Welcome to the ICU Environment
Welcome to the ICU. The patient-to-nurse ratio is 1-to-1. Nurses monitor patients and administer treatment. Family members may assist in care.
Visitor Advisory Notice
Overnight accommodations are available when proximity is required due to rapidly changing patient conditions.
Environmental Expectations
Mechanical systems operate continuously. Expect persistent beeps, alarms, and ventilator noise, with intermittent escalations during adverse events.
Authorized Activities in Patient Rooms
Quiet activities are permitted. Materials must be non-disruptive and compatible with low-light conditions. Activities must not interfere with monitoring equipment or patient care.
Patient Room Conduct Standards
Access is permitted for spouses and immediate family. Hours are not restricted.
Visitors’ Daily Weight
After two weeks of visitation, assess body weight. Unintentional loss may be due to irregular eating patterns and sustained attention to patient care. Meals may have been skipped, with intake consisting of potato soup for lunch or a single fried egg for dinner.
You may notice clothing fits differently. Knitters are advised to monitor personal health alongside that of the patient.
Live Plants or Flowers
ICU knitters may neglect even the most beautiful orchids or succulents. Most knitters put everything into keeping the patient alive, with no energy left for droopy leaves in a ceramic pot.
Equipment and Materials Policy
Be cautious with equipment. Use only your #2 sock knitting needles, and beware of other needles in the room like those used for blood draws, insulin, antibiotics, intravenous nutrition, catheters, pain relief, contrast dyes, and filters.
Adverse Event Protocol
Errors may occur in both procedural and informal contexts. In knitting, a dropped stitch or missed cable can be easily fixed.
Of more consequence are clinical errors, including surgical complications, medication discrepancies, and diagnostic inaccuracies. These events require prompt attention to limit further harm.
Fluid Restriction
Fluids are not restricted in this room. Drink as much as possible. Hospital knitters often choose complex patterns like intarsia or colorwork. A side effect is that the knitter’s brain is distracted from self-care. Keep a water bottle, or visit the cafeteria for hot water and cheap, flavorless tea. Avoid comparing hospital tea with your home stash of Earl Grey, cinnamon, and mint. If you are lucky, you will enjoy this comfort again in about twelve weeks, while knitting in your own home.
Hand Hygiene
Use an antibacterial hand cleanser regularly. You can’t always knit, and you need your hands to aid healing. When the patient is intubated and can’t respond, you will want to hold his hand. When he is sleepy from medications, you will want to stroke his forehead. When he is in pain from the latest procedure, you will want to offer him ice chips and apply moisturizer to his lips. You will want to rub slow circles on his back, trace your thumb along his knuckles, smooth body cream on his feet, dip his toothbrush in water, tack family pictures to the corkboard, and take notes during rounds.
Continued Care
Continue knitting for your own ease. Progress happens row by row. As with medicine adjust expectations based on gains, and remember your work is not finished when it comes off the needles. Handle it gently and carefully, and it will be with you for many years.
Nancy Jorgensen is a Wisconsin writer, educator, and musician. She is the mother of a high school English teacher and the 2016 Olympic gold medalist in women's triathlon. Her essays appear in HuffPost, Business Insider, Next Avenue, The Offing, River Teeth, Wisconsin Public Radio, and elsewhere. Her most recent book is a middle-grade sports biography, “Gwen Jorgensen: USA’s First Olympic Gold Medal Triathlete” (Meyer & Meyer). Find out more at NancyJorgensen.weebly.com