reduce stress and anxiety while kids are in the hospital." Read our full guide to what a child life specialist does.

Child life is also where Friends of Jack comes in. While navigating stressful hospital stays with her son, Jack, founder Jill Fearons recognized the importance of overlooked healthcare programs and child life specialists in coping with scary and unfamiliar medical situations. Friends of Jack serves SouthCoast Massachusetts and Rhode Island and funds Child Life Specialist roles.

Support for your whole family

Social worker. Children's Minnesota says a hospital social worker "focuses on improving the emotional well-being of kids and their families, and helps coordinate health care." CHOP adds information and counseling about adjusting to illness, and help with healthcare planning and ongoing decisions.

Case manager. At CHOP, a case manager "assists your family in planning for discharge and stays in regular contact with your insurance company." Stanford describes case managers as working with families and the care team when a patient is preparing to leave the hospital.

Chaplain. Stanford calls the hospital's spiritual support person a hospital chaplain. Golisano Children's Hospital says its chaplains provide spiritual and emotional support to people of all faiths.

Interpreter. At Stanford Medicine Children's Health, Interpreter Services "provides free interpreters to patients and their families while they are in the hospital." If your family needs an interpreter, ask your child's team what your hospital offers.

Other specialists you might meet

Respiratory therapist. Children's Minnesota, CHOP, Stanford, and Golisano Children's Hospital all describe respiratory therapists as caring for patients with breathing problems. Golisano adds that they set up and operate respiratory equipment.

Pharmacist. Children's Minnesota says a pharmacist provides medicines, checks for interactions between drugs, and works with the rest of the medical team to choose treatments. Stanford says pharmacists work with your doctors to make sure prescribed medicines are the best and safest option for your child.

Dietitian. Children's Minnesota says a dietitian plans meals based on a patient's medical condition and needs. Stanford calls the dietitian a food and nutrition expert who works with your family to support your child's growth and health.

It's OK to ask who someone is

Hospitals say so themselves. Children's Minnesota: "If you're uncertain about who someone is or what role a person plays in your child's care, don't hesitate to ask someone on staff." Golisano Children's Hospital: "If you ever have a question about who someone is and why they are in your room, please ask!"

A few questions you can use:

• What is your role on my child's team?
• Who is the attending physician for my child?
• Is there a child life specialist I can ask for?

Friends of Jack's own work sits in the child life part of this list. To learn more about it, and about the Child Life Specialist roles Friends of Jack funds, visit our Child Life Specialists program page.