Nursing

Critical Care Nursing Specialties

Critical care nursing is practiced on 10 patient care units at Saint Marys Hospital in Rochester. These units provide for the specialized needs of patients requiring intensive care in the following specialties: medical, surgical, cardiovascular, organ transplant, neurology, surgical trauma, neonatology, pediatrics, and thoracic vascular.

Cardiovascular Surgery ICU - MB5BG
A 25-bed intensive care unit that is one of the premier cardiac surgery centers in the nation. This highly specialized unit provides technologically advanced postoperative management for all patient populations from neonate to geriatric requiring cardiac surgery. An extensive multidisciplinary team and advanced support modalities such as Ventricular Assist Devices (VAD) and ECMO in addition to multiple other critical care technologies make this an exciting and challenging place to work. State-of-the-art computerized documentation and monitoring systems are utilized. Family-centered care is supported with open visiting and a strong commitment to continuity of care and the primary nursing care delivery model. The high acuity and technologically advanced environment create numerous practice, research and educational opportunities. Additionally, shared decision making allows multiple avenues for nurses to grow professionally.

Schedule options:

• 12-hour shifts, with every third weekend
• 8/12 combination; work 8-hour shifts weekdays, with 12-hour shifts every third weekend

Cardiovascular Surgical/Transplant ICU/ICA - MB6DE
This 22-bed unit is split into an eight-bed intensive care unit and a 14-bed intermediate care area. It provides specialized care to adult cardiac surgical and adult/pediatric cardiothoracic transplant patients. A computerized patient data management system is utilized in the ICU. Nursing care focuses on physiologic monitoring, patient education, and discharge planning, utilizing a primary nursing/collaborative practice approach. The environment encourages professional development, supports shared governance, and strives for continuous improvement through use of a research-based practice.

Schedule options:

• 12-hour shifts, with every third weekend - ICU
• 8- and 12-hour shifts or all 12-hour shifts every other or every third weekend - ICA

Medical Cardiology ICU - MB4DE
This 16-bed specialized unit provides care to critically ill adult patients with altered cardiac function and hemodynamic instability. A multidisciplinary team including medicine, nursing, cardiovascular monitoring technicians, dietitians, chaplains, and others provide care collaboratively and effectively. Computerized charting is used for flow sheet, patient data and vital signs.

Schedule options:

• 12-hour shifts, with every third weekend
• 8-hour shifts, with every other weekend

Medical ICU - MB6G
This 25-bed medical/respiratory intensive care unit serves a wide variety of patient problems, including gastrointestinal bleeding, cardiovascular, metabolic, respiratory, renal, and multisystem failure. RNs on this unit provide care in all private rooms in a spacious, state-of-the-art intensive care unit.

Schedule option:

• 12-hour shifts, with every third weekend

Medical/Surgical/Transplant ICU - EI 10-3/10-4
This 17-bed radial design medical/surgical/transplant intensive care unit serves patients experiencing medical, surgical, and acute respiratory events. Renal, pancreas, bone marrow, and liver transplant patients are part of the patient population during acute phase(s). Additional population may consist of patients in obstetrical crisis. Cardiac monitoring, invasive hemodynamic monitoring, and respiratory support are available. RN staff provide nursing coverage for the Code 45 (emergency resuscitation) team at Eisenberg.

Schedule option:

• 12-hour rotating shift, every third weekend, self-scheduling

Neonatal ICU (NICU) - MB3B
This 22-bed Level 3 neonatal intensive care unit includes a step-down area. The unit serves a diverse patient population, including premature infants, and those with cardiac, surgical, and multisystems dysfunction. The neonatal ICU has a specially educated nurse-respiratory therapist transport team available that transports critically ill infants from Rochester Methodist Hospital and area community hospitals.

Schedule options:

• 12-hour shifts, with every third weekend
• 8/12 combination; work 8-hour shifts weekdays, with 12-hour shifts every third weekend

Neurology/Neurosurgery ICU - MB8DE
This 20-bed intensive care unit is one of the largest neurosurgical/neurological facilities in the nation. This highly specialized unit provides quality care to adult critically ill neurologically impaired patients, including head, spinal cord trauma, and a wide variety of surgical procedures. In addition, the unit provides care and support for patients and families going through the organ donation process. Prolonged EEG video monitoring and state-of-the-art intracranial pressure monitoring are two of the latest patient care technologies in place. Admitting 150 new patients per month makes this a fast-paced, high-acuity unit where attention is focused on close monitoring of the patient's neurological status.

Schedule options:

• 12-hour shifts, with every third weekend
• 8-hour shifts, with every other weekend
• 12-hour shifts, with every other Saturday

Pediatric ICU (PICU) - MB3G
This 16-bed pediatric intensive care unit specializes in the care of critically ill children and their families. The unit is also the designated Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) Unit. The Pediatric ICU deals with a wide variety of pediatric subspecialties, all focusing on family-centered care for the pediatric patient requiring intensive care or close monitoring. Pediatric ICU patients consist of a variety of medical and surgical specialties including BMT; trauma, liver, and renal transplants; orthopedics; general surgery; and cardiac, respiratory, neurological, and complex medical problems requiring ongoing nursing observation, intervention, and assessment. A pediatric transport team, consisting of specially educated RNs and respiratory therapists, is available for transport of critical or seriously ill infants and children, both to and from the Mayo Clinic.

Schedule options:

• 12-hour shifts, with every third weekend
• 8/12 combination; work 8-hour shifts weekdays, with 12-hour shifts every third weekend

Surgical Trauma ICU/ICA - MB7BG
This 24-bed unit is split into a 12-bed intensive care unit (ICU) and a 12-bed intermediate care area (ICA). The ICU is designed to serve surgical and trauma patients whose acuity requires 24-hour medical and nursing support. The typical patients range from general surgical to multiple traumas and multiple organ dysfunction cases. The ICA provides care for thoracic, vascular, general surgery, and trauma patients who do not require continuous medical coverage but nursing assessment and support.

Schedule options:

• 12-hour shifts, with every third weekend
• 8/12 combination; work 8-hour shifts weekdays, with 12-hour shifts every third weekend
• 8-hour shifts, with every other weekend

Thoracic/Vascular ICU - MB7DE
This 20-bed intensive care unit provides care for adult patients following surgery for thoracic, vascular, or orthopedic procedures. This patient population requires nursing support for short-term postoperative care averaging two to three days. Long-term care occurs occasionally for complex multisystem failure.

Schedule Options:

• 12-hour shifts, with every third weekend
• 8/12 combination; work 8-hour shifts weekdays, with 12-hour shifts every third weekend
• 12-hour shifts, with every other Saturday