Patient

FAQs

Questions you should ask?

The following is a list of some of the questions you may need to ask when visiting an Intensive Care Unit:

Nurse/Patient Ratio

 


13/02/04
Can anyone give a guide or standard, if it is written, for safe nurse/patient ratios for:
1. ICU patients
2. HDU patients
3. CCU patients
NUM Level 5 (NSW) Metropolitan


 

Patient Controlled Analgesia (PCA)

Patient Controlled Analgesia (PCA)

A patient controlled analgesia (PCA) pump delivers pain relief medication to a patient through an intravenous cannula when they push a button. A PCA pump is usually used for patients after they have had an operation. PCA are not common in Intensive care as patients must be fully conscious to use them properly

Typical PCA Pump

PCA Pump

Urinary Catheter, insertion of

Insertion of an indwelling urinary catheter

Urinary catheterisation is the process of inserting a catheter (hollow tube) into the bladder for the purpose of draining urine. You may hear this catheter being called an ‘IDC’.

Pressure Area Care

Pressure Area Care

Pressure area care refers to moving the patient into another position to relieve pressure on a part of the body and prevent the development of a pressure ulcer or ‘bed sore’.