Home Page

Our Areas:

The 26-bed general Intensive Care Unit/Critical Care has over 1750 admissions per annum and employs almost 200 staff. The Critical Care Unit comprises of Pencarrow; a 10-bed neuro-surgical trauma unit and Penrose, a 16-bed general critical care unit.

The critical care environment is a constantly changing field with emerging technologies and therapies to aid patient recovery through the onslaught of often life-threatening illness. Nurses need to ensure they develop and maintain competence in practice to meet the challenges presented.

Why work for us?

Nursing staff new to General and Neuro ICU will undergo the Critical Care Induction Programme; a six day course of study designed to ensure that you have the knowledge and understanding to safely practice within ICU.

You will be expected to complete the National Competency Framework for Adult Critical Care Nurse Step 1 competencies within the first year.

Following the completion of Step 1, nursing staff will be encourage to undertake a 60 credit award in Critical Care nursing. This award consists of 3 modules run in partnership with Plymouth University. This award is validated and transferable and utilises Steps 2 and 3 national competencies, which will provide the appropriate underpinning knowledge and understanding to inform practice.

General Critical Care also has an established advanced critical care practitioner training programme in place for those wishing to advance their career down this route.