When six Medical Intensive Care step down beds were added to the unit, Linda developed nursing skills which would prepare her for the next step in her nursing career. After five years at UHCMC, Linda took a position at Southwest General Health Center, a community hospital serving the Greater Cleveland area. There she took a position in the Medical Critical Care unit where she cared for higher acuity patients including acute Myocardial Infarction (MI), Stroke (CVA), Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA), and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Within the first two weeks, Linda experienced caring for a stroke patient whose return to normal function occurred as a result of following a relatively new standard of care protocol. Linda acquired a vast education of protocols and procedures caring for patients on respiratory support such as ventilators, BIPAP, and CPAP, as well as hemodynamic support therapies and intravenous medications.