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I’m a CICU doctor. I’m the CICU director.
But somehow I’ve found myself finishing a week of PICU service. The PICU is wild!
So here’s what I’ve learned and why the PICU is tougher than the CICU.
a thread #PedsICU #pedscicu
But somehow I’ve found myself finishing a week of PICU service. The PICU is wild!
So here’s what I’ve learned and why the PICU is tougher than the CICU.
a thread #PedsICU #pedscicu
1. High turnover
CICU: median length of stay about 3 days. Weekend and night admissions uncommon.
PICU: length of stay felt like about 18 hours. 5 new patients show up overnight.
This was exhausting.
CICU: median length of stay about 3 days. Weekend and night admissions uncommon.
PICU: length of stay felt like about 18 hours. 5 new patients show up overnight.
This was exhausting.
2. Unplanned admissions
CICU: I start hearing about the patient 2 months before they’re born.
PICU: Rolling in off the street like Amazon packages.
CICU: I start hearing about the patient 2 months before they’re born.
PICU: Rolling in off the street like Amazon packages.
3. Unknown diagnosis
CICU: 99.9% of the time I have at least an anatomic diagnosis.
PICU: ”This child is weird and smells funny. Figure it out.”
CICU: 99.9% of the time I have at least an anatomic diagnosis.
PICU: ”This child is weird and smells funny. Figure it out.”
4. Lines
CICU: Here’s your patient with 2 art lines, 4 RA lumens and a PICC.
PICU: They had a 24G IV but they ate it.
CICU: Here’s your patient with 2 art lines, 4 RA lumens and a PICC.
PICU: They had a 24G IV but they ate it.
5. Consultants
CICU: 3 surgeons and a cardiologist to deal with daily (that’s not nothing). Other consults come around but seem uncomfortable and leave quickly.
PICU: Neurosurg, ENT, ortho, gen surg, ID, neuro, nephro, behav health, palliative. That’s just Wednesday.
CICU: 3 surgeons and a cardiologist to deal with daily (that’s not nothing). Other consults come around but seem uncomfortable and leave quickly.
PICU: Neurosurg, ENT, ortho, gen surg, ID, neuro, nephro, behav health, palliative. That’s just Wednesday.
6. The patients
CICU: lots and lots of babies
PICU: “That’s not her blood, it’s the cop’s”
CICU: wtf PICU
CICU: lots and lots of babies
PICU: “That’s not her blood, it’s the cop’s”
CICU: wtf PICU
As I finish my last shift (ever?) in the PICU I’d like to tell my PICU docs, APPs, RNs, RTs, CNAs and everyone else there that I think you’re awesome and have one of the hardest jobs in the hospital. You will always have my respect.
