Have you ever wondered what happens behind the walls of the surgical trauma intensive care unit (STICU)? It is the area of hospitals where healthcare providers work tirelessly to save patients’ lives. The environment of the STICU (surgical trauma intensive care unit) is unpredictable where. One second, the patient is stable, and the other second, the patient is battling for life. But no matter what- one thing remains constant and that is the intensive care of doctors and other healthcare providers. in this blog, we will discuss what a surgical trauma intensive care unit is and what makes this unit important in the battle for life.
Surgical trauma intensive care unit (STICU)
STICU (surgical trauma intensive care unit) is one of the most important critical care units of the hospital that provides intensive care to patients who have undergone major surgery or trauma such as accidents, severe burns, massive blood loss, etc. The patients in STICU face life-threatening conditions and require intensive care, monitoring, and medical interventions. The medical team in STICU (surgical trauma intensive care unit) includes:
- Trauma surgeons
- Trauma nurses
- Surgical team
- Respiratory therapists
- Anesthesiologist etc.
What types of patients are found in STICU?
The patients in STICU are in critical condition, fighting for their lives. They are highly sedated, unconscious and cannot function on their own. Advanced technologies are used to monitor vital signs, blood pressure, etc. Moreover, doctors and other healthcare providers make critical and quick decisions to save the lives of patients.
How to become a surgical trauma intensive care unit nurse?
Earn nursing degree:
- ADN (Associate Degree in Nursing) which is of 2 years or,
- BSN( Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing) which is 4 years.
Pass NCLEX-RN exam:
After getting your nursing degree pass your NECLE-RN exam to get your nursing license.
Gain experience:
Once you get your nursing license, work as a registered nurse in a different healthcare setting to get experience.
Certifications:
After gaining experience you can transitioned to STICU (Surgical Trauma Intensive Cre Units). You can get certifications related to ICU nursing. These certifications will help enhance your skills as an ICU nurse.
- Critical care registered nurse (CCRN)
- Trauma certified registered nurse (TCRN)
What are the roles and responsibilities of STICU nurse?
If you are thinking of becoming a STICU nurse, here is the list of roles and responsibilities to provide effective care to the patient.
- Continuous monitoring and assessing physical and mental status as the patients have undergone major surgery or trauma.
- Administering medications and treatments such as blood transfusion, IV-line management etc.
- Managing ventilators and monitoring respiratory status.
- Surgical care for wounds, burns, surgical incisions.
- Post op care and educating patients and their family members about the procedure and treatments.
- Skilled in handling emergency situations and making quick decisions to save the lives of the patients.
- Preventing infections.
- Patient advocacy as they cannot speak for themselves due to their severe medical conditions.
- End-of-life care if needed.
Skills required to become STICU nurse
Nurses in STICU (surgical trauma intensive care unit) work with patients who are in very serious conditions therefore the following skills are required to provide effective patient care;
- STICU nurses face complex situations; therefore, they must use critical thinking and act quickly, as it is a matter of life and death for the patient.
- Nurses working in STICU should have advanced knowledge of using complex medical equipment such as ventilators, etc.
- They should be able to cope with high-stress situations.
- Continuous monitoring and attention to detail are other important skills required for STICU nurses to prevent any complications.
What is the difference between ICU and STICU?
ICU stands for Intensive care unit, where patients are in critical condition and recovering from a broad range of medical issues such as organ failure, heart issues, etc. STICU stands for Surgical Trauma Intensive Care Unit, where patients are in very serious condition and recovering from major surgeries or trauma such as severe burns, etc.
What is the average salary of trauma nurses?
The average hourly salary of trauma nurses is $45.42. This means the average salary of trauma nurses in one year is $94,480. They usually work 12-hour shifts, but their salary varies depending on location, extra shifts, weekends, and nights.
Conclusion
STICU is an important part of hospitals where critical patients recover from major surgeries and life-threatening traumas. To become an STICU nurse, it is important to get your nursing degree, pass the NCELX exam, and gain experience and certifications to enhance your skills. STICU nurses deal with serious patients fighting for their lives, so they must have the skills to ensure effective patient care. These skills include knowledge of technology, critical thinking, quick decision-making power, and physical and mental stamina. Becoming an STICU is no joke and, therefore, requires lots of dedication, education, and hands-on care.
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