This paper reports on the self-identification of hospital preparation learning needs of rural children, both before and after their hospital experience Children who were scheduled for a hospital admission were interviewed in their home settings 1 to 2 weeks before their hospital admissions The interviews were replicated 1 week after discharge from the hospital Changes in knowledge acquisition and learning needs from the pre-hospital to the post-hospital state were examined The study identifies from the childs perspective the type of information and program delivery method most appropriate to meeting the psychosocial needs of children related to a planned hospital stay.