Are all PCUs Critical Care?

[Dianna11]

Are all PCUs (cardio, Neuro, multi system, surg) considered critical care?

[CCU BSN RN]

PCU is considered intermediate care, not critical care.

[BedsideNurse]

I think there is a spectrum of critical care and PCU's and/or step downs (and even some telemetry units) are on it. Maybe should be thought of as intermediate critical care?

[MurseJJ]

From what I understand, some define "critical care" to include progressive care/intermediate/step-down units, as well as intensive care/ICUs.

[Motherofcorgis, BSN, RN]

Progressive Care Nurses are eligible to be part of the Association of Critical Care Nurses who govern their certifications, seems pretty clear to me.

[MunoRN, RN]

Progressive Care Nurses are eligible to be part of the Association of Critical Care Nurses who govern their certifications, seems pretty clear to me.

Progressive care is by definition a different level of care from critical care. Progressive care credentialing is overseen by ACCN, but as a separate credential than critical care nursing, which should make it pretty obvious they are two different things.

[/username, BSN, RN]

Progressive Care Nurses are eligible to be part of the Association of Critical Care Nurses who govern their certifications, seems pretty clear to me.

Then why aren't they eligible to take CCRN? The name of the organization does not mean that all members are critical care nurses. I can, right now, get a membership to the Oncology Nursing Society. That doesn't mean I'm going to be able to administer chemo....

[Motherofcorgis, BSN, RN]

I wonder if we are having a disagreement over the term "Critical Care". In my facility, the "Critical Care" department includes the PCU as well as the ICU. Just because PCU nurses are not Intensive Care Nurses does not mean they are not critical care nurses. Critical care nurses work in a variety of different places, not just the Intensive Care Unit. From the AACN's website: "AACN members are nurses who practice virtually everywhere acutely and critically ill patients can be found - traditional intensive care units, progressive care units, cardiac and surgical units, home health and primary care settings."

[nikita123]

I agree with you. Do you have a link to

a professional journal that I can show my manager?

[Cowboyardee]

I wonder if we are having a disagreement over the term "Critical Care". In my facility, the "Critical Care" department includes the PCU as well as the ICU. Just because PCU nurses are not Intensive Care Nurses does not mean they are not critical care nurses. Critical care nurses work in a variety of different places, not just the Intensive Care Unit. From the AACN's website: "AACN members are nurses who practice virtually everywhere acutely and critically ill patients can be found - traditional intensive care units, progressive care units, cardiac and surgical units, home health and primary care settings."

In common parlance, the terms 'critical care' and 'intensive care' are more often than not understood to mean the same thing - associated with ICU/SICU/CCU/etc level of care. I haven't worked on the west coast, but that certainly seems to be the case on the East coast and in the Midwest. If a medical professional told me only "I work in critical care," that's what I'd assume they mean, and if I later found out otherwise, I would think they were deliberately misrepresenting their credentials.

It is often advantageous for hospitals to include step downs, PCUs, IMCs and such in the same department and under the same management as intensive care units, and there is, of course, perfectly good reason for that. So if I met someone who told me "I am a manager in the critical care dept of Big Suburban Hospital Center, and specifically I oversee the PCU and IMC,' I wouldn't think there's anything odd or misleading about that.

[Motherofcorgis, BSN, RN]

I agree with you. Do you have a link to

a professional journal that I can show my manager?

Yes, actually. Here is an article specifically detailing the definition of Progressive/Intermediate Care Units.

CCN : Critical Care Nurse

[MiralaxOnIceRN, BSN, RN]

I work for Vanderbilt in Cardiac PCU We are considered Critical Care RNs