Patient Populations: This unit provides care to children of all ages, from infants through adolescents whom require care in the following specialty areas: hematology/oncology, bone marrow transplant, renal, endocrine, GI, urology, general surgery, neurosurgery, liver transplant, renal transplant, and trauma.

Unit Information: This unit provides nurses the opportunity to work with a wide variety of acute and chronic patients with a variety of medical and surgical diagnosis. Many of the patient populations require multiple readmissions and long-term hospitalizations, providing nurses the ability to build relationships with patients and family members. The healthcare team includes but is not limited to: nurses, physicians, pediatric nurse practitioners, specialty nurses, physician assistants, nursing students, and medical students, child life specialists, social workers, and school tutor.

Orientation is a six-week competency based learning experience with a preceptor. Staff nurses may work 8 or 12 hour shifts during the week, and 12 hour shifts on the weekends. Staff may work every third weekend, every other weekend, orin a weekend option line. Some of the staff nurses are certified in pediatric oncology. Several of the staff are actively involved in the local APON (Association of Pediatric Oncology Nurses) Chapter.

Primarily an RN staff. Additional nursing support staff includes nursing assistants, a LPN Treatment Room nurse, a trans aide, and nursing unit clerks. Nurses care for children with a variety of specialized needs. Quality improvement projects include pain management, use of topical anesthetic to prevent discomfort with intravenous starts, and the potential use of lidocaine with NG insertions.

Location: Third Floor, John Colloton Pavilion