ICU usually involves 1 nurse per patient, for those who have never been inside one. My sister's life was saved in an ICU some years ago so I have experienced how they work. These are the details for those who may not know.
Taken from this link
Intensive care
Intensive care
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Intensive care
Intensive care units (ICUs) are specialist hospital wards that provide treatment and monitoring for people who are very ill.
They're staffed with specially trained healthcare professionals and contain sophisticated monitoring equipment.
ICUs are also sometimes called critical care units (CCUs) or intensive therapy units (ITUs).
severe head injury, a serious
fall or severe
burns
- major surgery – this can either be a planned part of your recovery, or an emergency measure if there are complications
What intensive care involves
Patients on an ICU will be looked after closely by a team of ICU staff and will be connected to equipment by a number of tubes, wires and cables.
There will normally be 1 nurse for every 1 or 2 patients.
This equipment is used to monitor their health and support their bodily functions until they recover.
Equipment that may be used on an ICU includes:
- a ventilator – a machine that helps with breathing; a tube is placed in the mouth, nose or through a small cut in the throat (tracheostomy)
- monitoring equipment – used to measure important bodily functions, such as heart rate, blood pressure and the level of oxygen in the blood
- IV lines and pumps – tubes inserted into a vein (intravenously) to provide fluids, nutrition and medication
- feeding tubes – tubes placed in the nose, through a small cut made in the tummy or into a vein if a person is unable to eat normally
- drains and catheters – drains are tubes used to remove any build-up of blood or fluid from the body; catheters are thin tubes inserted into the bladder to drain pee
Someone in an ICU will often be on painkilling medicine and medicine that makes them drowsy (sedatives).
This is because some of the equipment used can be uncomfortable.
depression, anxiety or
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- problems with mental abilities – for example, not being able to think clearly and being forgetful
These problems can last several months. Get medical advice if they're a persistent issue for you or a loved one.
Some people may require ongoing support and treatment (rehabilitation) to help them recover.
consent (permission) for a particular treatment or procedure.
If they knew they were going into intensive care, they may have nominated someone to make decisions about treatment on their behalf (a designated decision maker) or made an
advance decision about any treatments they do not want to have.
If this was not possible in an emergency situation, the ICU staff treating them will usually decide what they feel is in their best interests.
They'll talk things over with you and the person's family whenever possible.
Find out more about giving consent to treatment
ICU steps – a charity and support group for ICU patients and their loved ones that produces a detailed
intensive care guide (PDF, 962kb)
Page last reviewed: 19 June 2019
Next review due: 19 June 2022