What is a Rapid Admit Unit?

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I just received placement for my Senior preceptorship, in a Rapid Admit Unit. I had no clue what that was. I googled it, and got a general idea of what it's for, but I'm still unclear. What is the patient acuity level like? Are most of these patients coming from the ER, but have stabilized a little bit, and are waiting for a room? What do the nurses spend most of their time doing there? My guess would be a ton of assessments.

If someone could paint a basic picture of what it will be like to be in a Rapid Admit Unit, I would REALLY appreciate it!!

I'm in Canada but I found a fact sheet for ontario if it will help give you an idea. I'd never heard of it before.

http://www.centraleastlhin.on.ca/uploadedFiles/Home_Page/Get_Involved/Rapid_Admission_Unit.pdf

Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

I used to work in something similar in the UK but was called an admission unit and we only accepted medical patients and they came both from A&E (Emerg) and community ie GP or PCP. Patients was admitted and assessed by a doctor as well as nurses and depending on outcome would depend whether discharged, kept for 24 hours or admitted to a main medical ward. Very busy unit and in most cases very acute

I used to work in something similar in the UK but was called an admission unit and we only accepted medical patients and they came both from A&E (Emerg) and community ie GP or PCP. Patients was admitted and assessed by a doctor as well as nurses and depending on outcome would depend whether discharged kept for 24 hours or admitted to a main medical ward. Very busy unit and in most cases very acute[/quote']

Thanks for the reply! Would you mind giving me some more details? I'm curious about what a typical day might be like (I know every day is different, but just broadly), tasks you performed, etc. Were there ever patients on vents, complicated drips, or anything like that? Is there anything in particular you can think of that I should brush up on to make sure I'm more prepared?

Rapid admissions is usually a short stay area until a bed on the appropriate floor can be found to make room in ED ad well. Fast turn around..busy with getting patients in and sending them out. There will probably be a lot of report taking and giving.

Specializes in Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.
Thanks for the reply! Would you mind giving me some more details? I'm curious about what a typical day might be like (I know every day is different, but just broadly), tasks you performed, etc. Were there ever patients on vents, complicated drips, or anything like that? Is there anything in particular you can think of that I should brush up on to make sure I'm more prepared?

My experience with these units is no vents, basic drips (ie Heparin gtt might be initiated). They may have cardiac monitoring, especially if they have pts coming from ER with chest pain. If you have any interest in ER as a new grad this unit would be a great way to prepare as you will have a constant stream of admissions and d/c's just like the ER.

Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Thanks for the reply! Would you mind giving me some more details? I'm curious about what a typical day might be like (I know every day is different, but just broadly), tasks you performed, etc. Were there ever patients on vents, complicated drips, or anything like that? Is there anything in particular you can think of that I should brush up on to make sure I'm more prepared?

Agree with the others, rapid unit lots of acute but only basic things done, Venting in the UK went to ICU (intensive care unit) CPAP was initiated but quickly transferred to respiratory unit. We had cardiac monitoring, infusions often mixed on the unit and mainly antibiotics although sometimes cardiac but they was quickly moved to cardiac units for better monitoring as generally unit was too busy to monitor properly due to amount of admissions we would get

Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

You might find this helpful.......

Rapid Admission Protocol for Emergency Department Patients Reduces Boarding Time | AHRQ Innovations Exchange

They are also called CDU's or clinical decision units.....these are fast paced units with admitted patients that are admitted for observation but the hospital is full....to get these patients out of the emergency department and before they "get a bed". These can be rule out Chest pains, abd pains that are a "sure thing" while serial labs are being done. Click oin the link for several discussions about this....:)

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