A Day in the Life of a Critical Care Nurse

[scotttyna]

In the UK, we refer to the sickest patients, who require support for more than one failing organ system (e.g support of both their breathing and their kidney function) as being at Level 3. Level 2 patients are still very ill, but only require support for one failing organ system (e.g only their lungs are requiring treatment). These patients may be treated on a High Dependency Unit. Finally, Level 1 patients are those able to be managed on a general ward.

[amygarside]

Thank you for sharing this.

[thompd]

Our ICU is rated by acuity. We typically have acuity level C,D, E, F and G. A "G" is a one on one patient, typically a balloon pump or fresh open heart patient. Leave F patient, has multiple drips, possibly dressing changes, on life support, and unstable overall. The most common patient is level E, these patient's are on life support, restrained and with pressure gtts. Level C and D are general ward or stepdown patients.