discharge/admit nurse

RN403, BSN, RN · Nov 9, 2014

Yes, some facilities do.

applewhitern, BSN, RN · Nov 9, 2014

Yes, lots of hospitals do. However, from my experience, it is usually a day-shift job only, from like 8am to 4pm, so if the admits/discharges aren't done during that time-frame, it only helps the day nurses. I have actually had this position myself. I didn't really care for it.

RNperdiem, RN · Nov 9, 2014

When my son was in the hospital, the peds department did have an admission/discharge nurse. In a floor with really high turnover, I'm sure it is a good thing. I have not seen it anywhere else.

noyesno, MSN, APRN, NP · Nov 9, 2014

We had it but it wasn't that great. This nurse was just bothering us with tons of questions about the patients. Rather be left alone.

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Nov 9, 2014

The units in my hospital have admission nurses that work 1100-1900. They primarily do admissions, but will help with discharges when things are crazy.

sallyrnrrt, ADN, RN · Nov 9, 2014

several LTC SNF I have worked at had an admissions nurse, she only came in when there was to be an admission , and covered day and early eve shift......seldom had admission after 8-9p

icuRNmaggie, BSN, RN · Nov 9, 2014

I have seen this tried but it wasn't very effective as the admissions nurse would do only what she felt like doing, which was doing admissions for her friends, and she left early if admissions were coming one after another. We also had an NP as the admissions nurse but she took two hours per patient and freaked out if she had two patients in an hour, so it fell by the way. They administrators still kept the increased ratios even after they eliminated the admissions nurse.

If your unit decides to implement this role, it has to be very very structured in regard to who does what and I would strongly advise you to ensure that they do not raise your ratios.

ambitiousblonde · Nov 10, 2014

Thanks everyone! I can see where this would need to be very structured, as stated. I'm just trying to see if there is possibly a better way at keeping pts and staff happy. With patient satisfaction taking a front seat to almost everything in mgmt/adm eyes (which it totally shouldn't), this could possibly be a way to get those out sooner who like to stand in the doorways tapping their feet...

I just get to a point where I feel like I'm being pressured and pushed to the max, knowing there is more important things to do at that moment with other pts, not to mention making sure ALL my core measure pts have their meds adm on time!

I think a day position would be all it would take. And maybe not 7 days a week, just our busiest days M W F.

I was just curious if there had been any positive outcomes at another facility. Thank you for your input :)

Dranger · Nov 10, 2014

We did....but of course they cut them along with our unit secretaries.....

Farawyn · Nov 10, 2014

I used to do this, especially when I worked 3-11. The Nurse Supervisor would float me to the floors that were being "hit" and I would get in there. Sometimes I would float all the med surg floors. Some nights I would float to Tele and take in all the post caths. I had a great US on that floor and I would troubleshoot with the Heparin and the groin checks and getting the actual admission in, she would pick up the orders and I would sign off, give 8pm or 10pm meds for that patient, so when I handed the patient to the nurse at 11 he/she was taken care of. Or if the ED had a lot of people waiting to get to the floors they would utilize me. As a "floor nurse" the floors were more apt to take the patient if I was on the other end of the line.

Of course, they did away with all this: Money Money Money.

But it was a big help, while it lasted.

RainMom · Nov 10, 2014

We just added Adm/DC nurses this past year who usually cover from 0700 to 2100 during the week, until noon on weekends. I've heard nothing but good about the process although I work nights. They make discharges priority & pt scores have been much higher since.