Please forgive my stupid question!

[nrselisa]

What exactly is an intermediate care unit. What type of patients do you usually see there? How is it different from a regular med-surg floor?

Thank you! Lisa:)

[Elenaster]

I think you are referring to a step-down unit which is a unit that accepts patients that are coming out of critical care, but may need more nursing care than a regular med-surg floor. In my experience, the patients are usually chronic cardiac or pulmonary patients and are often infected with antibiotic-resistant bacteria (e.g., MRSA or VRE). Typically, the nurses have more patients than in the ICU, but fewer than the floor. I hope this helps answer your question.

[Katnip, RN]

What Elenaster said. And it's not stupid.

[nrselisa]

Thanks! I saw it in a job listing & was wondering what it was. :)

Lisa :)