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.
IMCU is not ICU or critical care. IMCU is similar to a PCU; some can also compare it to even a more 'high-acuity' type of telemetry floor. IMCU is a step down for ICU patients, a place where high-acuity patients may be observed in cases where they might need to be stepped up into a higher acuity floor - an ICU.
A good way to determine the acuity of a floor is to see the nurse/patient ratio. The higher the ratio, the less severe the patient and the less severe the floor.
A good example - my PCU in my hospital has a 5-1 nurse/patient ratio. In comparison, the tele floor has an 8-1 nurse/patio ratio. PCU is more critical than tele.
IMCU stands for Intermediate Care Unit. It's in between ICU and medsurg. It's the in between unit, where you are not that sick to be in ICU, but not that well to be in med surg. Its like your out of the woods, but still requires frequent monitoring, usually q2-q4. That's because patients on this unit, usually have just recovered and can be labile, that its very easy for things to go south. Thats why the usual ratio on this unit, is usually 1:4 vs the 1:6 in medsurg. hope that helps
chris21sn, BSN, RN
146 Posts
To be blunt, no.
IMCU is not ICU or critical care. IMCU is similar to a PCU; some can also compare it to even a more 'high-acuity' type of telemetry floor. IMCU is a step down for ICU patients, a place where high-acuity patients may be observed in cases where they might need to be stepped up into a higher acuity floor - an ICU.
A good way to determine the acuity of a floor is to see the nurse/patient ratio. The higher the ratio, the less severe the patient and the less severe the floor.
A good example - my PCU in my hospital has a 5-1 nurse/patient ratio. In comparison, the tele floor has an 8-1 nurse/patio ratio. PCU is more critical than tele.