Staffing and workforce issues in the pediatric intensive care unit

The health care industry is in the midst of incredible change, and unfortunately, change is not easy. The intensive care unit (ICU) plays a critical role in the overall delivery of care to patients in the hospital. Care in the ICU is expensive. One of the best ways of improving the value of care delivered in the ICU is to focus greater attention on the needs of the critical care workforce. Herein, we highlight three major areas of concern—the changing model of care delivery outside of the traditional four walls of the ICU, the need for greater diversity in the pediatric critical care workforce, and the widespread problem of professional burnout and its impact on patient care.