Tele to PCU

[TexasgirlRN]

So we recently had a name change... we were a telemetry unit, then our administrators decided we needed a Progressive care unit.

Question- does your PCU accept vents and potent drips?

[papawjohn]

Hey Ms Texasgirl

When I've worked on Tele/PCU/step-down units, we usually took 'stable' vents (long term trached Pts) and drips that didn't need titrating. I can remember there was a treatment for chronic CHF used in Tenn way back when that involved a 23hr admission and dobutamine infusion on a regular basis. At that time, we didn't have 'dynamap' or NBP blood pressure machines--had to do it by ear & sphyg q1h.

Tele can be adventurous. ICU is better---you can see into the Pt's rooms and the monitoring is better.

Papaw John

[TexasgirlRN]

Thanks for the reply. Yah, that's pretty much our criteria- stable vents; gtts that don't need titration over 3x per hr. Our nickname is 'mini-ICU' though- being county. We see the worst of the worst.

I've been grappling with going to ICU or not... hrm... maybe in the next yr or so.

[AfloydRN, BSN, RN]

Our PCU is the Catch All. The patient is not quite sick enough for CCU but is too sick to go to floor. We take vents, A-lines, drips, etc. Anything goes. We do hourly v/s, chest tubes, hourly accuchecks, hourly neuros, pacers, whatever.

[WOLFE, BSN, RN]

we are a surgical step down unit..we get surgical, tele, open heart and trauma...and we do it all...drips, vents, pacers external and epw's as well, chest tubes, central lines...just to name a few.