Re: Acute Rehab vs. Med/Surg
I currently work on the short-term subacute rehab unit at a nursing home, and typically care for 15 patients by myself.
The majority of my patients are fresh postsurgical cases: laminectomies, hysterectomies, arthroplasties, kyphoplasties, limb amputations, CABGs, shunt placements, and so forth. I also have patients who are recovering from afflictions such as CVAs, MIs, cancers, fractures, chronic kidney disease, end-stage hepatic disease, uncontrolled diabetes, debility, spinal injuries, non-healing wounds, and the list goes on and on. These patients are much higher acuity than the traditional nursing home patient.
The rehab patients at my facility receive physical therapy, occupational therapy, and sometimes speech therapy. Working on this unit is hellish due to the high patient load combined with the acuity. I wish I only had 6 or 7 patients!
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