IMCU - Can someone tell me about it?

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Specializes in SICU/CVICU.

I just got hired as a tech in an IMCU unit, and I have a few questions.

Is IMCU considered critical care? Under the description of the job, it says 'critical care tech,' but I was under the impression that it was not considered critical care. I want to put the right thing on my resume.

Also, is this a good place to start if I am applying for ICU/critical care internships? (I graduate in May) I will be trained as a nurse tech and a monitor tech.

Thanks!!

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Specializes in Cardiac Stepdown.

The answer to many of those questions will depend pretty heavily on your individual hospital/unit. However, any hospital experience you gain while in school will help you, even if it's not in your desired area. Be a good worker so that your coworkers/supervisors will have only positive things to say about you if you are looking to stay within that hospital. GL!

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Specializes in CCU/CVU/ICU.
jla623 said:
I just got hired as a tech in an IMCU unit, and I have a few questions.

Is IMCU considered critical care? Under the description of the job, it says 'critical care tech,' but I was under the impression that it was not considered critical care. I want to put the right thing on my resume.

Also, is this a good place to start if I am applying for ICU/critical care internships? (I graduate in May) I will be trained as a nurse tech and a monitor tech.

Thanks!! :nuke:

Yes, IMCU can be considered 'critical care' as an ER or recovery room or *basically* any nursing position that monitors telemetry and requires(or offers) ACLS.

But, if you want to do everything a 'real' critical-care nurse does (including all the fancy machines and sickest patients), you'll have to work in ICU. But, things are done in ICU that aren't done in any other unit period.

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Specializes in Med/Surge, Psych, LTC, Home Health.

What is IMCU?

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Specializes in Corrections, Cardiac, Hospice.
RealNurseWitch said:
What is IMCU?

Intermediate Cardiac Unit.

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Specializes in Neuro ICU and Med Surg.

This would be an excellent place to start. You will be comfortable with reading EKGs and pt care. Then you can later transfer to the ICU.

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Specializes in Operating Room, LTAC.

Hey yall,

I'm a new grad and am considering changing specialties and working in the IMCU (intermediate care unit) once I have about 6-8 months of experience in my current position. I work in an LTACH.

I've read that it's like a step-down ICU - what sort of patients would be admitted to this floor, what's the usual nurse-to-patient ratio, etc.?

I'd really appreciate any input from those who work, who have worked, or anyone with any knowledge of the specialty. I've searched on here - but could not find much.

Thanks!

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I work on a 13-bed step-down unit at a large, academic level 1 trauma center, so my experience may be different. We take 2-3 patients each, depending on acuity, and they can be on drips, vents, have art lines, etc. Our population consists of any patient except for CV patients who have their own step-down. Lots and lots of respiratory failure and trauma patients. I enjoy it because I have learned a ton, especially in regard to vents, drips, etc. If you are thinking of moving to the ICU in the future, it's a great place to start. Good luck!

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Specializes in ICU.

IMCU is where patients go when they need to be closely monitored but may not necessarily need all of the interventions that the ICU could provide. At the two hospitals I've worked at, IMCU takes cardiac drips but does not titrate them without getting an MD order for every single titration. I realize that other hospitals may be different. These IMCUs also didn't take intubated patients- the only vents accepted were stable trachs. The nurse-to-patient ratio was 1:3-4 in both of these hospitals. It can be very high acuity and busy, and you will learn a lot.

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I have worked on two different IMCUs (Washington and Oregon) for the last three years, starting as a new grad. My current unit is at a 400+ bed hospital, 30-bed unit; ratios are 3-4:1 (more often 4). We have stable vent patients, all kinds of drips, septic, Gi bleeds, cardiac (MI, ACS, post cath, etc.), AMS, overdose, etc. I can honestly say that I have had the best learning experience in this type of unit. You have to be organized, independent, and ready for anything. My manager often says she thinks it can be tougher than ICU in some respects because you have really sick patients but don't have as much diagnostic equipment, so your assessment skills have to be right on. I will also say that after three years, I am beginning to burn out already. It's type of unit is very stressful and fast-paced. The patients can be very demanding and needy because they are so sick, and quite frankly, a majority of the staff on my unit feel that 4:1 assignments are unsafe. That all being said, I do think you should try it. It might not end up being for you, but I can guarantee you that it will be one of the best learning experiences of your nursing career. Good luck!

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Specializes in Operating Room, LTAC.

Thank you all for the input. I am really considering applying for an IMCU residency program and from what you all are telling me I believe I will learn tons. thanks again!

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@OregonRN512Thank you for your post. I am interviewing for an IMCU tomorrow. Praying that I get in? Already claiming it ☘️?☘️???

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