Neuro Step Down

[mse92]

I'm just curious as to what kind of patients a neuro step down would have on the floor. Obviously they are more acute then a regular neuro med Surg floor but just curious as to the acuity of patients. I'm am going to be a new graduate nurse in June and am curious to a neuro step down unit. If any experienced nurses could explain the kind of patients they take care of on the step down unit and kind of skills will be obtained when working on a neuro step down.

Thanks!

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

When I worked in the hospital, we had a few patients who we would consider "step down" patients on our neuro floor. It wasn't a separate unit because there wasn't the need census-wise for it but they were patients who needed an intermediate level of neuro-specific care. It was like patients with Guillain Barre Syndrome who needed close monitoring of the neuro and respiratory status, patients with frequent seizures, patients who had had or were at high risk to stroke, maybe some patients with acute demyelinating diseases (like ADEM or transverse myelitis) who needed IVIG, high dose steroids and/or plasma pheresis and some surgical patients that had traditionally gone to the ICU post-op but didn't fully need ICU level care. Things like that. This was peds though so you may find a different population with adults.

[mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN]

We have a separate Neuro-spine unit. It is our "sister" unit (there is a Neuro ICU that is part of the family-same COD) I have floated down there and it is not that bad. they have 4 "seizure" rooms that there is a protocol if someone has a seizure (camera, dedicated people to monitor and assess). The ortho spine patients are there too. I am on the ortho floor that has joint replacement and trauma.

Many are considered step-down but not necessarily unstable. Nice unit. It is hard to get used to all the noise.