Nursing Care and Crisis Support
Registered nurses and behavioral health associates are on the unit 24 hours a day, every day. They are the staff your child sees most.
Nurses at the Children’s Hospital are trained in both pediatric and psychiatric care. They keep the unit safe and the routine steady, and they get to know each child.
Nurses administer and monitor medications, tend to physical health needs, and watch for the changes the treatment team needs to know about. Just as important, they’re a steady, familiar presence for kids on hard days.
When a crisis happens on the unit, staff respond with de-escalation first. Our teams are trained in relationship-based approaches to safety and crisis prevention that emphasize respect, dignity, and empathy.
Nursing staff work hand in hand with psychiatrists, therapists, and behavioral health technicians, so what they observe on the floor feeds directly into each child’s treatment plan.
The Walk-In Clinic is open 24/7 for psychiatric assessments, no appointment necessary. Call the Children’s Hospital at (270) 689-6800.
What to Expect
Your child will see nursing staff throughout every day and night of their stay. Nurses handle daily health checks, medications, and any medical concerns that come up.
If you have questions about your child’s day-to-day care, the nursing team is often your best first contact. They know how your child is really doing.
Other Children’s Hospital Services
Inpatient Services
Inpatient psychiatric care for children and teens ages 5 to 17 at our 80-bed Owensboro hospital, with an on-site school, family therapy and discharge planning.
Acute Psychiatric Inpatient
Short-term inpatient care for children and teens in psychiatric crisis: immediate safety, 24/7 monitoring, and a plan for what happens next.
Individual Group Family Therapy
Individual, group and family therapy for every child in the hospital, using TF-CBT, EMDR and DBT, with parents and caregivers part of the plan.
Specialized Therapeutic Activities
Art, music, movement, games and recreation, built into every child’s daily schedule as part of treatment.
Medication Evaluation Management
Medication evaluation and management by child and adolescent psychiatrists, with parents in on every decision and daily monitoring during the stay.
Behavioral Intervention Services
Behavior support planning led by a board-certified behavior analyst: find what a behavior is for, teach a better way to get the same thing, and coach the family on it.
Specialized Therapies
The STATE Program for autism spectrum disorder, the BIRCH long-term program for boys 12 to 17, and TF-CBT, EMDR and DBT across the hospital.
