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Pediatric Nursing | AU Health

Pediatric

Pediatric nurses possess in-depth knowledge of childrens' growth and development. They personify compassion and patience, connecting genuinely with their young patients, knowing that treating a child differs from treating an adult. Pediatric nurses care for patients from newborns through adolescence.

Pediatric

Pediatric nurses possess in-depth knowledge of childrens' growth and development. They personify compassion and patience, connecting genuinely with their young patients, knowing that treating a child differs from treating an adult. Pediatric nurses care for patients from newborns through adolescence.

Overview

Nurses work in the Children’s Hospital of Georgia, the second largest children’s hospital in the state of Georgia, providing care to patients for everything from common childhood illnesses to life-threatening conditions. Nurses work in a wide variety of pediatric specialties, including:

  • Pediatric general surgery
  • Trauma
  • ENT
  • Orthopedics
  • Neurosurgery
  • Plastic surgery
  • Cardiology
  • Nephrology
  • Urology
  • Hematology/Oncology
  • Hospitalist
  • Neurology
  • Pulmonology
  • Rheumatology

What to Expect

Personnel: Staff includes registered nurses, PCT, and unit clerks.

Requirements: The staff is required to attend yearly competency training (both didactic and clinical) for both core and unit-specific competencies which are identified by the manager/staff and Education Department.

The staff is required to complete unit-specific skill checklists at the time of their orientation. The staff attends unit-specific educational classes and in-services provided by the Educational Department and other resources.

Schedule:

  • 12 hour shifts, which consist of full time, part time, and per diem staff.
  • A 6-week schedule is published based on the average daily census and the staffing matrix. When additional staff is needed the manager consults with the staffing office. Staff is floated from other departments, regular staff is asked to work additional hours, or PRN staff is scheduled.
  • When more staff are available than unit requires, they may be floated to another unit or have their shift canceled. 

4C - Pediatric
Open to new nursing graduates, the primary service lines that admit to 4C are hospitalists and complex care. All pediatric medical/surgical services and sub-specialist are available to all 4C patients. The patient population ranges in age from newborn to 21 years of age.
Beds: 22
Ratio: The nurse-to-patient average ratio is 4:1 and PCT is 8:1 unless the patient’s acuity warrants a higher staffing ratio. 

5C - Pediatric surgery, hematology/oncology (Hem/Onc), cardiology, nephrology
Open to new nursing graduates, all pediatric medical/surgical services and sub-specialties are available to all 5C patients. The unit is divided into two areas - the area behind the glass is an 8 bed hem/onc area - the other area houses patients that require complicated intensive surgeries (patients with known infections may not be admitted to this area due to the neutropenic patients).
Beds: 25
Ratio:
The nurse-to-patient average ratio is 4:1 and PCT is 8:1 unless the patient’s acuity warrants a higher staffing ratio. 

PICU (Pediatric Intensive Care Unit)
Every PICU room has a glass door to increase visibility of patients at all times. Patients are admitted to PICU from other hospitals and institutions, emergency services, and sites within CHOG, such as 4C, 5C, OR, PACU, and clinics.
Beds: 14 (13 are open beds, the 14th is reserved for a pediatric code or patient with deteriorating condition)
Ratio: Minimum of 3 nurses

PIMCU (Pediatric Intermediate Care Unit)
Nurses have the opportunity to care for open heart patients once they are stabilized and meet intermediate care status. Nurses learn how to use new cutting-edge technology and are part of the Pediatric Code Team and Pediatric Evaluation Team.
Beds: 6
Ratio: 2 patients : 1 nurse

5 NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit)
Patients are brought to one of two nurseries, each housing 18 bed spaces, prepared to provide advanced care to high-risk neonates and their families. The NICU is a level IVPerinatal Referral Center for the state of Georgia.
Beds: 36
Ratio:
3 nurses at all times, (nurse to patient ratio may be 2:1, 1:1, 1:2, or 1:3)

7U NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit)
High-risk neonates. Premature infants currently at corrected age of at least 32 weeks and weighing at least 1500 grams, infants requiring cardio-respiratory monitoring for apnea and bradycardia, infants requiring nasal cannula oxygen therapy, infants requiring nasogastric or gastrostomy tube feedings, and infants anticipated to be discharged within one to two weeks.
Beds:
9
Ratio:
2 nurses at all times (Nurse to patient ratio may be 1:3 or 1:4)

Location: 5th floor - Augusta University Medical Center - critical care tower (adjacent to the back entrance of CHOG's 5th floor) 5 NICU serves both the 5th floor main and 7U - the Special Care Intermediate Care Nursery.

We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class.

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