Patients admitted to the NSICU have a variety of admitting diagnosis such as closed head injury (MVC), spinal cord injury, gun shot wound to head, subarachnoid hemorrhage, brain attack (stroke), seizures and brain tumor. All patients are monitored by electrocardiograms and continuous pulse oximeters. Many patients require mechanical ventilation. Some of the higher technological interventions include fiberoptic catheters to monitor intracranial pressures, daily bedside transcranial doppler measurements, continuous cardiac output and mixed venous oxygen levels and adult jet ventilation.

The staff of the NSICU consists of a nurse manager; an assistant head nurse, 13 registered nurses and four unit secretaries who are crossed trained as nursing assistants. All staff members complete a competency-based orientation program. The length of orientation is determined by the employee’s prior experience. New graduate nurses usually require at least six weeks of orientation. Critical Care Registered Nurse Certification, American Association of Neurological/Neuro-surgical Certification and Advanced Cardiac Life Support certification are encouraged.

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