For Nurses | Critical Care West (ICU and CCU) | Emergency Department | Endoscopy Department | Vascular Access Team | Cardiology/Telemetry (Progressive Care South) | Renal/Specialty Care Unit/Telemetry (4 West) | Medical-Surgical/Pulmonary/GI (4 South) | Orthopedics/Neurology/Vascular (5 West) | Oncology-Women's Care (6 South) | Operating Room | Peri-Anesthesia Nursing | Psychiatric Services | Radiation Oncology | Wound Healing Center
The practice of critical care medicine at Baltimore Washington Medical Center is dedicated to and defined by the needs of the critically ill patient. Critically ill patients have special needs for monitoring and life support which are provided by a team, including the physician, critical care nurse, respiratory therapists, social work, case managers, rehabilitation services, nutritionists and many others. The care is continuous and proactive in nature, assuring that the patient is managed in a safe, compassionate, and effective manner, utilizing finite resources in a fashion designed to provide a high quality of care and optimal outcome. The high quality of care we provide resulted in national recognition as one of the nation's Top 100 Hospitals for critical care. Critical care is provided in two units at BWMC.
Critical Care West (ICU and CCU) is located on the 2nd Floor of the West Building, in close proximity to the Cardiac Cath Lab, Respiratory Therapy and Cardiology. The unit consists of 24 private rooms with state-of-the-art beside monitors and a central monitoring station located within view of all patient rooms. Coronary Care focuses on the acute MI, post primary angioplasty, and other cardiac related diseases.
The key to the delivery of quality care is our staff members. One-hundred percent of our staff are ACLS certified. The ACLS training is provided in house and fully-funded by the hospital. The hospital also encourages staff to seek certification; currently 60% of the critical care RN's have their CCRN. Orientation is individualized to the needs of the new member. We provide a 14-week critical care internship for new graduates; a 9-day critical care course for experienced med/surg nurses new to critical care; and orientation with a preceptor for experienced critical care RN's. All phases of the orientation program include a critical care preceptor and are structured to meet the needs of the individual new staff member.
Dawn Baker, RN, BSN, CCRN: "BWMC is fast-paced and provides interesting cases. As a RN, I have autonomy in decision-making and patient care. The doctors listen to what we say and respect the nurse's opinion."
Daria Fitzgerald, Patient Care Technician: "I love working at BWMC because of the familiar community hospital atmosphere. Hospital-wide the staff feels like family. It's comforting to know the bonds we?ve made here will last a lifetime."
Linda Cocolin, RN, BSN: "The staff at BWMC is a close-knit group. There is good communication between the doctors and nurses. Our opinions are respected and the doctors consider us as their peers."
Lillian Lentz, RN, BSN, CCRN: "I love working at BWMC because of the friendly atmosphere, flexible schedules, and the encouragement of continuing education. CCW's staff works well as a team and are very supportive of each other."
Sue Baldivieso, RN, CCRN: "The people that work here are what makes the place. I like BWMC because it is clean and well organized. Great benefits, too! We have great team work and everyone is very supportive of one another."
