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	Critical Care Unit

Our Critical Care Unit offers 12 private beds with bedside monitoring for continuous observation of our patients. We also have 23 telemetry-monitored beds outside of our unit. All of our nurses are trained in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) and work closely with specialized physicians to provide optimal patient care. Patient populations: We primarily serve adult patients requiring close observation and intensive care as the result of surgical, medical or cardiac conditions, including post-cardiac intervention patients.  We also serve pediatric patients as the result of new onset diabetes, asthma and surgical conditions. We are also equipped to care for the post-trauma patient.

Services/treatments offered: Hemodynamic monitoring is available to all of our patients.  We are equipped to monitor Swan Ganz or arterial lines, ventilators or temporary pacemakers.  We also provide acute hemodialysis in our hospital and can care for patients who are on intra-aortic balloon pumps.

Work environment: Fast-paced, team-focused atmosphere with a rapid turnover of patients. Our unit is equipped with state-of-the-art monitoring equipment.

Skill mix: RNs are responsible for completing an initial and ongoing assessment of our patients, developing their plan of care, providing intervention as necessary and re-evaluating their progress. A charge nurse is responsible for the overall flow of the unit and provides extra support and assistance as needed to other nurses on the staff. RNs, Respiratory Therapists and Transport Team members all combine to facilitate the care of the patient. Some of the RNs on our unit are certified as critical care registered nurses. All nurses are encouraged to continually upgrade their education.

Other information about the unit: We focus not only on meeting our patients' needs but also involving the family in the patient's care. We keep the patient and family members informed about their medical condition and the plan of care. We also have a liberal visitation policy so that individuals can visit with their loved one when it is convenient for them.