What's Respiratory nursing like?

[bella14k]

I am moving from a MS/tele/stroke unit to possibly a RCU. I was given a brief overview of what it would be like, but what is it really like? Tell me about most of what you do what you deal with, besides COPD and PNA. Are there a lot of end of life patients? Eventually this unit may be step down (for people who can't be weaned off vents that come from ICU).

[Lev, MSN, RN, NP]

A lot of hospitals don't have dedicated respiratory floors. Respiratory failure/ARDS is another diagnosis that may come your way. You may also see patients with pulmonary emboli, asthma, pneumothorax, and CHF.