Health South Rehab Hospital?

barefootlady, ADN, RN · Oct 2, 2005

There are 2 here in WV, seems like turn over is low. No idea of patient ratio or duties but assume it would be like working on a regular rehab unit.

suehp · Oct 3, 2005

I am going to work in a healthsouth hospital in a few weeks in Florida. I have been told the nurse patient ratio is about 1-8 in the day and 1-15 at night.

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · Oct 3, 2005

I have a friend who worked at the one in Tucson. She said it was just nuts, the amount of work was overwhelming. She is a semi-professional athlete, and has actually been featured in Muscle and Fitness magazine, and she had to struggle to keep up. However, remember that each facility is different depending on the mgmt.

Mulan · Oct 3, 2005

Thanks for the replies.

Sapphy, BSN, RN · Oct 3, 2005

I work at Healthsouth in Erie, PA. It is a freestanding inpatient rehab facility. I LOVE my job for the most part. The work is hard but I have learned ALOT. The pay was better than at the local hospitals. As a GN I started at 19.25 an hour with a $3 an hour shift differential for working second shift. As an RN on second shift my duties are not much different than that of the LPN's... I am given a patient assignment and am responsible for their care. Other things I might have to do are redline charts and cosign admissions for the LPN's.. I also get to be responsible for any PICC lines on the floor... (I am the fastest PICC line dressing changer in the east now lol)

On the 7-3:30 shift, RN's usually do one of two things. They either are responsible for assessments on all the patients (Healthsouth policy is that an assessment is done by an RN every 24 hours) or they do Admissions.

The care is a little different than most LTC places.... I usually have my patients anywhere from a week to 3-4 months depending on the level of injury. You learn a lot about patient transfers and bowel and bladder function. It is much more lowkey than acute care for the the most part. We have had our share of patients going bad but generally this was due to them coming to us well before they were ready to be released from Acute care.

Yes, sometimes we are understaffed but we all pull together and work a little harder. I have definitely improved my assessment skills and while I do not see myself as staying there forever, for now I am right where I am supposed to be.

As far as Patient ratios go... On day shift and night (3rd) shift there is usually one LPN to 12-18 patients.... with an RN doing assessments and one behind the desk as charge. On second shift 3-11:30 we usuall have between 8 and 12 patients. I am not sure why the descrepancy with 2nd shift ....I think it is that all the care (showers and such are done on that shift.) We also always have on first and second shift at least 3 aides....Night shift usually has one or two aides.

Mulan · Oct 3, 2005

Thanks.

Everyone's input has been helpful.

Haunted · Oct 3, 2005

I have been working at the Tustin facility thru registry for over 8 years. I am an RN and have seen very little turn over. The upstairs unit is basically CVA, brain injury etc. The CNA's are wonderful and the charting is pretty simple.

The MD's are also very supportive and involve the nusring staff in conference and discharge planning.

The first floor unit is mainly ortho and the meds are usually for pain. The nurse manager, Liz is one of the very best I have ever worked with. The unit secretary, Sandy is a doll and overall it is a happy, positive place to work.

The parking is very convenient, the facility itself is sorta old and the cafeteria is limited but occasionally someone will go out for lunch and group order. I guess every Healthsouth facility is different.

I had a terrible experience working at a Healthsouth surgery center and will never go back. It is in Huntington Beach and the entire shift was a NIGHTMARE that remains a sore spot in my psyche! The charge nurse was overwhelmed, equipment was faulty, the staffers were extremely disgruntled and patient safety was basically ignored. I observed post op patients with side rails down, unsupervised, monitors not attached, non sterile procedures and surgeons flinging sharps, laps, etc. literally over their shoulders during procedures, narrowly missing me, the circulating nurse!

I was denied a break and wrote the entire facility up for the things I observed, and will never, ever go back there. I am sure that was just a poor example.

Mulan · Oct 3, 2005

The local facility has ads for immediate openings both hospital and in the surgery center (FT,PT, and PRN) so it may not be one of the better facilities.