Patients Requiring Infusion Monitoring

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Hello, I am a new grad interviewing for an RN position on a SUB ICU, and in the job description it describes the following types of patients:

  • vent pts
  • PCI pts
  • a variety of med-surg pts, and
  • "select cardiac, heparin, and insulin infusions"

I have a question about this last patient with infusions...I am not 100% sure what this really means...Is the infusion itself is the main reason for their stay in sub icu? Is it just patrients with drugs that require continuous monitoring?

For those who work on these units, would you mind translating for me what they mean by patients with "cardiac, heparin, or insulin infusions"? Also what are some of the specific conditions that require such drips that need monitoring?

Thanks!!

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Specializes in Neuro ICU and Med Surg.

Infusions refers to drips. Like heparin or insulin drips. Cardiac drips like cardized, dobutamine, dopamine, etc.

Insulin drip for DKA, or those with high sugar per tight glycemic control protocol, those who can't eat but are running a high sugar.

Heparin dirp for DVT, PE, A-Fib new onset to convert to coumadin. Same with DVT and PE

Cardiac drips example : Cardizem for A-Fib with RVR, IVP labatelol, IVP hydralazine for those with elevated BP. Dopamine, Dobutamine are inotropes to help with contractility. Levophed or neosynepherine for some low BP. Some of the drips like Dopamine and Levophed can cause elevated HR. IVP lopressor to help with elevated HR. Amiodarone drips for someone with refractory A-Fib with RVR, or a pt that is having frequent runs of V-Tach.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
Hello, I am a new grad interviewing for an RN position on a SUB ICU, and in the job description it describes the following types of patients:

  • vent pts
  • PCI pts
  • a variety of med-surg pts, and
  • “select cardiac, heparin, and insulin infusions”

I have a question about this last patient with infusions…I am not 100% sure what this really means…Is the infusion itself is the main reason for their stay in sub icu? Is it just patrients with drugs that require continuous monitoring?

For those who work on these units, would you mind translating for me what they mean by patients with "cardiac, heparin, or insulin infusions"? Also what are some of the specific conditions that require such drips that need monitoring?

Thanks!!

nrsang was pretty thorough....conditions....DKA, HHN, HHNK. CHF, Acute MI's, Renal failure, failure to wean from vents...does this facility perform invasive cardiac procedures? Anything that requires close monitoring but doesn't require the ICU status. essentially any pateint that could go to ICU can come to you but is more stable. Many rule out MI's are placed on these units and can become very sick very quickly. These units are usually 1:4 to 1:6 ratios depending on acuity. These are busy acute units with high acuity...you will learn a LOT!!

Good luck.

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Thank you for both for the explanations! Totally helpful. My facility website was very vague so wasn't sure what to expect…They do perform invasive cardiac procs but from what I have read in job descriptions those patients go to the CCU…and so I suppose if the CCU pts worsen they go to the CVICU...

Its so helpful to see which conditions to really focus on for the interview, so thanks again!!!!!

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