520
Detailed Needs and Requirements: Intensive Care Units
4. The distance patients must travel to receive diagnosis or treatment
assumes more than normal importance for intensively ill patients.
Often patients whose condition may change rapidly are continuously
monitored. Transportation of the patient breaks this vital warning
system. Patients are weak and may be susceptible to infection.
Certain patients require continual rest, freedom from disturbance or
emotional upset. These factors all are aggravated by transportation.
5. Intensive care units are often located to provide the most efficient
utilization of shared services, equipment and in some cases staff. For
example, a cardio-pulmonary laboratory adjacent to several intensive
specialty units can easily be used by all. Likewise, a surgical intensive
care patient with a cardiac arrest may receive better care if the cardiac
unit is directly adjacent.
Tables 520-2, 520-3 and 520-4 indicate in general the movement factors
affecting intensive care nursing units.
523.1.3
Characteristics
1. Environment
The general environmental focus of the unit is to facilitate the treatment
of extremely ill patients. Intensive care units usually consist of a
general patient care area and staff support facilities. The latter are
similar to a general nursing unit.
To the extent possible the patient care area should resemble a general
nursing unit patient room. Patient activity will be subdued; however,
some patients will be fully aware of their surroundings and will eat
meals, read and receive visitors. Patient apprehension should be
reduced where possible.
A common requirement of all intensive care units is the ability to
recognize and respond to rapid and potentially serious changes in
patient condition. This requires close, twenty-four hour, observation
and care. When a sudden change in a patient's condition requires
emergency action, key members of the hospital staff may be called
upon to administer emergency treatment.
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