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RN Med Surg Nights

Palmdale, CA
SCOPE OF SERVICE:

1. Description:
The Medical Surgical Department in the hospital is a 36 bed unit located on the 2nd floor. It consists of 36 private rooms, including four isolation rooms with negative pressure capability. Two nursing stations serve the needs of all personnel, including nursing staff, physicians and any ancillary staff performing duties on the unit. Registered nurses and licensed vocational nurses are scheduled for 12 hr shifts, beginning at 7:00 am and 7:00pm. Certified nursing assistants are scheduled for 8hr shifts starting at 6:00 am, 2:00 pm and 10:00 pm and unit secretaries are scheduled at 6:30am and 3:30pm.

2. Population Served:
The Medical Surgical Department serves a diverse population of adult and geriatric patients (occasionally clinically appropriate adolescent patients are seen). Most frequent diagnoses:

• COPD
• Pnuemonia
• Morbid Obesity
• Orthopedic
• Pancreatitis
• Renal Failure
• UTI
• CHF
• Cellulitis
• Dehydration

The average length of stay on the Medical/Surgical Unit is 3.8 days.
Patient acuity levels are assigned according to hours of patient care required and recorded on the daily staffing sheets. Patients on the Med/Surg unit have an acuity score that ranges between 1 - 4.
Acuity levels are reassessed every shift by the charge nurse in collaboration with the nursing staff.

A. CARE DELIVERY MODEL:
The M/S floor operates using a Modified Team Model.
Patient acuities are assigned on a shift to shift basis by the Charge Nurse in collaboration with the licensed nurse based on hours of nursing care required. Acuity levels appropriate for the Med/Surg floor are 1-4. Assignment process- Patient assignments are made by the Charge Nurse based on the acuity level of the patient and skill level of the staff while maintaining the state mandated ratios for Med/Surg of 1:5. Assignments may be 1:4 for patients requiring Telemetry Monitoring.
Staffing is done prior to the start of each shift by the Charge Nurse. Staffing patterns are based on census requirements combined with acuity levels and mandated ratios. State mandated ratios are 1:5 for the Med/Surg floor which may be adjusted down as needed based on the patient acuity. Staffing is reevaluated every 4 hrs and adjusted according to census. See attached staffing grid.

B. CLINICAL PRACTICE PROTOCOLS AND GUIDELINES:
Major topics: Management of Acute Medical patients, Acute Surgical Patients, Chronic Respiratory Patients, Infectious Disease Patients and Cardiac Patients. In addition the Med/Surg floor provides care for the Custody population outside of the ICU including Telemetry Patients.

Primary Reference Publication used: Nursing Procedures – Lippincott Williams and Wilkins Nursing Procedures 5th Edition

C. EQUIPMENT LIST AND DESCRIPTION:
• Vital signs machines
• CPM machines
• Thermometers
• Scales
• Bladder Scanner
• Otoscopes/Opthalmoscopes
• Zoll Defibrillators
• IV pumps
• Oxygen Flow Meters
• Feeding pumps
• Sequential Compression Devices
• Suction Regulators
• Pulse Oximeters
• PCA pumps
• Computers
• Specialty beds
• BVI machines
• Copiers and Fax/Scanners
• Hoyer lifts
• Overhead trapeze
• Portable Telemetry Monitors
• Traction equipment
• Pyxis machines
• Glucose meters
• Cooling blankets

Equipment Use: Determined by manufacturer’s recommendation and user’s manual

3. Certifications / Education required for staff include:
CA RN License
AHA-BCLS
AHA-ACLS

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