Pediatric Cardiac Inpatient Care

Just like the PCICU, Duke Pediatric and Congenital Heart Center’s dedicated cardiac stepdown unit provides around-the-clock care, including continuous heart and oxygen saturation monitoring. Your child’s care team will meet daily to discusses your child’s progress, new test results, and discharge goals. The rounding team includes pediatric cardiologists, nurse practitioners, cardiology fellows, residents, nurses, pharmacists, registered dietitians, and you, the parents. We also collaborate with social workers, respiratory therapists, occupational and physical therapists, speech therapists, and child life specialists, when needed.  

Preparing for Home
One of our main goals is to help your child transition from the postoperative period and prepare you to care for your child at home. Our dedicated nurse navigator and bedside nurses will teach you how to administer medications, use equipment, and prepare for any emergencies.

Family Focus
We are strongly committed to family-centered care and clear and timely communication. We encourage your family to be actively involved as members of your child’s care team and join in on daily rounds. We understand that you know your child best, and we want your input. In addition, we want to accommodate family members as much as possible through what can be a challenging and scary time. Parents or other designated loved ones are welcome to stay with their child 24/7.

Neurodevelopmental Program 
Since babies with cardiac problems may experience neurodevelopmental challenges, we have staff dedicated to this aspect of your child’s wellbeing. Our program nurse coordinates weekly discussions with your child’s care team, educates families about the importance of neurodevelopmental care, and provides enrichment activities. For many children up to age 2, after they are well enough to go home, our neurodevelopmental specialists can follow up regularly with them in our Pediatric Cardiac Neurodevelopmental Clinic.

Nurse Navigator
Managing your child’s care can be overwhelming and confusing. That’s why we have a full-time nurse navigator who is dedicated to helping you by answering your questions and coordinating with your care team.

Virtual Rounding for Offsite Parents and Caregivers
We encourage caregivers to be part of the care team for their child. For those who aren’t able to be in the PCICU or stepdown unit with their child 24/7, we offer virtual rounding so you can participate in daily rounds with your child’s medical team in real time. This allows you to stay up to date on your child’s condition, regardless of where you are physically.

Fetal Nurse
If your child has been diagnosed with a congenital heart condition before birth, you may already know that they will need to spend some time in our PCICU. Our fetal nurse will help you know what to expect by arranging a tour of the unit and answering your questions ahead of time so you can hit the ground running.

Breastfeeding Support
Lactation consultations are available for parents of newborns, and mothers who want to breastfeed are encouraged to do so as early as possible.