What it means
The highest level of hospital care, given in an intensive care unitin-TEN-siv KAIR YOO-nitA hospital unit that gives close, constant care to people who are critically ill.Full entry . Clients may need a breathing machine, drugs to support blood pressure, continuous heart monitoring or frequent lab checks. Nurse-to-client ratios are low, often one nurse to one or two clients, so changes can be caught quickly. Neonatal, pediatric, cardiac and surgical units are kinds of intensive care.
At a glance
| Spanish | cuidados intensivos |
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Related terms
intensive care unit
A hospital unit that gives close, constant care to people who are critically ill.
mechanical ventilation
Breathing support from a machine, a ventilator, that pushes air into the lungs through a tube or a mask.
NICU
Neonatal intensive care unit: a hospital unit that cares for newborns who are sick or born early.
PACU
Post-anesthesia care unit: the area where clients are watched closely as they wake up after surgery.