older children in picu

fergus51 · Nov 22, 2005

Our hospital takes patients up to 21 years old on the PICU.

NeuroNP · Nov 23, 2005

I did a stint in school in the PICU of a major Children's Hospital and I had a pt one day in his mid-20s. He had congenital problems and had been treated at this institution since birth. He'd been hospitalized there NUMEROUS times and everyone was familiar with him and his problems were more the kind of stuff you see in PICU vs Adult ICUs, so the staff was better equiped to deal with him. It was wierd seeing a full-grown man in the bed when you're used to dealing with little kids! He was sedated and on the vent the whole time I was there (came in at the end of my time) so I don't know how he felt about being treated at the Children's Hospital.

But typically I think they took pts up to 18 (maybe 21) unless there was some special reason.

KatieBell · Nov 23, 2005

most of the kids in the PICU where I work are intubated and sedated, so they don't have much to say about it. Usually they do not remember much of their PICU time.

Super RT · Dec 8, 2005

I think it depends on the nature of the patient and their problem. We had a 27 year old once, but he was severely delayed and still saw a pediatrician. I think that the patients that have been in and out of the unit their whole lives are happy to see familiar people and settings. Having a CF patient that has basically grown up in Peds suddenly go to the Adult service is a little scary for them. However, getting a pregnant 14 year old poses all sorts of problems that we are just not accustomed to dealing with. I really think it depends on the patient and the issue.

prmenrs, RN · Dec 8, 2005

Don't forget that from a physiologic standpoint, a teenager's body isn't an adult's body. Esp in the area of drug breakdown--the renal and hepatic systems. Pediatric nurses aren't likely to forget that, and they think in a more "developmental" mode--an adult nurse might not consider that issue, since it isn't really an issue for them.

If a youngster does go to an adult unit, consider a peds "consult" both medical and nursing, i.e., a pediatrician should see and follow w/the other service, and the peds CNS could help w/nursing care plans/teaching plans. You might not explain stuff to a teenager like you would to an adult.

I hope the above makes sense--I'm just trying to make the point that teenagers are not adults, physically or maturationally.

jakeemtrn · Jan 17, 2006

Our institution will accept any patient that has been seen there as a child. I have had 30 y/o pt.s

GooeyRN, ADN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN · Jan 17, 2006

I understand you feeling out of place. But if you were in the ICU, you would be in with many 80 y/o adults and would feel out of place as well. Atleast you don't have to deal with a sundowning confused screaming patient next to you!

mom23RN · Jan 17, 2006

When our first child was in the PTCU (Pediatric/Thoracic ICU) there was a woman who was 85 in there!!!!!!! They had just found a pretty large VSD or ASD (I can't remember) with some SOB with exercise. They did open heart on her and sent her to the peds unit as it was congenital!!!!

lpnstudentin2010, LPN · Apr 3, 2006

i would think if you are in the ICU you are pretty sick so you would not care adult v.s. child

KellNY, RN · Jul 23, 2006

i would think if you are in the ICU you are pretty sick so you would not care adult v.s. child

Not really...as a student nurse, one of my patients in the PICU was a 17 y/o diabetic S/P DKA. He was on the tail end of partial parenteral nutrition, and aside from the PIVs and hospital gown, he looked and felt fine. he hated being among the little kiddies.

I agree with Gooey. But I think a lot of it has to do with teenager's desire to establish themselves as mature, grown up-ish. "I'm not a kid anymore! Hmmph!" comes to mind. Sort of the same reasons they'd rather walk to school then be seen being dropped off by mom, or would rather get $50 from dad to get some school clothes rather than do the shopping with him, yk?