Damar Hamlin recently underwent a terrifying incident on the football field, suffering a cardiac arrest and needing CPR. Fortunately, the medical staff was able to jump into action and apply CPR quickly enough that they repaired his heartbeat while rushing him to the hospital in an ambulance.
Now, he is in the ICU, sedated while receiving the best care possible.
As someone with experience as a Unit Secretary in the CVICU, I can confidently say that his medical team provides top-quality services. Let me explain to you what is happening to him in the ICU.
The rapper DMX had a heart attack after suffering a drug overdose. Some reports say that he is in critical condition on life support, some say he is breathing independently, and some are saying that he is brain dead.
In the video above, I will tell you what I would see as a Unit Secretary when a person who suffered a heart attack arrived on the unit.
What is it like working in an ICU? There are different types of ICUs: the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit), the PICU (Pediatric Intensive Care Unit), the CVICU (Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit), and the regular ICU (Intensive Care Unit).
What type of patients will you see?
Patients who had Heart Attacks.
Patients who have had surgery (not all; most can return to a regular unit after recovery).
Patients who had an organ transplant.
Patients who have died and their bodies are kept alive to allow their organs to be used for donation.
Patients who have drowned.
Patients in comas (intubated).
Patients who have internal bleeding, whether it's GI (gastrointestinal) related or a possible aneurysm.
And more...
However, no matter what type of ICU it is, the patients are all in the same boat. They are in critical condition, and they need more medical attention.
You will see hospice representatives more, as a patient in the ICU is likelier to go to Hospice than a patient in the Med/Surg (Medical/Surgical) unit.
You will see the EEG tech more as they perform tests to see what brain activity a patient may have (this would not be for all patients, only those where the brain activity may be called into question).
You will see the Case Manager or Social Worker more often as they are involved in arranging home health care, rehabilitation, ordering Durable Medical Equipment, etc.
Watch the video above to find out what else to expect in the ICU.
