Welcome to our website

Our Nursing is based on the MHH mission statement and the nursing concept of Hannover Medical School. It is planned, carried out and evaluated in a patient-oriented manner, taking into account the psychosocial situation.

Our ward has 15 modern, well-equipped patient beds, divided into two triple and two twin rooms, as well as five single rooms. The majority of these beds are available to the Clinical Department of Neurosurgery, with a smaller proportion of beds available to the Clinical Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine. The latter can be occupied by various specialist departments that do not have a specialist intensive care unit, e.g. the Clinical Department of Urology, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Otorhinolaryngology, Neurology and Neuroradiology. However, other departments such as cardiac, thoracic, transplant and vascular surgery, trauma surgery, visceral and transplant surgery and internal medicine can also use the beds if required and if capacity is available.

Our nursing team consists of full-time and part-time registered nurses, some of whom have two years of specialist training in intensive care and anesthesia care. Participation in internal and external training courses is an integral part of our Human Resources.

The team also includes supply assistants who are responsible for ordering all types of supplies and ensure that the units and patient rooms are stocked with the necessary materials.

We guarantee continuous care by working in a three-shift system in order to restore the well-being and health of our patients through interdisciplinary cooperation.

The focus of our nursing work is on the post-operative monitoring and care of patients who require intensive treatment after major surgical procedures and in the case of life-threatening illnesses and injuries. Patients are also treated for whom, due to certain pre-existing conditions, even minor operations and interventions are associated with an increased risk and require special monitoring. This includes the clinical and instrumental monitoring of vital functions, e.g. during invasive and non-invasive ventilation and intensive respiratory therapy measures, as well as the patient-oriented planning, implementation, documentation and evaluation of nursing measures. Qualified staff can also offer elements of basal stimulation, the Bobath concept and kinaesthetics on an individual basis. As soon as the patient's vital situation allows, existing resources are encouraged as far as possible. Early mobilization and activating Nursing are just as much a matter of course for us as the integration of relatives into our everyday nursing care.

In order to guarantee patients the best possible care, we attach great importance to close collaboration and cooperation with all professional groups involved in the treatment process. We are involved in the practical training of nurses and participants in the advanced training course for anaesthesia and intensive care at Hannover Medical School. Mentors and practical instructors with additional educational qualifications ensure a high standard here.

Common clinical pictures:

• Diseases of the spine and spinal cord
• Intracerebral haemorrhage (ICB)
• Lung failure (ALI, ARDS)
• Polytrauma
• Craniocerebral trauma
• Severe neuromuscular disorders
• sepsis
• Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAB)
• Tumor diseases of the central nervous system
• Preparation for organ donation

The quality of Nursing is achieved and guaranteed by, among other things

• Computerized patient data management system
• specialist training
• Structured induction
• personnel development concept
• Nursing standards and expert standards
• Participation in internal and external training courses
• Implementation of the care process

Your relative is in our intensive care unit. This is probably a very worrying situation for you.

We would like to provide you with the following information to help you better understand the situation your relative is in.

For some patients, breathing must be supported by a ventilator. This device is connected to the patient via tubes. Air flows in and out via the breathing tube, which is inserted into the windpipe through the mouth or nose. Inserting the tube is called intubation, removing it is called extubation. If the patient needs the help of the ventilator for a longer period of time, a tracheotomy may be performed. As long as the tube is in place, the patient cannot speak, drink or eat. Depending on the patient's situation and the medication used, you may find your relative in an artificial deep sleep, dazed or awake. The awake patient has the opportunity to express themselves through signs and gestures or in response to specific questions. When the tube is removed and the patient is sufficiently awake, they can speak again.

The patient is connected to monitors for constant monitoring of heart function, blood pressure, body temperature, blood oxygen levels and other important bodily functions. The data is recorded via sensors (electrodes) attached to the body and connected to the monitoring devices via cables. The measured values can be read off in the form of curves or figures on the corresponding screens. Almost all devices in the intensive care unit react to even the smallest changes with audible and visible signals. This does not usually mean acute danger. However, the alarms draw our attention to a particular situation and help us to act in good time in an emergency.

Thin plastic tubes (venous catheters) inserted into a blood vessel ensure the necessary supply of medication, fluids and nutrients. As long as the patient is unable to eat and drink normally, nutrition is provided either via a tube inserted through the nose into the stomach (gastric tube) or via the venous catheter. Body fluids, such as gastric juice or urine, are drained through a gastric tube or bladder catheter. After an operation, tubes(drains) are sometimes placed in the wound area to drain secretions and blood so that wound healing is not impaired. These fluids are collected in collection bags or bottles attached to the edge of the bed. Special mattresses on the patient beds are designed to prevent the development of pressure sores (decubiti). Sometimes elaborate special beds are also used for special positioning.

Sometimes a patient has to be isolated because regular bacteriological tests reveal bacteria that are resistant to a large number of antibiotics, i.e. against which these antibiotics are no longer effective. These bacteria are therefore referred to as multi-resistant. If multi-resistant bacteria are detected in patients, it may be necessary to take special hygiene measures to prevent the transmission of these bacteria to other patients. A sign on the room door will inform you of this and the nursing staff will help you to behave appropriately.

We ask you to disinfect your hands regularly. You will find disinfectant dispensers in the visitors' room and in front of each patient room.

Our intensive care unit has regulated work processes. We try to maintain the day-night rhythm for the patient. Doctors examine the patient, determine the therapy and carry out the necessary treatments. They are supported by the nursing staff, who monitor the patient, carry out certain therapeutic measures and record the course of treatment. The nursing staff also support the patient with personal hygiene, mobilization and food intake. Various tasks are also carried out alternately by nursing staff and physicians. However, this routine can be interrupted by acute events. This then requires a change in the work routine and can temporarily give the impression of restlessness.

If necessary, please bring the patient's glasses, dentures or hearing aids with you. You are also welcome to bring your relative hygiene items such as a razor, toothbrush, deodorant or skin lotion. Other personal items and food only after consultation with the nursing staff.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call us. For data protection reasons, we are only allowed to provide information to direct relatives. We would ask you to coordinate within the family so that only one person calls and asks for information and then passes it on.

We will inform you immediately of any serious changes in your relative's condition.

• You enter the MHH through the main entrance (building K6) and walk through the shopping street to elevator node_B.
• There you take the passenger elevator to floor 4.

This will take you directly to our front door.


Dear visitors,

It is important for our patients to be visited by people close to them, so you are very welcome. We would like to give you some important information below.

Please register via the intercom system. Depending on the situation, we will accompany you directly to your relatives or ask you to come to our visitors' room for a short time. We ask for your understanding if you need to be patient in order to visit your relative. There may be some waiting time due to the time-consuming care of patients.

Many nursing and medical procedures are carried out on patients, especially in the mornings. We would therefore ask you to visit your relative between 14:30 and 19:30 if possible, as we try to coordinate our work processes accordingly. Exceptions can only be made after consultation and in certain situations.

Personal contact with the patient through your visits is an important part of recovery. Visits are determined by the patient's ability to cope with stress and their treatment situation. On the day of the operation, the anesthesia may last into the evening, so please arrange your visit with us.

In the interests of your relative and other patients, we ask you to make arrangements within the family and ensure that no more than two relatives visit at the same time.

The Visiting children and adolescents in an intensive care unit is problematic. Please make sure you discuss their visit with us in advance!

Please do not leave any personal belongings unattended, use the lockable cupboards in the visitors' waiting room and always take your valuables with you to the ward.

For reasons of hygiene, flowers and plants are not permitted in the intensive care unit.


Information about your relatives

Please understand that, for legal reasons, our nursing staff may only provide information about general and nursing aspects. The contact person for all questions about your relative's state of health is the attending physician.

You can obtain information about your relative's state of health and treatment from the ward physicians during visiting hours, provided they are not involved in acute patient treatment.

In order to protect the personal sphere of the patient, we will only provide information by telephone to a person known to us. Unfortunately, other callers cannot receive any information. Please inform each other.