• You are the most important person on your child’s healthcare team. Every day, please engage in a conversation with your child’s nurse at a mutually convenient time. Talk to them about any changes you have noticed in your child, what is scheduled for your child and what you can do to participate in their care.
• If you would like to be there during a procedure, ask your child’s team if this is possible.
• Be as physically present as you can: your child will be comforted by the touch of your hand, the sound of your voice and your familiarity.
• Your child may be given a medication to provide pain relief and sedation so that their body can heal in a state of complete rest. While we strive for your child's utmost comfort, keep touching and talking, reading and singing as your child is still aware of your presence.
• Don’t neglect your own health and the health of the rest of your family - Do spend time away from the unit to refresh yourself.

What is it?

A space designed for the comfort of all families whose children are in the PICU.

What does it have?

• Phone: Dial 9 to make an outside call
• Washroom
• Reclining couch that converts into a bed
• Fridge
• Microwave
• Kitchen with sink and supplies -> please help yourself to coffee and tea
• TV
• Computer with Internet Access
• Room next to washroom offers privacy to mothers to pump their breast milk
• 1x/week: Delivery of nutritional snacks through donation by a family

‎ICU Team Members and Who to Ask (PDF)

7.15-10 a.m: Medical-Surgical Rounds

• Lead Intensivist for the week, residents, fellows and other team members attend to children in each bed one at a time to discuss the child’s condition and treatment.
• Medical teaching is conducted during this time.
• Parent Opportunity: You are invited to be part of rounds and participate in rounds to the level that you are comfortable with. The Plan of Care is established at the end of rounds. Please ensure it is communicated to you. If you have questions, we will do best to answer them then or come back to speak to you.
• Please see the link below for more information about how you can participate in Family Centred Rounds. What are Family Centred Rounds? (PDF)

10 a.m. onwards: Procedures, Treatments and Tests

4-5 p.m: Medical Hand-over Rounds

7-7.30 p.m: Nursing Shift Change (similar to the morning)

10 p.m. onwards: Only urgent procedures and tests are done

Common Equipment in the PICU PDF (PDF)

• Keeping your Child Safe (PDF)
• Making Difficult Decisions (PDF)
• Consent for Healthcare (PDF)
• Consent for Healthcare - Young People (PDF)
• Consent for Healthcare - Family, Friends (PDF)
• Viewing your Child’s Charts (PDF)

If you are worried about something, contact the nurse caring for your child first. They will be able to help you.

If you would like to see a social worker, child life specialist, chaplain or psychologist, please ask your child’s physician, nurse or the charge nurse for a referral.

Read about other support services.

Leaving the Critical Care Unit may evoke mixed feelings. These feelings are understandable. They usually pass once you get to know the ward, its routine and particularly, the new people on your child’s health care team.

Some treatments for your child may change when you get to the ward. Please discuss the plan of care with your health care team on the ward.

The length of stay in the hospital will be very different for every child. Ask the nurses and doctors on the ward when you can expect your child’s discharge.

Information about the ward your child will be transferred to can be found on BC Children’s Hospital website or you can ask for the information to be printed for you.

Based on needs and availability, your child may be in a single, double or quadruple room. There is usually a chair-bed or cot for one family member to sleep at the bedside. We encourage a parent to stay with the child overnight when they are transferred to the ward.

On the ward, you and your child can begin to assume more of your regular routine.

If you would like a tour of the ward, please ask the charge nurse to arrange this.

To contact the ward your child is being transferred to, please call 604-875-2345 and request your call to be transferred to the specific ward.

If your child needs physiotherapy, occupational therapy, or other, these services will be provided on the ward.

Please talk to the various individuals of the health care team to better familiarize yourself with them.

On the ward, one nurse will be caring for more than one patient. This tells you that your child’s level of monitoring has changed. The nurse on the ward will be assigned to your child as well as 2-3 additional patients.

If you are worried about something, contact the nurse caring for your child first. They will be able to help you.

If you would like to see a Social Worker, Child Life Specialist, Chaplain or Psychologist, please ask your child’s physician, nurse or the charge nurse for a referral.

For other support services, please click here.