What is the difference: MICU vs. CTICU?

dfk, RN, CRNA · Jan 6, 2007

Good Afternoon Fellow RNs!
I am currently an oncology/tele med-surg RN (of 1 1/2 yrs.) hoping to interview for both a Medical ICU & Cardio Thoracic ICU nursing position. My questions are:
1.) What are some of the challenges & stressors in MICU vs. CTICU nursing?
2.) Are there more ventilated patients in MICU or CTICU?
3.) Which do you recommend as a better place to start as my 1st ICU job?
Thank you to all Responders! Look 4ward to hearing your pearls of wisdom!
pumpkie:monkeydance:

well pumpkie, i'm going to roll with this and try not to get too offset by the post, and i only say this with all respect.. so,

1.) many in both, some same and some quite different.. medical versus medical AND heart/lung

2.) this answer varies... you can have medical pt's with vents and fresh hearts without vents.. it just plain varies.. if you want vents, look for them, and they will come

3.) for your first ICU job, do what you love and want.. the rest will fall into place whether you want it to or not.. what do you like or yearn for? what have you thought of when becoming an ICU nurse? hearts? more vasoactive drips? a/v wires and potential for cardiac complications? see where i'm going with this? with medical, there is a smorgasboard of things.. it can be messy, dirty, busy, unpredictable and downright crappy.. not to say hearts can't be unpredictable, but atleast it's a more "controlled" environment, meaning you know what you basically are getting, in an outline-type format.. it just depends on what you're looking for and what your eventual outcome is, should you have one.. good luck and enjoy !!

ReeseW · Jan 7, 2007

thanks dfk for your reply!

i've taken some mastery level courses in order to obtain my NP degree in critical care. i am not crazy about working with ventilated patients, so the less the better. u brought up some good points about both units, seems like CTICU the better place for me because it sounds like it's more "controlled" than MICU. But whichever I end up getting the offer on, it will be a better place than med-surg!

pumpkie

dfk, RN, CRNA · Jan 7, 2007

thanks dfk for your reply!
i've taken some mastery level courses in order to obtain my NP degree in critical care. i am not crazy about working with ventilated patients, so the less the better. u brought up some good points about both units, seems like CTICU the better place for me because it sounds like it's more "controlled" than MICU. But whichever I end up getting the offer on, it will be a better place than med-surg!
pumpkie

for CRNA, yes, better than med-surg... just keep in your mind, the more "unpredictability" you experience, the better equipped you will be as a nurse in general and the more experienced you will be in the long run....