clincal decision unit

I'd be interested in hearing how someone likes it, as well. Our ED is expanding ... and will now include a CDU. The ER staff will be required to rotate between the various levels including the CDU. Lots of the nurses are throwing fits because they purposely left floor nursing, and feel like it's a step "backwards" (for them, I know that's not how you floor nurses feel ...)

What is a clinical decision unit?

Where I am looking to apply, it is a 23 hour observation unit attached to the ED... they take patients there that they are not sure if the need to be admitted or not...

Our docs are calling it the "heck if we know what's wrong ... lets make sure to CYA and watch em for a couple extra hours"

Our case managers are drilling into us and the docs that it is for 23 hours OR LESS!!! OR ELSE!!!!

i floated down to my hospital's CDU once. they use it for both people who will be d/c'd (r/o MI but needs one more set of enzymes) and ppl who will eventually be admitted but no bed avail. yet. in my experience it was nothing like my floor. the pt's were not as sick or busy as the other pt's in the ed, but you didn't have all the shite we contend with on the floor to deal with either. it was basically a babysitting gig. i would think it would get boring after awhile if you were doing just that but that it could be a nice break from the pace of the ed if you were just rotating through once in awhile... imho.