On your child’s arrival, the nursing team will welcome and orient you to the unit. The doctors, nurse practitioners, and nurses will have discussed your child’s care with the ICU team.
Usually, the rooms on the cardiology unit have space for 2 caregivers to stay overnight and there is a bathroom/ shower in each room. There is often a unit kitchen equipped with coffee, microwave, and refrigerator/freezer for food that has not yet entered the patient room.
Your child’s care team will make rounds every morning to discuss the day’s medical plan for your child, and you are encouraged to join this discussion. It’s a great time to ask questions that can clear up any doubts you may have. If the discussion about your questions takes a long time, the medical team may ask to come back later in the day to finish the conversation.
We want to help you learn how to take care of your child at home. We will encourage you to provide care for your child while on the cardiology unit. This is the best place to learn the skills that you need to care for your child at home.
Some specifics teaching points:
- Newborn care, including safe sleep principles and car seat safety
- How to safely give medicines to your child
- Detailed, safe feeding plan
- Wound care
- Things to watch for (Red flags) and precautions