What it means
A unit where each nurse cares for only one or two clients, with continuous monitoring and equipment such as ventilators and drug pumps. Clients come to the ICU when they need support for failing organs or watching closer than a regular floor can give. There are units for adults, children (PICU), newborns (NICU) and heart patients (CCU).
For the nurse
A client moving from the ICU to a regular floor is expected to be stable; a transfer report covers what changed and what to watch.
At a glance
| Abbreviations | ICU; PICU (pediatric); NICU (neonatal); CCU (coronary or critical care unit) |
|---|---|
| Spanish | unidad de cuidados intensivos |
| Also written | ICU, ICUs, intensive care units |
Related terms
mechanical ventilation
Breathing support from a machine, a ventilator, that pushes air into the lungs through a tube or a mask.
handoff report
The passing of information and responsibility for a client's care from one nurse or team to another.