As part of early preparations for the opening of the Jim Pattison Acute Care Tower, a soft launch of the future Cardiac Intensive Care Unit is coming to Royal Columbian Hospital this fall.
Photo: Julie Boyer, a nurse educator, checks a patient’s medication on the existing Cardiac Surgical Intensive Care Unit at Royal Columbian Hospital.
In preparation for the opening of the first Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU) within Fraser Health in 2025, a four-bed cohort of current level two cardiac inpatients will be located on 2N at Royal Columbian Hospital. This early launch will allow the cardiac team to prepare for the expanded services available in the new acute care tower when it opens in late 2025.
The entire fourth floor of the new tower will be dedicated to adult critical care patients, significantly increasing bed capacity from 40 to 84 beds.
“The patients who will be admitted to the new CICU will be those requiring advanced cardiac care who are unstable or who a have high risk of instability due to cardiac disease or anticipated post-procedural complications," says Erin Mellios, clinical operations manager. “The patients will require close monitoring, frequent assessments, advanced therapies and urgent/emergent interventions. We will have cutting-edge equipment and highly trained staff who can provide an advanced level of care for these patients.”
Mellios is recruiting high acuity-trained registered nurses passionate about cardiac and critical care to join her team this fall. The first cohort of staff will undergo advanced training in preparation for the cohort’s opening in late fall 2024. The early transition of level two cardiac medical patients into the four-bed space will enable the team to develop their skills and refine processes before moving to the new acute care tower and opening the larger unit.
“Our team has a common goal of providing the best care possible, so it’s exciting to move forward with opening this unit,” says Erin. “This will be a great place for patients and staff.”
Contact RCHRedevelopment@fraserhealth.ca if you are interested in learning more about the opportunities available for RNs on this unit.
To find your next opportunity, visit our Careers page.
