Cardiac Care Unit (CCU)

The Cardiac Critical Care Unit utilizes specific levels of acuity to allocate the appropriate care thereby enhancing the continuity of care. Our patients spend their entire admission in the CCU until they are ready for discharge.

Patient Population

• Adult critically ill medical cardiology or post-procedure cardiac patients
• Patients with life threatening Arrhythmias, Cardiogenic Shock, Acute Myocardial Infarction, Congestive Heart Failure, Cardiomyopathy, Post Cardiac Arrest, Intra Aortic Balloon Pump Therapy, Left Ventricular Assist Device, Angioplasty with Stent and Ablation Therapy

Number of Beds

• 10 Critical Care High Acuity
• 11 Step-down Lesser Acuity

Nurse/Patient Ratio

• Critical Care 1:1-2
• Step-down 1:3

Rotation/Shifts

• 12 hour shifts 7a-7p and 7p-7a
• Master schedule
• Work every fourth weekend (1/mo)
• Rotate through both high and lesser acuity areas

Skill Mix

• Registered Nurse - 88%
• Patient Care Technician - 12%
• Unit-based Clinical Nurse Specialist

Nursing Unit Orientation

• 12 weeks of orientation, 6 critical care classes, CRRT and IABP classes
• 1:1 unit preceptor for newly-hired nurses