Info about Intensive Care Unit
Birth Plan: Deciding Between Giving Birth in the Hospital or at Home
Choosing where to give birth and what methods to choose is possibly one of the biggest decisions you will make during your pregnancy, and more than likely one of the first decisions you will make. While you may not be able to stick to your exact birth plan, it is important to make these important decisions early on and inform your doctor of your preferred birth plan. If you have chosen a home birth, you may want to begin looking early on for a licensed and reputable doula and midwife to assist in your home birth. No matter which you choose, being educated, well informed and solid in your decision is vital to ensure the best possible outcome from your birth plan.
There are many pros and cons of each choice, which will depend highly on your own personal preferences, fears and where you will feel most comfortable. Some women like the freedom and comfort of being at home, while others feel more comfortable being in a hospital environment in case of any possible complications or emergency situations with the birth. Your birthing experience should be your own choice, so do all of the necessary research as early as possible and be honest with your doctor about what you want to happen during the birth of your child.
With a home birth, you will have less medical intervention but there are also less adverse outcomes than hospital births, according to the most recent statistics. The mortality rate of newborns for home births is nearly identical to that of hospital births. With a home birth you will not have access to advanced technology like in a hospital, in the case of an emergency situation. Possible medical intervention you might need at a hospital include fetal monitoring, epidural anesthesia, assisted vaginal delivery and cesarean section. There are many benefits for a home birth including having the freedom to birth in whatever position you prefer and walk around during your labor. You can have your own home comforts like a bed, blankets, pillows, food and drinks as well as inviting over whoever you like. With a home birth, you have more privacy when you want it and the knowledge of knowing mothers gave birth at home with no assistance for hundreds of years, making it a more “natural” way to give birth.
Hospital births also have a variety of benefits aside from having access to technologies which will assist in emergency situations and medical intervention. With a hospital birth, you also have access to medication if you choose to do so for your labor as well as anesthesia and will be in a place with trained medical professionals. Many mothers find it more comforting to be in the hospital environment due to the large number of licensed doctors and surgeons, and access to emergency equipment. While you may not have as much privacy as you would like and be able to invite a lot of people in your hospital room, you can feel safe knowing if complications arise during your labor, you are able to get a cesarean section or assisted vaginal delivery much more quickly than if your labor and birth started at home.
How To Become A Nurse in the ICU
The intensive care unit (ICU) and critical care unit (CCU) of any hospital are special areas where the most critical patients are admitted. These patients typically need around-the-clock surveillance and monitoring by the nursing staff who will inform doctors and surgeons where there is an emergency. The patients in the ICU and CCU are often unstable with a critical condition, which require the nurses who work in these departments to be highly educated, experienced, and able to keep track of their patients, remember much of the patient’s conditions and medications, be able to monitor them expediently, and act quickly when there is a life or death emergency. It takes a special kind of nurse to be successful in the ICU and CCU; you are there to keep these patients alive and help them recover whatever illness or condition landed them in critical care. It is vital you are always attentive and have the proper training.
The first step to becoming a nurse in the ICU or CCU is to have the proper education. This can be from a four-year college, trade or vocational college, or online college. If you choose an online college, be sure they have an accredited and reputable nursing program. Complete your coursework at the college of your choice and take the required exam in order to be eligible to work in the ICU. ICU nurses must be either a registered nurse (RN) or have a bachelor’s of science in nursing (BSN). Aside from your basic nursing education and training, you will also want to familiarize yourself with the equipment and machines used in the ICU as you may be assisting doctors with these machines. These include EKG machines, defibrillators, and ventilators among others.
After receiving a formal nursing education and training, you will want to get experience in nursing. Most hospitals will not hire a nurse for their ICU or CCU who are just out of college and have not had any nursing experience. The best thing to do is get a job working in another area of a hospital, as a certified nursing assistant (CNA) or doing long term care. Once you have at least a few months of nursing experience, you can inquire about working in the ICU at your local hospital.
After you get hired by a hospital to work in the ICU, it is important to pay close attention to each patient you receive. Be very attentive during rounds and try your best to remember details about each patient you will be monitoring, including why they are in the ICU, medications they are taking, and possible complications. Being attentive and responding quick in the ICU is critical to saving lives. Each time you check in on or monitor a patient, you should always be on the lookout for possible additional complications associated with their condition, even ones that may seem far fetched. Don’t be afraid to tell a doctor of any complications you suspect in your patients. A nurse’s job is very important no matter which department you work in, and especially so if you work in the ICU or CCU.