This is something I’ve genuinely never understood. Why do some nurses act like Neuro ICU isn’t “real” critical care compared to SICU, CVICU, or MICU? When I first accepted my Neuro ICU position as a new grad, I literally had a nurse tell me I was going into “long-term care ICU.” Like WHAT??? I’m sorry, but since when did Neuro ICU become long-term care? I started my nursing career in Neuro ICU, and I can confidently say it was one of the most stressful experiences I’ve ever had. Not because I dislike critical care, but because neuro patients are a completely different kind of unpredictable. One minute your patient’s pupils are equal and reactive, they’re following commands, and everything seems fine. Five minutes later, one pupil is blown, you’re calling the provider, getting a STAT CT, and worrying about increased ICP or possible brain herniation. Like??? How is that NOT critical care? We’re talking about patients with massive strokes, intracranial hemorrhages, EVDs, seizures, fresh craniotomies, and severe neurological injuries. These patients can go from relatively stable to deteriorating within minutes, and sometimes the only warning signs are subtle changes in their neurological assessments. I feel like Neuro ICU gets underestimated because not every patient is on multiple pressors or has the same hemodynamic issues you might see in other ICUs. But since when did the number of drips someone is on determine whether they’re critically ill? I currently work in both SICU and CVICU, and I actually enjoy those specialties significantly more than I ever enjoyed neuro. So it’s not that I dislike critical care. I genuinely love it. I just learned very quickly that Neuro ICU was NOT for me. And honestly, after experiencing different ICU specialties, I have even more respect for Neuro ICU nurses. The constant neuro assessments, watching for subtle changes, and knowing how quickly things can go south were mentally exhausting for me, especially as a new grad. I’m not saying Neuro ICU is harder than SICU, CVICU, or MICU. Every specialty has its own challenges, and I know firsthand that critically ill patients can deteriorate just as quickly in other ICUs. But I genuinely don’t understand why some nurses dismiss neuro as being less critical. And that “long-term care ICU” comment still gets me because what exactly is long-term care about managing acute neurological emergencies, increased ICP, and patients at risk for herniation? Has anyone else experienced this attitude toward Neuro ICU? I’m genuinely curious where this perception comes from, especially among nurses who have never actually worked in neuro critical care.   submitted by   /u/kensknees1 [link]   [comments]