Does anyone else hear the 'ICU chorus' post night duty?

Specialties Critical

Published

I work in a cardiac/general ICU. Sometimes after a night shift finishes I will be lying in bed all nice and clean and ready for sleep and I will hear the 'ICU chorus'. The sound of ventilators interspersed with humidifier alarms, balloon pumps, VADS,monitors,dialysis machines and nitric alarms. Does anyone else hear this or is it just post night shift delirium??

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in retired LTC.

Regardless of the shift hours or specialty, I think many of us all experience the continued 'chorus' of beeps & boops & ringy dingies, etc.

Like you, I do think NOC shift is more 'sensitive' to the chronic noises than the day shift. They just have 'overload' noise. Another reason why I preferred NOCs.

Funny, as much as I prefer quiet, I always have some type of 'white noise' in my home.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in critical care.

absolutely. especially when i've been on with nurses who do not attend to alarms promptly and let them go all night. makes me wonder how supermarket cashiers don't go mad hearing the scanner beeps in their sleep too.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Rehabilitation,Critical Care.

I am hunted by the asystole alarm sometimes.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cardiac/Transplant ICU, Critical Care.

Hahaha yes. When I used to work on the floor it was the TABS alarm. Ever since I have been on the units, it has been the vent, bipap, alaris pumps, or the overhead code alarm.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment