When she entered nursing there was no way Emma Carrick could have foreseen the workload sheB次元官网网址檇 handle as the clinical nurse educator for pediatrics at Victoria General Hospital.

Carrick, a Metchosin resident, has been at the hospital in View Royal since 1999, and has been a registered nurse caring for sick children since she started practising in Scotland in 1982. ItB次元官网网址檚 four days a week, two nights, two days, at 12 hours a shift.

Though people are often unaware, VGH has B.C.B次元官网网址檚 only pediatric intensive care unit outside of the B.C. ChildrenB次元官网网址檚 Hospital in Vancouver, and it bears a heavy load with five beds, three pediatric intensivists and about 100 nurses in total.

B次元官网网址淣urses just go, and they go, and they go, and they goB次元官网网址� I refer to us as the energizer bunny,B次元官网网址� she said.

Looking forward to tomorrows Canadian National Nursing Data Standards meeting. Nurses working together to create meaningful and actionable priorities in Informatics. .

B次元官网网址� Lori Block (@lori_block1)

They have to, because a lot has changed. The children in care at VGHB次元官网网址檚 pediatric ward (and all patients, for that matter) are sicker than ever. The technologies have advanced and so has the culture of care, said Carrick, ahead of National Nursing Week, May 7 to 13.

B次元官网网址淲e just keep going because we care about our patients, we will always care, we do it for the patients and their families.B次元官网网址�

Eighty per cent of CarrickB次元官网网址檚 title as educator is to keep the staff in VGHB次元官网网址檚 pediatric ward updated on the latest technologies, the likes of which change fast.

B次元官网网址淣o one taught me to use a computer when I trained and now everything is about technology,B次元官网网址� Carrick said. B次元官网网址淵ou donB次元官网网址檛 just run IV, it has pumps run by a computer, everything is measured, and everything you put on to a patient is now associated to a piece of technology.B次元官网网址�

There are benefits, she said. The intravenous pumps are automated, nurses no longer count drip rates but do have to program the machine. Medications all-around are delivered more safely through drug libraries and pumps, and other monitoring devices such as breathing machines (ventilators).

Even charting is moving to a electronic model as are simple devices such as beds, scales, breast milk warmers and phototherapy measurement devices.

Some say it creates a new challenge in assessing patient to nurse ratios, as the care associated with each patient intensifies.

But itB次元官网网址檚 not just electronic or software technologies that are advancing in pediatric care, itB次元官网网址檚 the culture of care, which is a technology in itself.

Family-centred care in Canada has come leaps and bounds in the last two decades. capacity year-round to keep parents and siblings on the grounds at VGH, is a testament to that.

B次元官网网址淚t means families are here and they are part of the process,B次元官网网址� Carrick said. B次元官网网址淭he doors are open to them 24-7, they are partners in care, they are part of the team and the decision making.B次元官网网址�

The children too, are part of the decision making, if theyB次元官网网址檙e able to be, Carrick said. Not only that, familyB次元官网网址檚 are present for certain procedures, including resuscitations.

B次元官网网址淲hen the physicians and nurses make the rounds the family input is part of that, their opinion is respected and valued, and we invite feedback on how weB次元官网网址檙e doing,B次元官网网址� she said.

Physicians and nurses working together is yet another example of the changing culture in pediatrics.

If you go back to CarrickB次元官网网址檚 start in 1983 and look ahead, itB次元官网网址檚 almost unthinkable that Carrick, a nurse by training, would play such a key role in the development of resident physicians at VGH. Then again weB次元官网网址檙e talking about Carrick, the nurse educator for pediatrics, the pediatric ICU, pediatric daycare, pediatric ambulatory services, and more.

B次元官网网址淲e have a great relationship with the Island Medical Program and have very successful Pediatric Residency Program about to enter its fourth year,B次元官网网址� said Carrick,who supports the medical students on a daily basis. B次元官网网址淚 orientate them to the unit, suport their day-to-day questions and learning, and troubleshoot. ItB次元官网网址檚 a very unique relationship, integrating a nurse [Carrick] into a medical program for resident physicians.B次元官网网址�

reporter@saanichnews.com