Infirmary 23 hour observation

Specialties Correctional

Published

Just curious how each of your facilities handles a 23 hour observation? Less paperwork? Orders? Thanks in advance!!

Not sure what you mean by 23 hour observation. If they are in our infirmary, they are observed hourly or more. Some have 15 minute checks and some have a CO sitting outside their cell every minute.

Paperwork is the same, orders are dependant upon the condition of the patient.

Specializes in Corrections, Psych.

Basically, our 23 hour obs is nurse-initiated rather than requiring an MD order. The paperwork is different, but equally as voluminous (as is the paperwork for everything we do :/). That's really the only difference.

Thanks for the reply. Do you get orders for things such as VS frequency?

Specializes in Corrections, Psych.

We do V/S q shift automatically any time someone is in TCU. In an admission, the provider will sometimes specify that he/she wants them done q 6/8 or at intervals after giving meds. Our admission sheet has areas for all sorts of superfluous orders (e.g. T/P, fall risk assmts q DAY, et al.) which we rarely use, thank God!

Specializes in Hospice, corrections, psychiatry, rehab, LTC.

In our system, 23-hour observation allows an RN to put an inmate in the infirmary for temporary evaluation without a physician order. The nurse can handle acute situations without the formality of calling a physician. Usually this is done after hours for situations that are not medical emergencies, but they merit close observation until a provider can see them.

Thanks everyone for your replies!

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