Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU)

Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU)

The Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) is a 10-bed adult critical care unit designed to provide comprehensive care for critically ill surgical and trauma patients. SICU patients require highly skilled nursing care, including close observation and the use of extensive monitoring equipment, mechanical ventilation and potential end-of-life care. The level of care in an intensive care unit is greater than that available on intermediate care units. The SICU serves as the admitting unit for most trauma patients at Johns Hopkins Bayview. As a level 2 trauma center, the Medical Center ensures state-of-the-art trauma care to all the citizens of Maryland.
 

A Multidisciplinary Approach

The multidisciplinary team in the SICU consists of intensivists, physicians, mid-level practitioners and critical care nurses trained in critical care, surgery and trauma care of adult patients. Many of the nurses are certified through The American Association of Critical Care Nurses and are CCRN recipients. Other multidisciplinary services include:

• Respiratory therapy
• Physical and occupational therapy
• Dietary services
• Pharmacy services
• Social work
• Case management
• Ancillary support

A Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) is assigned to the SICU and lends educational and clinical support to staff. The CNS is responsible for orientation of new staff, and ongoing mentoring and education, as well as support in evidence-based practice and new technology.

As teaching and research are highly valued within Johns Hopkins Medicine, special teaching rounds are done on a weekly basis. The multidisciplinary team shares their knowledge and ideas during rounds in an effort to provide the best patient care possible.
 

Patient Population

The SICU's patient population includes:

• General surgery
• Trauma services
• ENT
• Orthopaedic surgery
• Vascular surgery
• Urology
• Plastic surgery
• Bariatric surgery
• OB/GYN
• Thoracic surgery
   

Nursing Orientation

Nursing orientation to the SICU is highly individualized and tailored to the education, experience and training needs of the nurse. The new graduate nurse orientation program is available biannually (February and July) and includes a more-extensive, six-month orientation.

Educational Opportunities:

• Annual critical care skills and competency training
• Hospital-wide and unit-based educational offerings and inservices
• Advancement in Clinical Excellence (ACE) Program
• Trauma offerings (16 hours biannually)
• CCRN preparedness
• Critical care conferences/NTI
   

Scheduling:

• Nightingale/Intragale scheduling on the Web (accessible from any computer)
• Self-scheduling
• Holiday packages
• Weekend alternative
• Limited day/night rotation
• Flexibility with shifts
   

Shared Decision-Making Council Projects:

• Liberal visitation pilot
• New graduate orientation binder
• PCA documentation in Meditech
• Nurse retention collaborative
• Implementation of epidural analgesia
• Bedside nurse research project