Are operating rooms and ICU's loud like they are in the movies?

Operating theatres are pretty quiet from the beeping perspective. Every operation I've attended the surgeon has a CD playing or the radio on. There is generally chatty conversation between the nurses and I find it leads to a sense of calm within the team.

ICUs are quieter than a normal ward as there is there are no patients talking however, a lot of the machines do beep a LOT and several can go off at once. They are quite musical though and you sort of get used to them (as staff). I can imagine the beepy noises and the numerous machines are frankly terrifying to visitors though, It doesnt usually mean anything serious, just helpful beepy reminders...

Nah, most of the noise seems to come from people walking around outside the rooms, when they're moving something heavy.

The machines in the operating room might be somewhat annoying with the beeping, but other stuff going on can distract you from that. Besides, soon you're "out" and then waking up in the recovery room before you know it.

It might be different at other hospitals, but the ones I've been in are pretty quiet .....and one even had decent food! lol

I stayed in the hospital for two months including the ICU. Often times the noises on the machines can be turned off but the pulse oximeter is definitely the worst and can be quite loud/annoying. A lot of the noise in rooms with come from people talking, drawers opening, people being moved and therapeutic devices. Rooms can also become loud when physical and occupational therapy take place because it is often times painful.

They can be muted, but yes, there are all those alarms, beeps, ventilators and so forth. They monitor heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen levels, inter-cranial pressure, temperature and so much more. In a regular patient room (like after you've had a baby) there aren't all those machines.