Clinical care in the CICU
Staying informed and involved
We are here to provide information about your child’s care. If you have any questions, please speak with your bedside nurse or the Nursing Unit Manager (NUM) on shift at any time.
CICU staff and what they do
Nurses
Nurse Unit Managers (NUM)
Nurse Unit Managers are responsible for overall management of the Unit. If you have any questions or concerns that you cannot discuss with the nurse looking after your child, please speak with the NUM.
Out of hours a senior nurse is allocated as team leader to fulfil this role.
Nurses (RN)
Your bedside nurse is your first point of information and will keep you updated and answer your questions.
Nurses (RN) in CICU work two shifts commencing at 7am and 7pm. A nurse will be allocated to care for your child at all times.
Clinical Nurse Consultants (CNC)
Nurses who lead and consult in a particular specialty across the Hospital and are available to advise and support families, other nursing staff, and medical staff.
Clinical Nurse Educators (CNE) and Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS)
Specialised senior nurses with specialised knowledge and skills in Intensive Care nursing. They provide advice and support to members of the health care team as well as children and their families.
Doctors
Intensive Care Consultants
Senior doctors who take responsibility for all aspects of your child’s medical care whilst are in the CICU.
Consultants change Friday at 8am.
Junior doctors and the nursing staff will provide care to your child under the direction and guidance of the CICU consultant.
Fellows
Doctors who are senior trainees specialising in paediatric intensive care medicine and are nearing the end of their training. They are responsible for the supervision of the registrars within the CICU.
Registrars and Residents
Doctors working towards specialty qualifications in paediatrics, emergency medicine, anaesthetics and intensive care medicine (adult or paediatric).
There are two registrars working in the CICU 24 hours-a-day commencing at 8am and 8pm.
Residents are at the beginning of their specialty training and you will see them as additional medical cover on weekdays.
Students
Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick is a teaching hospital. Students from all disciplines come to learn and experience the high standard of care we provide.
Long-term multidisciplinary team
The CICU Multidisciplinary Team aims to see long term patients of all ages in the CICU to provide holistic multidisciplinary care, improve continuity of care, and work towards consistent care goals with patients and their families.
Daily rounds
Let the bedside nurse know if you have questions or issues to discuss, and they will arrange for the right person to meet with you.
Each day a multidisciplinary ward will see your child to check on their progress and make a management plan. These visits are called rounds.
The ward rounds attended by the bedside registered nurse, CICU doctors (consultant, fellow and registrar), nurse team leader / access nurse, nurse practitioner, and members of the Allied Health Team (typically a pharmacist and a dietitian).
You are welcome to be present and are encouraged to ask questions.
Team handover and huddles take place at the following times each day:
- 7:30am: Nursing handover
- 8am: Medical handover
- 8:30am: Ward round
- 11am: Medical and nursing huddle
- 5pm: Senior medical handover
Developmental care round
The Developmental Care Round aims to support a baby’s development and reduce their stress whilst in CICU.
- Every Wednesday our team of occupational therapists, speech pathologists, nurses and physiotherapists hold bedside Developmental Care Rounds.
- The team works with babies under four months old to help assist parents and carers, promote bonding, and discuss the developmental practices and strategies to support care for the baby.
- Green dots are used at the bedside to communicate your baby’s developmental recommendations, and to promote consistency in care giving.
We strongly encourage parent and carer presence and participation in these rounds.