Pediatric Nurse

Main Purpose

Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) Nurses provide care for children and adolescents with a wide-range of ailments, from common childhood diseases to life-threatening illnesses. The difference between PICU patients and regular PEDs patients is that PICU patients are usually unstable and require constant monitoring and interventions.

Accountabilities

• Know, promote, implement and follow at all times the universal hygiene standards/ precautions, bio-hazard prevention and infection control, security rules and other protocols and procedures in the medical premises and ensure high standards of hygiene of his/her working environment,
• Organize and carry out care and treatments according to medical prescriptions, as well as assist them during consultations/ daily rounds and other medical procedures,
• Ensure patients are properly received and installed in the health service. Ensures that patients with lack of autonomy are assisted, especially regarding their feeding, personal hygiene, movements and comfort,
• Respect medical secret and confidentiality,
• Carry-out admission, surveillance and follow-up of patients meaning assessment of their health state evolution, and identification of emergency situation or any deterioration,
• Participate in health education of the patient (and family) when necessary,
• Supervise and train nurse-aids, cleaners and other related staff under his/her supervision in their work with special focus in following all appropriate protocols and procedures and ensuring team work,
• Participate in the department-related pharmacy and medical equipment control and maintenance (carrying out inventories, carrying out stock takes of medicines and material at every team changeover, ensuring no material is taken out of nursing area/wards without prior authorization, checking its quality and its functioning, storage conditions, doing follow-up of expired drugs, etc.),
• Carry-out and supervise administrative procedures and documents (fill in patients files, forms, consumptions, statistics, etc.), ensure an appropriate written/oral handover, and report any problematic situations and cases that may arise. Fill in all necessary registers and health files, participate in data collection and keep doctors/supervisors informed,
• Detect the priority acute/emergency cases, carry-out first aid care when necessary and refer them to the doctor,
• If applicable, identify Sexually Gender Based Violence victims and refer them to the medical team, so they can receive the necessary treatment,
• Knows and is aware of the importance and appropriate use of the Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) Kit
• Sends material to be sterilized and recuperates it from sterilization.

Specific Accountabilities

In addition to basic nursing care, responsibilities of PICU Nurses include (but are not limited to):

• Provides age and culturally appropriate care to patient
• Consults and coordinates with health care team members to assess, plan, implement and evaluate patient care plans
• Monitors patient’s vital signs, such as blood pressure, breathing and heart rate, and initiates corrective action whenever the patient displays adverse symptomatology
• Follows continuous cardiac and respiratory monitor readings, such as EKG tracings, O2 stats, CVP/arterial, line waveforms, if applicable, and reports any observed changes
• Tracks urine output
• Changes dressings, inserts catheters, starts IVs (both central venous & arterial)
• Administers infusion therapy, including: IV fluids, antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals, electrolytes
• Monitors and adjusts specialized equipment used on patients, such as ventilators
• Prepares and administers and records prescribed medications. Reports adverse reactions to medications or treatments
• Assists treating physician during examination, treatment and procedures, which can include life-saving situations
• Analyzes lab results
• Assists with the insertion or discontinuation of CV catheters, arterial lines, external ventricular drains, epidural catheters and endotracheal tubes, Foleys
• Provides education, information and emotional support to the patient’s family and caregivers
• Records all care information concisely, accurately and completely, in a timely manner, in the appropriate format and on the appropriate forms
• Performs other position-related duties as assigned, depending on assignment setting
• Ensure the follow-up and a continous high level care.
• Have a good team spirit and work in a multidisciplinary team.