Question 1

have we entered covid 2nd wave yet? my hometown/state have seen a huge surge in cases, no available icu beds in my hometown, etc. mask mandate has been in place in my hometown for months, but surrounding towns refuse or are slow to issue mandates?

Accepted Answer

I WOULD SAY 2ND WAVE: Yes, we have entered at least the second wave in the United States and Texas has over 1 million cases. Wear you mask, stay in only small groups, wash your hands, and really curtail the holiday celebration so that things do not get even more catastrophic. We at at almost 250,000 deaths nation wide from covid related illnesses and will most  likely reach close to 300,000 by year end.

Question 2

what does it mean if icu units are restricted?

Accepted Answer

ICU MD responsible: Icus are "restricted" or "closed" if the ICU is staffed by intensivists devoted entirely to ICU patient care only. The intensivist assumes primary control over the care of all patients in the icu, until such time as they are able to move out of the icu. The care is transfered back to the physician who admitted the patient. A hospital may contain many icus with open and closed statuses.

Question 3

is a phone available for family members in icu?

Accepted Answer

Policy: This depends on specific hospital and ICU policy.  There is no one correct answer.

Question 4

how often are vitals monitored in icu?

Accepted Answer

Continuously: In most cases, the vital signs are monitored continuously. However, the data may only be recorded with a certain frequency, often every hour. Obviously, the bedside nurse is keeping very careful scrutiny over his/her patients' vitals. The nurse may choose to record vital signs to evaluate a trend (e.g. Increasing heart rate).

Question 5

do most of the patients in an icu die?

Accepted Answer

No: Some icus have sicker patients (higher acuity) than others, but even in these high acuity icus, the large majority of patients survive to make it out of the hospital. {of course, somebody out there will respond with the flippant observation that no ICU patients survive, since everyone eventually dies.}.

Question 6

is there a chapel near most icu units?

Accepted Answer

Possibly: I suspect it would be uncommon to have a chapel near the ICU itself. However, many hospitals have chapels. Depending on the hospital size, would depend on how close it would be to the icu.

Question 7

why do old people in the icu go crazy?

Accepted Answer

Multiple factors : This is called ICU psychosis or is sometimes called sun downing. In the ICU patient are often very sick , combined with lack of sleep due to their condition and treatment result in the confusion that is seen in the icu. As patient recover and are transitioned to a regular room or home they usually will return to their baseline.

Question 8

what's it like being an icu trauma nurse?

Accepted Answer

Rewarding: I am not an ICU trauma nurse, but the ones i know are very intelligent, kind, compassionate, hard working individuals who I am sure feel rewarded each day after providing good quality care to ailing patients.

Question 9

please tell me what neonatal icu nurse does?

Accepted Answer

Critical care: Neonatal ICU nurses focus their work on the care of newborns in trouble.These include premature infants that weigh a few pounds at birth and big term newborns that develop complications. Issues including breathing problems, infection, birth defects, and more that have need for constant supervision.

Question 10

how long can a person be on a ventilator in the icu?

Accepted Answer

As long as necessary: Or until they are better or expire.

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Doctor answers about:

Icu bed

A member asked:

Have we entered covid 2nd wave yet? my hometown/state have seen a huge surge in cases, no available icu beds in my hometown, etc. mask mandate has been in place in my hometown for months, but surrounding towns refuse or are slow to issue mandates?

A member asked:

What does it mean if icu units are restricted?

A member asked:

Is a phone available for family members in icu?

A member asked:

How often are vitals monitored in icu?

A member asked:

Do most of the patients in an icu die?

A member asked:

Is there a chapel near most icu units?

A member asked:

Why do old people in the icu go crazy?

A member asked:

What's it like being an icu trauma nurse?

A member asked:

Please tell me what neonatal icu nurse does?

A member asked:

How long can a person be on a ventilator in the icu?

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