Improvements in the treatment and care of children with hereditary and chronic conditions of childhood such as congenital heart disease, type 1 diabetes mellitus, and cystic fibrosis, has led to more child patients surviving into adulthood. As a result, many adolescents and young adults with chronic conditions of childhood require specialized or critical care. The pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) environment may not be the most appropriate place to care for these patients, and efforts are under way to address their needs. This article explores the experience of pediatric nurses caring for adults with chronic conditions of childhood who are admitted to the PICU.

There have been few studies conducted that focus on adult patients admitted to PICUs.1  As such, limited comparable data are available regarding the prevalence, patient characteristics, or outcomes of adults who receive care in a PICU versus adults who receive care in an adult intensive...

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