Great River Medical Center's Pediatric Unit

At Great River Medical Center's Pediatrics Unit, our patients range from infants to 18 years old. Occasionally, we may care for adults on the unit. Our goal is to make your child's hospital stay as pleasant as possible.

When a child is hospitalized, it can affect the entire family. This is especially true when the patient is a child. Therefore, we follow a family-centered approach on the Pediatrics Unit. Hospitalized children often are best comforted by those they know best, so there are no limitations on visits by parents. Feel free to participate as much as you wish in the care of your child, but be sure and ask us when you would like help. For medical and legal reasons, we must ask that you do not participate in the care of other children or visit their rooms.

Due to other obligations, many parents cannot visit as often or stay as long with their child as they would like. In this case, be assured that pediatric nurses will provide all the care and attention you child needs in your absence.

Nursing care

The nursing focus in Great River Medical Center's Pediatrics Unit is to help our young patients return to a healthy state so their families can care for them at home. Our nurses are here to help you and your child in any way we can. We are available to listen to your concerns and answer any questions.

Nurses at Great River Medical Center consider it a privilege to offer direct patient care. We observe and evaluate the condition of your child, and relay this information to your physician via entries in your child's medical record. Therefore, you will see nurses at the desk "charting" from time to time. We hope you will recognize the importance of this aspect in caring for your child. At times, the pediatric nurses may be providing care in the rooms of other children. When you need a nurse, please use the call bell in your child's room or the bell at the desk. A nurse is always present on the unit.

Daily routines

Hospital routines are much different from yours at home. We will try to make this transition as smooth as possible for you. The following are some regularly scheduled occurrences you and your child should be aware of:

Temperatures and vital signs — Pediatric nurses take temperatures and vital signs three times a day: early in the morning, midday and at bedtime. Children with elevated temperatures may have their temperature checked as often as every two hours.

Weighing — Physicians frequently order daily weights on small children. These weights must be completed before breakfast and morning physicians' rounds.

Bathing and bed linen changes — Bathing and bed linen changes may be done during the day or evening shifts, or when needed.

Meals — Meals are delivered to the rooms three times a day at 7:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and 5 p.m. Special food items are available for children. Between-meal snacks are kept on the unit. Ask your nurse for them. If you have a question or concern about your child's meals, please ask the nurse to call the third-floor dietary technician.

Medication and treatment — In carrying out your physician's orders, the pediatric nurses may be in and out of your child's room frequently to give medications and treatments. This may require waking your child occasionally, but it is necessary for the child's health. Every treatment is done in a caring way to help send a healthy, happy patient home with you.

Noise

As with pediatric units in all hospitals, there is some noise: the cry of a baby, the "beeping" IV machines and the "ding" of a patient's call light. We make every effort to keep all noises at a minimum, but sick babies are sometimes difficult to control.

Secondhand smoke and your child

The most-common reason children are admitted to the Pediatrics Unit is for respiratory problems. A child's lungs are still developing and are very sensitive to secondhand smoke. This may lead to an infection or exasperate an existing condition, such as asthma or an ear infection. Secondhand smoke also has been directly linked to the development of lung cancer. It is estimated that secondhand smoke is responsible for approximately 3,000 deaths annually among adult nonsmokers in the United States. Each year, exposure to secondhand smoke causes 150,000 to 300,000 lower respiratory tract infections in U.S. infants and children younger than 18 months. These infections result in 7,500 to 15,000 hospitalizations yearly.

The Pro-Children Act of 1994 bans smoking in children's services that receive federal funding. Under the law, "children" refers to individuals younger than 18, and "children's services" are health, day-care, education or library services provided on a regular basis.

We are committed to promoting the general health and well being of current and future generations of the communities we serve. As a leading health-care provider, we also recognize the serious health risks associated with smoking and secondhand smoke. Consequently, our policy prohibits patients, visitors, employees, medical staff and volunteers from smoking throughout the hospital campus. Smoking for visitors is allowed only on the southeast part of the patio overlooking the lake. Please be aware that if you smoke while visiting your child in the hospital, particles from the cigarette smoke will cling to your clothing and may cause an adverse respiratory reaction with your child when you return to the Pediatrics Unit.

To help reduce the number of children admitted to the hospital with respiratory problems, we strongly suggest refraining from smoking around children. For smokers interested in quitting, Great River Medical Center offers a smoking-cessation program. For more information or to register, call the hospital’s Center for Rehabilitation at (319) 768-4100.

Dismissal

On the day of dismissal, please wait for the nurse to give you dismissal instructions. Your physician also may review the discharge instructions with you.

For more information

If you have any questions or concerns, please call the Pediatrics Unit at (319) 768-2800.