S8 Ep4. Manage at home or head to hospital? with paediatric nursing specialist Ilana Lawrence

You kid is sick. It's the middle of the night. What do you do?

Paediatric nursing specialist Ilana Lawrence has been on duty at many an emergency room when concerned parents and caregivers bring their kids in. Sometimes these kids need immediate care, but a lot of the time parents and caregivers could have monitored and managed their child at home. The missing piece is education, which is exactly what Ilana aims to provide.

In this interview we cover

• Ilana's road to paediatric nursing
• Why she has turned her focus towards parental education
• Why her workshops are different from standard first aid or online courses
• What she recommends everyone looking after children needs in their essential illness and emergency toolkit
• Fever - to manage at home or head to ED, and to medicate or not?

Keep an eye out from articles and special offers from both of us in the 2025 edition of the Newcastle Baby Magazine, which will be released later this month.

CONTACTS

You can find Ilana at www.thesicksense.com and as @the.sick.sense on Instagram and Facebook.

Connect with Anna and check out her in person, telehealth and group parent support options at www.annacusack.com.au

You can also find her as @annacusackpostpartum on Instagram and Facebook

KEY NUMBERS

Ambulance - 000

Poinsons infoline - 131 126

Healthdirect - 1800 022 222

Pregnancy, Birth and Baby - 1800 882 436

Lifeline - 13 11 14