Nursing experiences in an intensive coronary care unit.

Building We moved into a new Medical Department 2 years ago, but it was not designed to contain a Coronary Intensive Care Unit. The planning was completed 4 years earlier when Coronary Intensive Care Units were unknown in regional hospitals. Thus, yet again, a hospital building has been outdated as soon as completed. In our building it has been possible to adapt a corner of the general ward with a spare nursing station opposite a four-bed bay and two single rooms adjacent. Extra wiring has been installed to supply six electrical sockets per bed. Although workable, this arrangement entails noise and disturbance due to being part of the busy thoroughfare to the general ward. I feel strongly that a Coronary Intensive Care Unit should be separate and quiet. Nevertheless, some benefits result from being surrounded by the general ward: (a) The coronary patients fell less frightened at seeing ordinary ward activities going on around them. (b) Potentially worrying patients-such as a recovery from cardiac arrest-can convalesce in the immediately adjacent general ward and be near the resuscitation equipment.