Sorry if this is a stupid question, but...what is the difference between a cardiac step-down unit vs a telemetry unit? I did a very short stent on a tele unit almost a year ago and found it to be much like a typical floor (where you run a lot), just with tele. Is there a lot of 'running' on a cardiac stepdown unit like this or is it a little more focused like an ICU (but obviously not quite as intensely focused)?
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.
All_Smiles_RN
527 Posts
I agree with cappucino.