Fiona
is a Clinical Nurse Specialist in the newly developed role of Long Term Care
Co-ordinator for patients in PICU at Starship Child Health. After an extensive background in ICU and
working with ECMO, CVVH, flight nursing and shift co-ordinating she found a
passion for looking after children who had been in PICU for long periods of
time. Fiona enjoys the challenges and
rewards that this population of patients and their families provide. Fiona is currently completing her Post
Graduate Diploma in Advanced Nursing and is looking forward to continuing her
studies to complete a Masters.
Home Sweet Home….On a Ventilator
New
Zealand is experiencing an increase in paediatric patients who require long
term ventilation. Currently known as, “medically
fragile children”, these young patients are increasingly able to lead a life
that is full and interesting.
Facilitation
of this requires an all-encompassing care package, a strong multidisciplinary
team (both in hospital & the community) & needs to be supported by parents
who are motivated and flexible. The goal
is to send children home to a safe, well supported environment where they can
achieve their full potential surrounded by family who are able to take care of
them in their own homes.
In
June 2017 a Clinical Nurse Specialist position was created in Paediatric
Intensive Care Unit at Starship Child Health. The aim of this role is to
co-ordinate the transition of care from hospital back into the home for these
patients. I was fortunate enough to be
hired into this role.
This
presentation will show-case a patients story, discuss some of the challenges in
getting medically fragile children home and highlight why overcoming these
obstacles is essential to ensure these patients meet their full potential.
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