Royal Children's Hospital

• Home
• About us
  • A rich history
  • Our vision, mission and values
  • Our executive team
  • Governance
  • Who we care for
  • Our model of care
  • Accreditation
• Children, young people, parents and families
  • Our location and how to get here
  • Finding your way around
  • Facilities available at the hospital
  • Preparing your child for hospital
  • Checklist of what to bring
  • Admission times
  • What happens in hospital
  • Visiting outpatients clinics (public & private)
  • Referrals to outpatients
  • Outpatients appointment information
  • Parent accommodation
  • Family Advisory Council
  • What patients and families say
  • Tell us how we're doing
• Health professionals
  • Referrals to our services
  • Public outpatient services
  • Private patients
  • Nursing
  • Division of medicine
  • Division of surgery
  • Division of oncology and haematology
  • Critical care services
  • Division of allied health and clinical support
  • Division of Community Child Health Services
  • Division of Child & Youth Mental Health Services
• Careers at RCH
  • Medical careers
  • Nursing careers
  • Allied health careers
  • Non-clinical careers
  • Our wards and departments
  • Why work for RCH
  • What team members say
• News, publications, media
  • News
  • Publications
  • Media releases
• Research
  • Genetic Health Queensland
  • Sir Albert Sakzweski Virus Research Centre
  • Queensland Children's Medical Research Centre
  • Children's Nutrition Research Centre
  • Ethics Committee
• Support our work
  • RCH Foundation
• Contact us
• Queensland Children's Hospital project

High Dependency Unit

Service description
The High Dependency Unit (HDU) works together with the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit to provide Critical Care services within the Royal Children’s Hospital, Brisbane.

The HDU scheduled to open in June 2009 will consist of 8 high dependency beds, 2 beds for cardiorespiratory monitoring and 2 renal dialysis chairs. 

This unit will:

• provide high dependency care to a full range of children aged 0 to 15 years
• provide a full range of nursing, medical and allied health services
• provide nursing staff with educational support through the appointment of a dedicated Nurse Educator and Clinical Nurse Facilitators.

Nursing
The nursing team includes Nurse Educator, Clinical Nurse Facilitator, Clinical Nurses, Registered Nurses and an Assistant in Nursing.

Medical
Medical services are provided by the PICU consultants and dedicated HDU Registrars. All other medical specialists have admitting rights to the HDU.

Allied Health
Allied health services include social work, physiotherapy, pharmacy, speech pathology, dietetics and occupational therapy.

Nursing shift times
Shifts range from 6 to 12 hours with flexible rostering practices and some variable shift start times.

Nursing education and development
A comprehensive orientation to the hospital and ward is provided. Nursing staff without a relevant qualification are supported to complete the Transition to Practice Nurse Education Program.  A Nurse Educator, Clinical Facilitator and preceptors are available to support new staff. Staff members are supported to continue developing clinical skills and knowledge and may access:

• unit based advanced clinical workshops
• the Royal Children’s Hospital continuing education program
• Herston Medical library with electronic databases
• professional development funding and leave
• opportunities to participate in quality and research activities
• rotations to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit.

top of page