Medicine Intensive Care Unit
Your Child's Hospital Room
What will my child's hospital room be like?
The charge nurse will assign your child to their hospital room based on their needs. There are times your child may be moved to another room - sometimes even in the middle of the night - as patients' needs on the unit change.
Each bedside space has accommodations for one adult family member to sleep at night. Please place your chair in a position that gives nurses and doctors enough room to care for your child. There are sheets, pillowcases and towels provided on linen carts on each unit.
Please do not sleep or sit on any empty hospital beds. We keep these beds ready at all times.
If you need to leave your child's bedside - even if just for a moment - please raise the rails of the crib or bed completely to keep your child safe.
Vital signs are routinely at the doctor and nurse's discretion.
Can I stay overnight with my child?
Yes, you can stay overnight with your child in the ICP unit. Only one parent can stay overnight, however.
Chairs in most patient rooms fold out into cots. There are showers in each patient room for parents to use, and lockers and safes where you can secure valuables.
Contacting a nurse/emergencies
The call light is attached to the hospital bed on the TV control box. If you or your child needs a nurse, press the button labeled "nurse." The unit secretary will answer your call through an intercom system.
If you have an emergency, press the red staff emergency/staff assist button on the wall. The button is only to be used in an emergency!
How can I contact my child's nurse when I am not at Children's?
When you are not at Children's, please call 617-355-8700 to speak with your child's nurse.
Telephones
Each bed space has a telephone number. To use the phone, dial 9 + 0 + Area Code + telephone number. You may need to charge calls if outside the local area. You can charge outgoing calls to your home phone or a phone credit card, or make a collect call. The phone company charges extra for all outgoing calls, including local calls. There is no charge for incoming calls.
Pay phones are near the elevators and a TTY Teletype is also available. Please ask your nurse to request one for you.
There are no phone calls in or out of your child's room after 10 p.m. Cell phones are only allowed by the elevators away from the medical equipment.
Television
There are televisions and VCRs by the bedside. If you need a caption decoder, please contact your nurse. There is no TV charge.
Restroom
The toilet in your child's room is for patient use, however family members can use them if the patient is not using it. We also have additional restrooms with bathing facilities located by the front desk/waiting room area.
Valuables
Store personal items in the bedside cabinet or closet in your child's room. Never leave valuables, money or jewelry unattended - even for a short time. Children's is not responsible for your valuables.
There are lockers in the rooms where you can store some belongings. You may bring your own lock or rent one from the information and reception desk in the Main Lobby. Each lock requires a $3 deposit that will be refunded when the lock is returned.
Kitchen
The kitchen on 11-south is stocked with limited drinks and snacks for patients only. You may store labeled food in the refrigerator here.
Appliances
Children's Engineering does not allow the use of any electric appliance brought from home. This includes televisions, laptops, radios and hairdryers.
Activity Room
Patients of all ages are welcome in the activity room, which is open Monday through Friday during the stay. If your child is unable to leave his room, the child life specialist can also find activities for him to do in his room. If you would like to view a video, for example, please contact the child life specialist or the secretary at the front desk.
