Care in CICU

Staff roles and shifts

Nursing

Nurses (RN) 

  • 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. 
  • Your bedside nurse is your first point of information and will keep you updated and answer your questions.

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.

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.

Medical

Intensive Care Consultants 

  • Senior doctors who take responsibility for all aspects of your child鈥檚 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.

Developmental care round

The Developmental Care Round aims to support a baby鈥檚 development and reduce their stress whilst in CICU. 

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. 

We strongly encourage parent and carer presence and participation in these rounds.

For more information on medical and allied health professionals that work in our intensive care units see Who's who in ICU.

Nutrition and meals

Please alert us if your child has any allergies and check with your nurse prior to giving your child anything to eat or drink. 

When your child is well enough to eat, we will provide them with meals and snacks, although you are welcome to bring in your child鈥檚 preferred foods.

Breastfeeding, expressing, and formula feeding

We support breastfeeding and will assist you in breastfeeding or expressing and storing breastmilk if required. 

Formula can be provided if required, however if you prefer a brand of formula that is not supplied by the Hospital, parents will need to provide sealed tins in good condition for our formula room to prepare. 

Parent and carer facilities

Accommodation

If you would like to know about accommodation options, please speak with your nurse or social worker. 

There are visitor toilets and a small kitchen located in CICU for parent and carer use.

Parent and carer meals

The Hospital does not provide free meals to parents and carers.

A variety of food outlets and vending machines are available within and near the Hospital, see the Patient handbook for more information. 

Telephones and wifi

Mobile phone usage is permitted in the waiting areas and parent鈥檚 rooms of CICU. Please ensure that your phone is switched to 鈥榮ilent鈥� mode as you enter CICU.

WiFi is available for patients and families within the Hospital free of charge. 

Please ensure WiFi is enabled on your device, select _HealthGuestWiFi_SCH and follow the prompts.

Discharge

When your child is well enough they will be discharged from CICU to a ward within the hospital or a paediatric ward closer to your home if suitable. 

Once your child has left CICU medical and nursing care will change. Nursing care on the general paediatric wards is less intensive usually one nurse will be responsible for two to four patients.

This can be unsettling for many parents, but this should be recognised as a sign that your child鈥檚 condition is improving. The CICU doctors will hand over care to the ward medical staff updating them on your child鈥檚 progress in CICU. 

Your CICU nurse will hand over to the nurses on the receiving ward and all allied health needs will be handed over as required.

Discharge satisfaction survey

Upon discharge we would appreciate if you completed our to give us feedback on your experience.