Any RNs working in a Vancouver ICU?

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Hi

I am an ICU RN currently working in Canada, but outside of B.C. I am planning on moving to Vancouver, B.C. where I would like to continue to work in an ICU. So, I am looking for anyone who currently works or has recently worked in a Vancouver ICU and could give me some general information (size, acuity, patient population etc.) on the unit. I know a bit about the VGH ICU (but more information is always welcome), but what about Lions Gate, Richmond, St. Paul's? Any others I missed? I'd like to know how these units compare to the unit I'm currently working on (medical-surgical ICU at large inner-city teaching hospital). Any information would be much appreciated!

Thanks!

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Moved to the Canadian forum

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I'm not an ICU nurse but to my knowledge RCH, VGH (and I'm guessing Surrey) have the high acuity ICUs because they're the trauma centers in metro Van. I'm not sure about St Paul's which is downtown. Lions Gate is a community hospital serving the North Shore and has a smaller ICU. If you're an experienced critical care nurse I doubt you'd have difficulty finding work

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Thanks, sunship88!

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St Paul's is a good ICU usually a 1:1 pt ratio, lots of staff, it's considered a teaching hospital as well so lots of residents etc. there will be a brand new hospital in a few years and the culture of the hospital is quite nice. The patient population is extremely varied you have the individuals from the downtown east side to the rich business people so you see a lot of different people.

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Hi kp1987

Thanks for that information on St. Paul's. Do you work in the ICU at St. Paul's? Can you give me some examples of the kinds of patients admitted to the St. Paul's ICU? Are there patients on ECMO, CRRT, IABP? What kind of surgical patients are admitted? Also, I've read/heard that St. Paul's and Providence Health Care in general are "faith-based." Do you know what this means and how this makes them different from other hospitals/health care centres?

Thanks!

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I worked at St Paul's briefly (not ICU). It is technically faith based, but this doesn't really effect anyone much who doesn't identify as religious. It's kind of a way of honouring the catholic roots of the hospital which used to be run by nuns. It's like any other hospital really

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"faith based" basically means they won't do a procedure that goes against their religious background. You cannot have an abortion in a faith based hospital

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Also no prescribing of birth control. But they won't deny services to anyone, they'll arrange for you to have it done somewhere else nearby in the city. I doubt you'll run into a lot of these scenarios in an ICU

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