I might cut the ICU nurse some slack. Medical professionals have to deal with heart breaking situations. Taking care of a chid who is dying or performing an autopsy must be incredibly difficult. The coping mechanisms they use makes it easier for anyone who is a caring human being.
Funny, but that's almost word for word, the excuse she gave me.
While she was on all counts, a good nurse- I still think it's a bad idea to refer to people in less than human terms, or to even let yourself start to think of them as less than human.