what's a 23 hour observation unit is like?

Hi can someone please tell me what a 23 hour observation unit is like ? Is it the same thing as the pacu or do you go to the floor ? I am having surgery next week and will stay in the 23 hour unit and would just like to know .

[FancypantsRN]

In any place I have worked, it is usually a chest pain r/o mi floor. Usually walky/talky pts who are being observed and do not meet the requirements for full admission (of past 24 hours).

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

ours is just that, an observation unit. Ours is staffed by critical care nurses. The expectation is that you have already been recovered but need to be watched for several hours, but not really admitted. If you DO need admisision it can be done expeditiously.

[ZippyGBR, BSN, RN]

in the surgical setting it's what we in the Uk would call 'level 1' beds i.e. increased staffing both ratios and in terms of skills / education (i.e. critical care nurses) and monitoring -

All the above and to add it can be up to 72 hours now and called out patient care. This also is used to prevent another re-hospitalization used as a negative statistic against the hospital. Hospitals cannot bill for a diagnosis r/t previous admission if that re-hospitalization is within 30 days. There is expected to be a significant increase in 23 - 72 hour observation/ out patient care.

[CarolinaGirl'99]

I work in a short stay/obs. unit. It is also called clinical decision unit. We usually get CP r/o MI, pre and post minor sx, and non-critical diagnosis pts. from the ED that are waiting on a Med/ Surg bed. Very fast paced and high turn around. Good luck with your sx.

A pt may have a problem but does not fit the Medicare or the insurance provider's parameters for admission. Medicare/insurance provider will pay for a period of hours for acute hospitalization--normally 24 hrs. To continue care, the pt must meet certain parameters for admission otherwise the pt is discharged.

[LouisVRN, RN]

Hmm, I wish my hospital had a unit like that, sounds ideal for what i like.

A pt may have a problem but does not fit the Medicare or the insurance provider's parameters for admission. Medicare/insurance provider will pay for a period of hours for acute hospitalization--normally 24 hrs. To continue care, the pt must meet certain parameters for admission otherwise the pt is discharged.

Thank all for the info, sound like I can forget about sleeping:yawn: in in observation unless i end up in a room .