new stepdown unit

nursemaa · Sep 3, 2004

I am a RN and our hospital is creating a new stepdown unit. I have concerns reguarding the staff they want to utilize for the unit. If anyone could take the time to answer a few questions I would greatly appreciate it.I have to meet with the manager of the new unit on Tuesday Sept. 7
1. How many beds does your stepdown unit have?
2. What is the nurse patient ratio?
3. What is the nursing assistant patient ratio?
4. Do you use full time unit secretarys and or monitor tech?
5. do you monitor continous drips?
6. Can you titrate drips?
7. Any other information you may have would be greatly appreciated
I have been a nurse for 16 years and I am trying to make sure that this new unit will benefit staff and patients with the best possible care that can be provided please take the time and help me
thank you
ohio rn

The definition of a stepdown unit varies from one organization to another. Ours is more of a medical tele. 30 beds, RN to patient ratio is 1:4 or 5 on days, 1:5 on afternoons, 1:6 on nights. No titration of drips, but we do run Dobutamine, Insulin and Cardizem. No monitor techs yet, the staff take turns watching the monitors. PCA ratio is 1:10 usually. Secretary on days and afternoons, none on nights. We take post-pacer insertions, post-caths, and anyone with pain above the waist. :chuckle We do BIPAP but not vents. Hospitals who do open heart usually have stepdown units that include post-CABG patients, so it probably is a little different.