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Our 9 West Staff

The 9 West manager and assistant managers help to see that things run smoothly for everyone. The assistant managers work Mondays through Fridays. They help organize the days' activities and ensure that there are enough nurses to take care of the patients. They will also help out with patient care.

Most of the RN nursing staff on 9 West work 12-hour shifts. They receive special training every year so that they are experienced with taking care of children with cancer and their families. If you come to 9 West frequently to receive your chemotherapy, you will find that there is a core group of nurses that will be the main ones taking care of you.

The Patient Care Associates (PCA) work closely with the RN staff to provide your daily needs. They often take your vital signs or assist you with your bath or meals. There is also a secretary who can usually be found at the nurses' station. She helps the rest of the staff schedule tests or order things and may also be one of the people who will answer your call light.

The house staff assistant works closely with the pediatric nurse practitioners (PNPs) in coordinating your return appointments and your homecare needs. If this is your first trip to 9 West and you have not been to the outpatient clinic, she will take you and your parents on a tour of the clinic so you will know what to expect.

There are pediatric nurse practitioners (PNPs) who will be involved with your care. They work closely with the hematology/oncology doctors. The nurse clinician assists the PNPs in setting up procedures and educating our patients. The bone marrow transplant coordinators also may be scheduling procedures and educating patients and families. You can learn more about what PNP's do by checking "Ask the Experts" in the patient/family section of this site.

Medical Team

Each day on 9 West there is a doctor available around-the-clock to help take care of our patients. The medical team involved with your care may include a resident who is rotating through 9 West. There are also two oncology fellows who rotate every other month on 9 West. Fellows are doctors who are now specializing in pediatric hematology-oncology. They will be the primary doctors involved in your child's care. There is also a hematology/oncology attending physician who supervises the care that your child is receiving. Remember, the day-to-day issues are handled by the PNPs and residents, but your primary oncologist will continue to manage any major issues.

St. Louis Children's Hospital is a teaching hospital and therefore you may meet many students who are learning how to take care of children with cancer. They are always eager to learn from you! There are many other members of our staff who will stop in to meet you during your stay on 9 West. You can learn about our psychosocial team on another page in this section. The goal of the entire staff is to give our patients the best treatment available at the highest quality level. We can only do that as a team; we need and include the family to make that team work.

Activities on 9 West

There are various activities for our patients. We encourage our patients to move about our unit if they are medically able. There is a playroom on our floor that is stocked with books, games, toys, and a video game. Sometimes patients visit other patients whom they have met already. In each room there is a calendar of special projects or activities available through our child life department. There is also a computer video game that is on wheels that can be used in your room. This has to be shared with the other patients on the floor.

If your nurse gives the approval, you can go down to the child life area on the 8th floor, or to the school room, teen room, or rooftop garden. If your counts are too low, you may need to wear a mask or wait for a special private time to go to the child life areas.

9 West Rules

Whether at home, school, or in the hospital, there are "Golden Rules" to follow. We have a set of guidelines which each patient will learn about in the 9 West Parent Journal. Check the "Helpful Hints" in the Journal when you receive it so you will know what is expected of you, your family, and friends.

Questions and Answers

Q: Are children with cancer the only patients on 9 West?

A: No. We also have patients who have blood diseases, such as sickle cell anemia, and patients who have had liver or kidney transplants. We do not have patients with infectious diseases on this floor.

Q: Can my parents or visitors bring food to me from home?

A: As long as you are not on any dietary restrictions, you may eat whatever you want. We know chemotherapy can affect your taste so we encourage you to eat your favorite foods. Find out where the refrigerator is on the floor so you can store labeled foods you bring there if they need to be kept cold.

Q: Why do teenagers get put in a room with a baby sometimes?

A: The charge nurses work very hard to match roommates appropriately. However, depending on individual medical needs of patients, this cannot always be done.

Q: Where can we go for general information while we are in the hospital?

A: For parents there is a wonderful Family Resource Center on the 3rd floor of the hospital. Visit it during the day to see their collection of books and videotapes. You may check out books from their collection.

To learn more about St. Louis Children's Hospital, check their web site at:
www.stlouischildrens.org.