Job Description – Senior House Officer (SHO), Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

Job Title

Senior House Officer (SHO) – Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU/PITU)

Department

Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

Reports To

PICU Consultant / Unit Head

Key Responsibilities

• Assess and clinically review critically ill pediatric patients on admission and during their PICU stay.

• Obtain focused histories, perform appropriate clinical examinations and formulate initial management plans.

• Recognize and promptly manage deterioration, including respiratory failure, shock, altered consciousness and cardiac arrest.

• Initiate and assist with pediatric resuscitation according to current institutional protocols.

• Monitor vital signs, fluid balance, urine output, neurological status and other relevant parameters.

• Request, interpret and act on appropriate laboratory and radiological investigations under senior supervision.

• Assist with airway management, oxygen therapy, non-invasive ventilation and invasive ventilation as appropriate to level of training and competency.

• Assist with procedures such as venous access, arterial sampling, central venous access, lumbar puncture and other procedures when appropriately trained and supervised.

• Prescribe medications, fluids, nutrition and other treatments safely and in accordance with hospital policies.

• Participate in daily multidisciplinary ward rounds and communicate effectively with nursing, allied health and other medical teams.

• Provide clear and timely handovers during shift changes.

• Maintain accurate, contemporaneous and confidential medical records.

• Communicate appropriately with parents/guardians regarding the child's condition and treatment, within the scope of responsibility, and involve senior clinicians when required.

• Escalate clinical concerns promptly to the PICU registrar/consultant.

• Participate in emergency calls, referrals and transfers as required.

• Contribute to infection prevention and control practices and maintain high standards of patient safety.

• Participate in clinical audit, quality-improvement activities, teaching and departmental meetings.

• Maintain professional competence through continuing medical education and supervised clinical practice.