Senior nurse / service manager: Surjeet Kaur
Senior nurse / modern matron: Joy Anderson
Overview
The adult intensive care unit (AICU) has 20 beds and cares for patients following cardiac and major thoracic surgery. In addition we care for patients who have severe medical cardiac conditions and who may require optimisation prior to surgery, intra-aortic balloon pumping or management of ventricular assist devices (VAD). Patients with extensive respiratory problems are also provided with specialist ventilatory support. Patients who develop renal failure are managed effectively by the administration of haemofiltration.
The patient dependency and nursing interventions required are evaluated regularly and the nurse patient ratio is based on 1:1 care. This may be adjusted after careful evaluation and where the patient’s stability allows for a 2:1 ratio.
All new staff, irrespective of grading band and experience are provided with a well-established induction and mentor programme. Competencies and role developments are achieved by in-house training and assessment. Nurses are encouraged and developed and progress at their own pace, whilst ensuring that they contribute to service developments.
A variety of shift patterns are worked, but flexible working arrangements are available to suit both staff and service needs. Good staff morale in such a busy and specialised area is extremely important. We believe it is the collective responsibility of all staff to ensure the maintenance of high morale to provide an environment conducive to high standards of care by professional, motivated staff.
In addition to the AICU there is a separate ten-bedded post-anaesthetic care unit that is fully functioning from Monday to Friday. This facility is managed by the AICU Service manager and Modern matron and therefore enables seamless care between the AICU, theatres and the ward areas.
Read about being a patient or visitor to the Adult Intensive Care Unit.
Meet the AICU team.
