Intensive care unit: What does an intensive care unit look like?
An intensive care unit has an oppressive or intimidating effect on many people, because the many devices and monitors to which a patient is often connected often make us fear the worst. All of this is only for better monitoring in order to be able to take good care of the sick. You can find out what makes the intensive care unit special here.
What does an intensive care unit look like?
Just as the requirements differ from those of normal hospital wards, so do the equipment and spatial conditions. Far more floor space, equipment, power and oxygen connections and nursing staff are available per patient.
What are the devices needed for in the intensive care unit?
The devices in the intensive care unit are used to continuously monitor the so-called vital parameters (i.e. signs that reflect bodily functions) such as blood pressure, heart rhythm, body temperature, oxygen content in the blood, fluid balance and blood sugar  and, if necessary, to be able to intervene quickly.
The measured values ​​are displayed on a monitor  at the patient’s bedside and simultaneously in the monitoring room. Join in:
- Respirators with tubes
- electronically controlled syringe pumps that are used to administer painkillers  and other medications  directly into the blood vessels
- nasogastric tubes and
- other devices for monitoring, examinations and treatment
So it’s no wonder that it flashes, rings and beeps and the person concerned seems lost and small behind all the “machines” and hoses.
Sick people are given special care here
There is constant work at the patient’s bed – he is bedded, washed, tapped and rubbed, questioned, listened to and touched, occupied with physiotherapy and blood tests. So it’s no wonder that there is usually a lot of activity (and quite a lot of light) in an intensive care unit and that as a relative you ask yourself how the patient can get well despite the hectic pace and lack of privacy.
But do not forget: all this is to improve the health of the patient.
Special hygiene measures in the intensive care unit
Intensive care patients are often more susceptible to infections – in order to give as few pathogens as possible a chance to penetrate, you first have to go through an airlock before entering the actual intensive care unit .
Extensive disinfection, changing clothes and putting on a gown, face mask , hood, etc. are no longer necessary today – except in an isolation room for patients with a weakened immune system – but at least the hands are disinfected.
To get into an intensive care unit, you usually have to ring the bell and the nursing staff will let you in. You may need to identify yourself on your first visit.
Who works there and who can I contact?
Interdisciplinary intensive care units in hospitals are usually managed by an anesthetist; specific units possibly also by physicians of the respective specialty, for example cardiologists.
In addition to the doctors, there are specially trained nursing staff who have acquired special knowledge and can deal with the special conditions in an intensive care unit (additional qualification “specialist nurse for anesthesia and intensive care medicine” or “specialist nurse for intensive care”).
In addition, other people such as physiotherapists, ergotherapists, X-ray assistants etc. have access. Since the different people are usually dressed similarly, relatives often do not know who is responsible for what. Then only one thing helps: ask.