Personal Experience: Best Trauma ICU to work in?

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Specializes in ICU, Agency, Travel, Pediatric Home Care, LTAC, Su.

Hi all! Kimberly here.

I am curious to hear other people's opinion. Wondering in everyone's opinions where is the best TRAUMA ICU to work in and why? I have done one kind of ICU or another for over 6 years and Trauma is my love. Just wondering what experience other people have had in Trauma and where? Also, would you reccomend where you are or where you have been? Thanks in advance.

Kimberly

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Specializes in MICU, neuro, orthotrauma.

im curious, too

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Specializes in Trauma Critical Care.

U-Maryland Shock Trauma hands down !!!!!

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In my opinion, The best trauma experience anywhere outside of Iraq or Afghanistan is at Landstuhl Regional Army Medical Center (LRMC) in Germany. The ICU RN's are primarily Army, Air Force and Navy officers, both active duty and reservists.

All injured military personnel from the War on Terrorism pass through LRMC before going on to Walter Reed or Bethesda. You name it, we saw it: IED blast injuries, severe burn victims, GSW's, MVC's, near drownings, etc. These include multi-system trauma, TBI's, etc. Most were just a couple days (or less) from time of injury. The expertise medical care these young men and women receive is remarkable. These young folks are very healthy prior to their injuries which helped their survival.

Although working in a military hospital is not for everyone, for me it was the most fulfilling experience - a great privilege. I even had the opportunity to do some flight nursing.

If you want to care for these fine and admirable young men and women, you'll have to join the military: Army, Air Force, or Navy (either active duty or reserve). The War on Terrorism will be an ongoing campaign for some time to come so there is still opportunities to help.

C Olson, ICU RN

US ARMY RESERVES

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Specializes in ICU, Agency, Travel, Pediatric Home Care, LTAC, Su.

Thanks for the input folks. I really appreciate it. Care to give details on what made Maryland so awesome? Thanks.

Kimberly

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Even if you don't know anything about the ICU at U-Maryland you can see what kind of patients they are getting if you watch "Trauma: life in the ER" on discovery health channel, most often than not it is based at the U-Maryland Shock Trauma ER, so you could get a good idea of what types of trauma's they have come through their doors, it looks like a pretty top notch place to me.........not sure if I could deal with the pink scrubs though..:uhoh21:

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Specializes in Trauma Critical Care.
Thanks for the input folks. I really appreciate it. Care to give details on what made Maryland so awesome? Thanks.

Kimberly

U-MD Shock Trauma is a six story hospital in downtown Baltimore that treats trauma and trauma only. They are strictly a hospital that treats TRAUMA ONLY they do not treat medical patients, the medical patients go to University (of Maryland) Hospital. The R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma center is one of the first trauma center that started the trauma revolution back in the '70s. How do I know all this? I worked as a paramedic in Baltimore for two years and I am a graduate of University of Maryland - Baltimore County where I got my BS in Emergency Health Services.

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Oh you want some fast paced, high tech trauma?? How about U.P.M.C. in Pittsburgh ( this was showcased on life in ER) ... if thats not enough fun, try Ruby in Morgantown Va. SHOCK ON!!!! :)

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Why not try SICU at Hamot? Or maybe you're already there?

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