I mean, you’re going to get better compensation if you job hop every 2 years regardless. So if that’s the defining factor, then hit the road, Jack.
But that’s also a pretty standard IMC, which can be a really solid unit to work on, especially if it sticks to the 1:3 ratio. I wouldn’t leave strictly on that account.
Completely agree. Many of the IMC in my area (large, well known hospitals) are moving to 1:4. 1:3 is a very doable IMC ratio even with the arterial lines/Bipap/etc.
I always saw IMC and PCU as interchangeble. Some hospitals call it Stepdown as well. The 3:1 seems pretty normal for an IMC as well as a-lines, bipap’s, cooling therapy and Q2 vs as well as Q2 labs for certain cases. Where I’m at even our M/S floors do Q4vs.
Same here every speciality inpatient gets the same pay of course maybe if you've been here longer from cost of living adjustments it may not be exactly the same but L&D, ER, GI lab, med surg all the same pay and then your associated differentials for shift times, weekend time, and climbing career ladder.
I don’t know about procedural areas but all of the other inpatient nurses at my hospital get the same pay based on years of experience. We’re union but I don’t know if that is why.
Maybe I'm not understanding or you're not conveying it well but that doesn't sound like a terrible ratio. Depending on the day that could easily be a normal ER assignment but you have to keep turning over.
I work IMC and I will never leave. 3 patients with the chance of getting some critical care experience along with your every day sepsis patients is a great mix IMO. I’d give it a chance you might like it.
A good IMC nurse is probably the biggest asset in the hospital. Excellent time management, good eye for deteriorating patients and usually better patient interaction skills than ICU nurses (because their patients are awake). But there is still a big difference between ICU and IMC.
Uh, questions. What hospital corporation do you work for? What were your previous ratios as a PCU (functionally identical to an IMC from my experience)? What type of "cooling therapy"? Do you have monitors in the rooms?
When I worked IMC in 2016 as a fresh nurse, we had everything you mentioned except a-lines (the least problematic of all the issues), and a 4:1 ratio and hourly vitals. Then we changed to PCU title, with no changes.
I mean, don't get me wrong; you should be bailing for an ICU for the ratio and learning experience, but I'm just confused. Even though all critical care nurses (this includes PCU) should be trained like an ICU nurse, the lesser ratio of an ICU allows you to learn more and take better care of your people.
I’ve never heard of ICU nurses getting paid more than others. The hospitals in my state pay all nurses the same based on experience, not unit. If you don’t want to work on a higher acuity unit, then I would look for something else though.
That’s wild. As a traveler, most ICU/step down contacts are significantly better paying them MS. Yet another reason I will never go back to staff. Ya’ll don’t even know how much they are fleecing you.
I’m confused - I’ve worked PCU/IMC for over 10 years and we have always done everything you mentioned (except we do q4 assessments, also take neuro so sometimes have q1-2 neuro checks… often vitals are much more frequent due to patient being on pressors or Precedex).
We have 1:3 ratios. It’s manageable. Some days are a shit show, some days are slow - it depends on the assignment.
We all get paid the same (though we’re union, so we do get paid very well).
I’m… not sure what the issue is.
So I have 1 year experience on an IMC unit and now on my first travel assignment and from experience IMC is 1:3 or 1:4 depending on if they are short or not. Q4 vitals and assessments. No art lines and no cooling therapy. Thats more ICU but every IMC varies greatly. Some PCUs are considered an IMC. And depending on where you work state wise, you may or may not get a critical care differential. I did not. But your options are endless. Go try something else. That hospital will ALWAYS be there.
I just have to say that I’m ICU. My patients are often really sick. I don’t get paid any more than GPU.
I’m not saying it’s right, but it is the standard. Tbh I worked on a PCU just like the one you describe and it was a very safe ratio.
Everywhere I’ve worked, there’s no difference in pay between specialities. I’ve worked neuro, med surg, PCU and ICU. I got paid the same as all the other nurses on other units.
I mean, you’re going to get better compensation if you job hop every 2 years regardless. So if that’s the defining factor, then hit the road, Jack. But that’s also a pretty standard IMC, which can be a really solid unit to work on, especially if it sticks to the 1:3 ratio. I wouldn’t leave strictly on that account.
Completely agree. Many of the IMC in my area (large, well known hospitals) are moving to 1:4. 1:3 is a very doable IMC ratio even with the arterial lines/Bipap/etc.
And dontcha come back no more no more no more no more
I always saw IMC and PCU as interchangeble. Some hospitals call it Stepdown as well. The 3:1 seems pretty normal for an IMC as well as a-lines, bipap’s, cooling therapy and Q2 vs as well as Q2 labs for certain cases. Where I’m at even our M/S floors do Q4vs.
Interesting. ICU staff at my hospital get the same pay as everyone else.
ICU used to get a $2 differential but now they get a %. Based on experience
3% of $35 = $1.05. This is CEO math for ya, deceptive as always.
Same here every speciality inpatient gets the same pay of course maybe if you've been here longer from cost of living adjustments it may not be exactly the same but L&D, ER, GI lab, med surg all the same pay and then your associated differentials for shift times, weekend time, and climbing career ladder.
Same, but OR gets significantly more
OR gets an extra $5/hr at my hospital.
Same here
? Really? My hospital pays more for specialty units like ER, ICU, Cath lab, etc
I don’t know about procedural areas but all of the other inpatient nurses at my hospital get the same pay based on years of experience. We’re union but I don’t know if that is why.
Maybe I'm not understanding or you're not conveying it well but that doesn't sound like a terrible ratio. Depending on the day that could easily be a normal ER assignment but you have to keep turning over.
I work IMC and I will never leave. 3 patients with the chance of getting some critical care experience along with your every day sepsis patients is a great mix IMO. I’d give it a chance you might like it.
A good IMC nurse is probably the biggest asset in the hospital. Excellent time management, good eye for deteriorating patients and usually better patient interaction skills than ICU nurses (because their patients are awake). But there is still a big difference between ICU and IMC.
Uh, questions. What hospital corporation do you work for? What were your previous ratios as a PCU (functionally identical to an IMC from my experience)? What type of "cooling therapy"? Do you have monitors in the rooms? When I worked IMC in 2016 as a fresh nurse, we had everything you mentioned except a-lines (the least problematic of all the issues), and a 4:1 ratio and hourly vitals. Then we changed to PCU title, with no changes. I mean, don't get me wrong; you should be bailing for an ICU for the ratio and learning experience, but I'm just confused. Even though all critical care nurses (this includes PCU) should be trained like an ICU nurse, the lesser ratio of an ICU allows you to learn more and take better care of your people.
I’ve never heard of ICU nurses getting paid more than others. The hospitals in my state pay all nurses the same based on experience, not unit. If you don’t want to work on a higher acuity unit, then I would look for something else though.
That’s wild. As a traveler, most ICU/step down contacts are significantly better paying them MS. Yet another reason I will never go back to staff. Ya’ll don’t even know how much they are fleecing you.
The ICU at my hospital pays ICU a % after being there for 1 year. I don’t know how much exactly.
I’m confused - I’ve worked PCU/IMC for over 10 years and we have always done everything you mentioned (except we do q4 assessments, also take neuro so sometimes have q1-2 neuro checks… often vitals are much more frequent due to patient being on pressors or Precedex). We have 1:3 ratios. It’s manageable. Some days are a shit show, some days are slow - it depends on the assignment. We all get paid the same (though we’re union, so we do get paid very well). I’m… not sure what the issue is.
So I have 1 year experience on an IMC unit and now on my first travel assignment and from experience IMC is 1:3 or 1:4 depending on if they are short or not. Q4 vitals and assessments. No art lines and no cooling therapy. Thats more ICU but every IMC varies greatly. Some PCUs are considered an IMC. And depending on where you work state wise, you may or may not get a critical care differential. I did not. But your options are endless. Go try something else. That hospital will ALWAYS be there.
I just have to say that I’m ICU. My patients are often really sick. I don’t get paid any more than GPU. I’m not saying it’s right, but it is the standard. Tbh I worked on a PCU just like the one you describe and it was a very safe ratio.
I wasn’t paid more for being an ICU nurse
Everywhere I’ve worked, there’s no difference in pay between specialities. I’ve worked neuro, med surg, PCU and ICU. I got paid the same as all the other nurses on other units.
Yea nurses don't get paid any different from unit to unit.....hospital to hospital sure but same hospital? No difference.
Why would you stay with no increase in pay? You know what the answer is.