Purpose:

Improve healthcare for children in Guilford County, North Carolina, with the integration of a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit into an existing Pediatric Acute Care Unit.

Significance:

Children requiring intensive care were transferred to tertiary care settings or a small number were cared for in the hospital's adult intensive care unit. These nurses were not trained in pediatrics or pediatric critical care nursing.

Background/Design:

Greensboro, North Carolina, has a population of ~250,000 people, and the mean age is in the mid-40s. The community wanted improved care for the critically ill children. A feasibility study supported the development of a 4-bed PICU.

Methods:

Planning committee met. Feasibility study done. PICU added to fiscal objectives. Multidisciplinary team formed. CNS hired. Construction. Education. Training. Patients.

Findings:

To date, over 300 admissions with outcomes and length of stays comparable to national benchmarks.

Conclusions:

The program exemplifies the successful implementation of a large-scale project brought to fruition through collaboration between nursing, medicine, and corporate support.

Implications for Practice:

An increase in patient/parent satisfaction. Increase in nursing satisfaction. Improved healthcare for children in our county.