Clinical

One other thing  that we did during my clinical on the ICU was going over the rhythm strips and type of monitoring that they use on the ICU.  I realized how little I know about cardiac rhythms.  Every patient in the ICU is on the cardiac monitor and without the EKG telling me what the rhythm is I only now of course ST elevation and depression, Sinus tach, brady, and NSR.  I was quite embarassed at my little knowledge in regards to the cardiac monitoring.  I was very uncomfortable with the vents that many of the patients were on. We obviously will put patients on the ventilator in the ED, the problem is,  respiratory therapy is with the patient pretty much at all time until the patient is admitted to the ICU. Due to the respiratory therapist, I have a false sense of security.  The respiratory therapists are also in the ICU monitoring the vents, but the nurses have a good education on what to do and how to adjust them if needs be.