Intensive / Critical Care (ICU/CCU)

The Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) is very different than the regular hospital units. When in the MICU you will be watched very closely by doctors, registered nurses and other staff that have special training to work in this area. Each MICU nurse generally cares for only 1 or 2 patients. The most advanced technology is available to help determine the best course of treatment for you. The information that follows may help answer some of the questions you might have about the MICU.

Information for Family and Visitors
You will be able to see your loved one after he/she is settled in the MICU. All visitors must check with the nurse prior to visiting. On occasion you may be asked to wait. This may occur when the patient is in the middle of a test or the nurse is busy with their care. No more than 2-3 people should visit at one time and visits should be kept short (15-20 minutes). There is not age limit to visitors.

Visits are important, even if the patient isn’t alert! It is helpful to give gentle touches and to talk to the patient even when they are unresponsive. Bring in their favorite music to play or turn on our relaxation television channel (channel 6). Try to keep a positive tone whether the patient is alert or unresponsive. The patient’s family should select one person to make phone calls to the MICU. This person may call at anytime. He/She should ask to speak to the patient’s nurse. The nurse will briefly state how the patient is doing and answer any questions. The telephone number is 651-430-4700.

For infection control purposes, visitors are usually asked not to bring flowers or food into MICU rooms. Sometimes patients are moved from one room to another. This is not unusual. We understand that this is a stressful time for both the patient and family. Please feel free to talk to your nurse about any concerns or questions you may have.

Remember to take care of yourself as well-get enough rest and take time for your meals.

Equipment and Alarms
You will notice that a lot of equipment is used in the MICU. Many of the pieces of equipment have alarm systems. The beeping or buzzing tones let the nurses know that their attention is needed. When an alarm goes off, it does necessarily mean that something is wrong. Some of the items you will see in use include:

Heart Monitor – The heart monitor will display and record blood pressure, pulse, heart rhythm, and breathing rate. The pattern of the heartbeat is transferred electrically from the five round patches on your check, through the attached wires, and onto a screen in your room and at the nurses’ station. intravenous (IV) Line – Each patient has a IV line. This is a small plastic tube that is placed directly into a vein. It is used to give fluid and/or medications.

Urinary Bladder Catheter – A tube may be put in the bladder to drain urine. You may feel the urge to urinate for the first few hours. This feeling will disappear.

Suction Tubes – These tubes help remove fluid from the nose, mouth and lungs.

Drainage Tubes – These tubes draw fluid from a wound or other areas of the body.

Ventilator (Breathing Machine) – If you are having trouble breathing on your own, you may need to be placed on a ventilator. If you need the help of a ventilator, a tube will be passed through your mouth down into your airway. The other end of the tube is attached to the ventilator, which delivers oxygen to your lungs and “breathes” for you. You will not be able to talk, eat or drink while on the ventilator.Writing is a common way for a patient to communicate with staff and family. When your physician determines you are able to come off the ventilator, special testing will be done to ensure your lungs are ready to breathe independently. A respiratory care practitioner will be monitoring you and the ventilator during this time period and after.

Arterial Line – This is a small IV-like tube placed in one of the arteries. It is used to continuously measure blood pressure. It is also used for specialized blood testing.

Distractions in the MICU
There are often things going on around the MICU that may be bothersome to
you, including:

Alarms going off
Ringing phones in the nursing area
Unusual sounds, smells, etc.
Not being able to speak while on a ventilator
Presence of tubes and equipment
Not being able to do things for yourself
Unable to move around
Strange environment
Unable to sleep

These distractions and lack of sleep can cause the following symptoms:

Seeing or imagining things that seem strange or unusual
Events that may seem abnormal
Nightmares, disturbing dreams, confusion

These problems are temporary and they will pass. Be sure to tell your nurse if you begin to have any of these symptoms.