Observation Unit

Hi, observation unit RN here. also called CDU (clical decision unit). From what I know, there are two types of observation units.

1. this type stays within or close (physically) to ER. usually piece of cake. you are just waiting for test results like stress test, cip, mri, etc etc, and you don't even admit this patient. just literally baby-sitting the person, give vs, and i don't even think you give them home meds since most of them don't stay very long. this is what I like to call "true" observation unit.

2. the second type is where I work. this is called "observation" unit, but just a med-surg floor with lower acuity compared to full blown floor like telemetry, neuro, ortho, onco, pul, etc etc. It's 1:6 just like floor (unless you are in Cali of course), you do everything a floor does. The only difference I see here at my unit is that we don't do any drips (except heparin and protonix). Again, the acuity is pretty low with patients. The downside is, the pace is pretty fast. You get admissions and discharges like crazy because patients that meet observation criteria are allowed to stay upto 48hrs (or was it 72), but couple of them go over the limit anyways and they end up having inpatient orders. a lot of them can walk and self-care, but many times, you will get totals. If you have irresponsible ER, then you are most likely screwed b/c they can send some people that need to go to at least IMC to your way and end up coding or resp failure; it's gotten better here after couple of that. if this is type of the observation unit you are going into, just think of it as med surg except with slightly less acuity. I don't find much difference compared to when I worked at tele and at observation. good luck!

Most hospitals do not actually designate a separate unit for observation which is a Medicare payment status for patients that do not meet admission criteria. Observation is considered "outpatient" services and paid under Part B.

I just got hired to work in an Observation Unit. I didn't know what kind of unit it was until the nurse mgr explained it to me. The observation unit in that hospital is not attached to the ED and is in a completely different floor.