Your child's care in ICU

Being in Intensive care is different from being in a regular hospital ward. 

The intensive care environment and the experiences of parenting a critically ill child can be challenging. 

  • Your child may look very different with all the monitoring and care equipment surrounding them
  • There may be swelling, skin tone differences and your child will likely not be wearing pyjamas
  • Your child may also act differently, depending on their age and how awake they are
  • Your child may be very sleepy or unusually restless.

Your bedside nurse and the other members of the team are there to explain these changes and help you to anticipate what will happen next. 

We recognise that parents know their child better than anyone, and we encourage you to be involved in the planning and implementation of your child’s care. We also encourage that you ask questions from our knowledgeable team. 

Together we can make sure your child is comfortable, rests well, and is supported toward recovery.

Helping your child feel comfortable and safe

  • As a parent or carer, you are the most familiar and trusted person in your child’s life. By continuing to be involved in your child’s care, you will make them feel more secure in the hospital environment. 
  • We also encourage you to bring in a favourite teddy or comforter to leave with your child, and leave photos or a picture your child will recognise in the bedspace.
  • Many children in intensive care receive sedation, if your child is sedated please assume they can hear you and feel your touch even if due to sedation they do not respond. We encourage you to talk to them, read to them and allow them to feel your touch.

Patient safety

Preventing the spread of infection

Children in intensive care get illnesses more easily than others and visitors may be infectious without visible signs of illness.

You can help prevent the spread of infection by:

  • Washing your hands or using the hand rub provided before and after touching, feeding and changing your child. Ask your visitors to do the same. Hand washing is the single best way of preventing the spread of infection.
  • We ask that only immediate family visit and that anyone who is unwell stays away from the hospital.
  • Please let your nurse know if you or your child has had contact with a contagious illness such as chicken pox.
  • Please follow the advice of special signs around the Unit, on the doorway to isolated rooms and instructions of staff members.
  • Do not hesitate to ask staff caring for your child if they have washed their hands, when they enter your child’s room.

Your child’s bedspace

To keep children safe we ask that you follow these guidelines:

  • Please do not bring food or hot drinks into the wards, unless the food is for your child (the patient) and you have discussed this with your nurse
  • Keep your child’s bed space uncluttered
  • Help us prevent falls by keeping cot and bed rails up at all times and discuss with your nurse or physiotherapist before getting your child out of their bed or cot
  • Please do not interrupt nurses while they prepare and administer medications (unless urgent)
  • Help us keep an ID band on your child and inform us if it comes off
  • Respect the privacy and needs of other families.

Pressure Injuries

Patients in intensive care have an increased risk of developing a pressure injury as their mobility is limited, they may have a number of medical devices attached, and their illness may predispose them to such an injury.

A pressure injury is an area of damaged skin caused by pressure, sliding or rubbing on the skin.

To prevent pressure injuries nurses will: 

  • Inspect your child’s skin regularly for signs of an injury especially under medical devices
  • Encourage and assist your child to change position regularly 
  • Keep your child’s skin clean and dry.

If you notice any areas of concern please speak to your nurse or doctor. If a pressure injury is identified we will report, monitor and manage it to achieve best outcomes for your child.

Privacy

Privacy and confidentiality

Please respect the privacy of all families and do not discuss the health of other patients with family and friends.

To ensure the privacy of your child and family is respected, nurses are not able to give out any information about your child over the telephone.

Photos and video

While staff understand that you may wish to take photographs, video footage or write about your child’s hospital journey, we ask that you are mindful of the privacy of others and do not include staff or patients and their families in your photos, video records or identify them by name, without their consent.

Please be aware that staff may ask you to stop taking photographs or video footage of your child if it impacts on their work, privacy, or the privacy of others.

Photos or video for purposes other than personal use, such as for media, requires permission from the Public Relations Department.

For more information please talk to your Nursing Team Leader or the Public Relations Department on (02) 9382 1983.

Professional boundaries

Staff are required to follow the NSW Ministry of Health’s Code of Conduct, which means they must maintain professional boundaries with patients and families at all times.

Staff will therefore have to say ‘no’ to any requests that are seen as going beyond professional boundaries – if this happens, please do not be offended.

Examples include a parent inviting a staff member to be their ‘friend’ on social networking websites like Facebook, and exchanging personal contact numbers.

Patient stories