[cappucino]

i worked in an intermediate care unit where all pts were on the bedside monitor and we carried beepers for any arrhythmias or desats. I have also worked the pcu unit and the med-tele. The difference to me is clear. The med-tele's were the most stable and were about to be discharged. Pcu is more of the acute cases fresh from the e.r. or i.c.u. The i.m.c. was about the most intense. Many probably should have been icu, but since there were never enough i.c.u. beds we had the overflow. There were usually a code a week or every other week. That was a 3-4 pt ratio. Breaks were scarce.

[loriann]

I work on a tele floor which is also the CCU stepdown unit. Our ratio is generally 1:4 and have had 5 patients on occasion. We do get the med/surg-type patients who require tele monitoring and many times you can discharge 2-3 patients and end up with 2 new ones by the end of shift. The floor can be pretty manic, but I like the movement and the shift goes by fast!!

[All_Smiles_RN]

Originally Posted by cappucino

The med-tele's were the most stable and were about to be discharged. Pcu is more of the acute cases fresh from the e.r. or i.c.u. The i.m.c. was about the most intense. Many probably should have been icu, but since there were never enough i.c.u. beds we had the overflow. There were usually a code a week or every other week. That was a 3-4 pt ratio. Breaks were scarce.

I agree with cappucino.