PICU Transport

PICU transports are a really exciting aspect of the PICU world. Whilst working in the UK I was involved in a PICU transport team (Retrieval Team). They act as a rapid response to hospitals with 'hard to handle' peds. The experience is fantastic and the nurse really gets to exercise their skills of rapid assessment and extended roles. In some cases (I was involved in well over 100) you walk into an active resus and assume the management. It can be really busy and stressful... but I always found it enjoyable.

The UK teams are made up of a PICU Fellow and a Paeds trained nurse with PICU/NICU experience depending on the case. In the US I have heard of paramedics and RTs also being a part of the team.

PICU transport nurses, can you tell me a little bit about your experiences? I have an opportunity to do my preceptorship wth a fantastic nurse in the PICU next semester, and I am really, so excited! Our PICU does transport, and it sounds so intense and interesting, but I'd like to hear things from your perspective. Thank you,

Wendy

3rd Semester ADN

I have never worked the PICU but I did the Peds transport for our hospital, one of several transport nurses we had. We did adult, Peds and OB transport. Some Teams have seperate adult and peds transporters. I had both Adult and Peds ER experience so I felt comfortable doing both. Our PICU docs are the BEST and they were very specific about their expectations. There were some really hairy transports, one kid we ended up assisting the neuro surgeon to reopen the skull to try to stop the bleeding, in the ICU room. My EMT suctioned for him while I helped the other Hospitals' nurses check off and give blood products. It took us so long to stabilize the kid my intensivist came out and joined me for the transport, the first and only time. By the time she got there kid was stable and no problems in the ambulance. That will always be my most memorable case. If you are interested in transport get some good ICU experience as well as some ED experience. I loved doing transport, I loved the freedom and the autonomy. I haven't found anything else like it.