Need to know nurse view on ED and ICU location

[gscott]

Hi all,

I am the process engineer, back for more! I recently did a study in an ICU that was adjacent to the ED. Half the nurses felt this was extremely beneficial and the other half didn't really find any added value in it. The hospital I was at was a Level 1 Trauma center so it seemed logical to have the ICU right there, along with the diagnostics and OR. Any feedback on this issue? I'd like to know what you nurses think.

Thank you!

[hypocaffeinemia, BSN, RN]

I don't think having the ICU and the ER nearby is of any benefit. I think having easy access to radiology, pharmacy, and OR is a benefit for both. At our new facility undergoing construction, pharmacy/lab is directly next to the ICU, and radiology is immediately below it by a patient-only elevator. The ER has its own mini-radiology and lab suite inside it. The PACU is right above the ICU and connected by the patient-only elevator.

[cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN]

I find it beneficial. Our ED is next to Radiology, which is next to ICU. It's beneficial to the overall flow of things. Our OR is also right next to both departments.

[nrsang97, BSN, RN]

I find it beneficial. Our ED is next to Radiology, which is next to ICU. It's beneficial to the overall flow of things. Our OR is also right next to both departments.

I wish we had a closer CT scanner. Our neuro ICU is on the 6th floor and we either have to go to the CT in the ER which is on the ground level, or on the second floor. I wish we had one so much closer. I wish they would build one up on the 6th floor for us.

I think those departments should all be close. The last thing I want to do is run all over the hospital to get a CT on a pt with a blown pupil.

[mianders, RN]

I worked for years in an ER where the ICU was on the other side of the hospital. There were many times we had to bag a vent patient from one end of the hospital to the other with someone dragging the vent behind us. We were always complaining that it would be great if the ICU and the ER were next to each other. We did have out own xray and ct. We drew our own labs.

[RNperdiem, RN]

I don't think having ER and ICU close together would matter much(unless we need to raid ER for suppllies).

I do like ICU near the OR and Radiology department. I work in a large teaching hospital and road trips are made more difficult by the distance we have to travel.

These days stretchers are built to carry even the very obese. Therefore they are very heavy even when empty(they seem heavy to my 109lb self anyway).