The Surgical Inpatient unit – often referred to as “T6” at BC Children’s Hospital – offers a wide range of services for children pre- and post- surgery, as well as those receiving medical care under the Cardiac Sciences and Neurosciences teams. Children in this unit may have conditions such as seizures, epilepsy, cranial surgeries (including tumor resections), spinal surgeries, head injuries, Guillain-Barre syndrome, Myasthenia Gravis, and other post-operative care needs.
Surgical services include general surgery, orthopedics, urology, plastic surgery, gynecology, ophthalmology, ENT (ear, nose, and throat), cardiac, and cardiothoracic surgery. The Burn Program is also located in this area, where specialists provide expert burn care and pain management for children and youth.
BC Children’s Hospital is committed to supporting ongoing learning through dedicated education days, interdisciplinary education including simulation, and a variety of workshop and conference opportunities.
Nurses work 12-hour shifts from 07:00-19:00 or 19:00-07:00. T6 offers self-scheduling, where nurses create their own schedules following unit guidelines and the collective agreement. Alternatively, nurses can opt for a master rotation.
There are many educational courses offered during orientation and on an ongoing basis. Unit-based staff are provided with educational opportunities specific to the patient population they primarily care for. Surgical inpatient staff have several learning opportunities to develop the required competencies for working in this dynamic environment.
Educational opportunities are available through BC Children’s Hospital and the larger Provincial Health Services Authority. All staff are encouraged and supported to enroll in ongoing courses, as workload permits. Additionally, e-learning modules are accessible through the hospital intranet for quick educational reviews.
