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Your child’s hospital stay may include some time in the four-bed Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). Children cared for in the PICU range from newborns after discharge from the hospital all the way up to young adults 18 years of age. Any child with a serious injury or illness requiring special monitoring and continuous observation by specially trained medical personnel will usually be admitted to the PICU.
Many of the patients admitted to the PICU have been injured in an accident, need close observation after surgery, or require treatment of an acute illness. Your child will be connected to a cardiorespiratory monitor and IV tubing and therefore may have limited mobility while in the PICU. At times, more complex equipment may be necessary to manage your child’s medical needs.
PICU Staff
Care of the pediatric ICU patient is under the direction of the pediatric intensive care physician. Multidisciplinary rounds occur daily on every patient and include the nurse caring for the patient, the intensivist as well as the pediatrician on service, medical students, respiratory therapist, clergy, pharmacist and family resource nurse. We also have the medical support of pediatric specialty physicians including, but not limited to surgery, cardiology, hematology/oncology, nephrology, neurology, genetics, asthma/allergy/immunology, neurosurgery and orthopaedics.
Visitors and Phones
The PICU has an open visitation policy for parents, grandparents and siblings, but at times family members may be asked to step out of the room for brief moments as the needs of your child arise. All other visitors are asked to check-in with the nursing staff before visiting. Visitors are welcome to meet with parents and family members in the Pediatric Intensive Care Parent Lounge near the PICU. Phone calls usually ring to the nurses’ station and can then be transferred into your child’s room as needed.
PICU Overnight Stays
The staff of the PICU focuses on family centered care. Families are included in decision-making and are updated frequently. Once your child’s condition has stabilized, we encourage you to spend more time with your child. PICU staff requires accessibility to meet your child’s medical needs; unfortunately, limitation of space may not allow you to sleep in your child’s room. We can provide sleeping arrangements for family members just outside the PICU to allow you to be close to your child.
Participation
Parents are offered involvement in their child’s daily routine and personal cares as the child’s condition permits. We encourage parents to offer suggestions for their child’s care while in the PICU. The PICU staff is always available and willing to answer your questions. |