Introduction
In the ICU, a diverse team of healthcare professionals works together to provide comprehensive care for your loved one. This guide will help you understand the different roles and responsibilities of each team member.
Think of your loved one’s ICU stay as a journey with many helpers along the way.
What You Should Know
- Your relative’s ability to recognize and remember people may be impaired.
- It’s okay to remind the staff to introduce themselves each time they come into the room.
- Team members may change due to work schedules.
- You can ask how long each person will be working with you and your relative
- Writing down information is your best friend: names of helpful team members, people to thank, questions, etc.. see our full guide to keeping an ICU Journal
Typical Working Schedules
Attending Physicians
They often work about a week at a time (although they go home to sleep each day). The work is intense, and they rotate so that your loved one and family can receive care from fresh hearts and minds.
Nurses
Typically work 12 hour shifts. Some nurses will work a few days or nights in a row and others work less or more frequently. Nurses also rotate which patients they work with within a given unit. You may not have the same nurse each day or night.
Ancillary services (occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech therapists)
Typically work daylight hours (ex: 7-3:30 or 8-4:30). You can ask your nurse to ask if these individuals will be working with your relative.
Who’s Who on the Care Team
The doctors and advanced providers in the ICU work together to manage your loved one’s care.
What You Need to Know
- You’ll see the team twice daily, usually in the morning and evening.
- They communicate with and review notes from the full care team
- They respond quickly to emergencies.
How to Spot a Doctor:
- Many wear white lab coats
- Some wear green scrubs or regular clothes
Team Members
Attending/Intensivist
The lead doctor, fully trained and in charge of the team
Fellow
A doctor getting extra training in ICU care
Resident
A doctor still in training
Intern
A new doctor in their first year after medical school
Medical Student
Still in medical school, learning from the team
Advanced Practice Providers
Nurse practitioners and physician assistants work closely with doctors to provide care.
If you don’t understand something, always feel free to ask for an explanation. Providers are there to help.
Remember
- Doctors have different levels of experience
- They may be called by their specialty (e.g., heart doctor, lung doctor)
- It’s okay to ask about anyone’s role if you’re unsure
These are doctors that specialize in areas like kidneys, hearts, brain, cancer, etc.
These doctors are important because they are the experts in their specific organ. They help the critical care doctors with specific parts of your loved one’s care. These are often referred to as consulting teams. It can get tricky to remember who all is involved in your loved one’s care, feel free to ask your nurse for a refresher.
Be sure to check the front of the coat, which often tells you the doctor’s name and their specialty
Your nursing team will be your most frequent and helpful contact point. Building relationships and communicating with the team is very important to the healing of your loved one and yourself.
Connect With Your Nursing Team
- Introduce yourself
- As comfortable, offer personal details about the patient so they get to know who they’re caring for
- Review the whiteboard and ask for it to be updated as needed
- Ask questions and communicate as often as needed
The Team
Lead Nurses (Charge Nurses)
- Coordinate overall nursing care for the unit
- Serve as a resource for other nurses
- Can help with any concerns or questions
Primary/Bedside Nurses
- Your main point of contact
- Specially trained in critical care
- Present at the bedside 24/7
- Carry out doctors’ orders
- Usually care for only 1-2 patients at a time
- Will introduce themselves to you
- May have a CCRN certification (look for this on their badge)
- CCRN means they have extra training in critical care
Care Technicians (Care Techs)
- Work closely with nurses
- Help with daily care tasks such as:
- Taking vital signs
- Assisting with toileting
- Helping patients walk (if able)
- Giving baths
- Checking blood sugar levels
Remember
Write down the names of your loved one’s nurses each shift. This can help you keep track of who’s caring for your family member.
Guide to Keeping a Care Journal
How Your Team Stays on the Same Page
With everything happening in the ICU, you may be wondering how all of these healthcare providers communicate with one another:
- Rounds: The healthcare team holds bedside “rounds” or meetings to discuss patient care and progress. They like when families are in the room to participate in these sessions. This is a good time to ask any questions you may have.
- Progress notes: As different care providers visit patients, they make progress notes in the computer, which other members of the healthcare team can read.
- Real-time communication: At any time, nurses can page or call doctors with questions, concerns or updates on patients.
Read More About How Your Care Team Communicates →
Use our notes tool to track questions when you think of them and share the list with your care team.
See a full list of Other Important ICU Team Members →
