Please explain what a care initiation unit is

[oslogirl]

Hello all! Anyone work on a care initiation unit? What exactly is it? What are the duties of the RN on this type of unit?

Many thanks.

[koffeehoLic_RN]

Hi oslogirl!

Im not assigned on this unit but i found the explanation here:

http://ucsd.hodesiq.com/job_detail.asp?JobID=1711747&user_id=

The Care Initiation Unit is specifically focused on the needs of the patient at admission including: initiation nursing assessment (including initial wound documentation), medication reconciliation, verification of initial orders, verfication of belongings, orientation to hospitalization, and initation of the nursing care plan. Patients generally are received from the emergency department, post op anesthesia unit, or directly from home or clinic. The average length of stay of patients on this unit is approximately 2-4 hours prior to transfer to their receiving unit.

Duties of an RN would be to provide short-term, general acute care services for adult and adolescent on admission to Medicine, Trauma, Orthopedics, Neurosciences, Transplant.

I hope this helps! :)

Louise

BSN, RN, EMT-B