What's a short stay unit?

soleilRN · Oct 14, 2004

I currently work in a children's short stay unit. All it is, is a 23-hour observation type of unit. This is used for post-op's, such as tonsillectomies and the like. The patients are either discharged after they 23 hours or sooner, or are transferred to another unit. :) I hope this helps.

Fiona59 · Oct 15, 2004

Day surgery unit in Acute Care.

In Continuing Care/Sub-Acute, less than 30 days.

mavnurse · Oct 15, 2004

Thanks!!!:balloons:

missnurse01, MSN, RN · Oct 15, 2004

hi,

i worked on a tele floor years ago that had 3-4 beds that were 23 hour obs beds/short stay...it mainly has to do with billing. 23 hour beds aren't considered exactly inpt so they are billed differently and if they have to stay longer they go to a reg room. in this situation they admitted c/p pts who the docs weren't completely sure they needed to be inpts, but on the other hand didn't want to let them go home. so they would go to the obs unit and have the rest of their cardiac enzymes, ekgs, etc done and they would know before the 23 hours was up whether or not they would admit them...hope this helps too.

Loribabble · Oct 15, 2004

Ours is 7 beds plus 3 procedure beds...

During the day we are responsible for pre and post procedure care of aniograms, cerebral and body angios, WADA's, fistula grams, the pain center (they still intra-thecal steroid injections -I think); liver, kidney and lung bx and vericose vein ablation.

We also take low acutity med-surg pts for short stays.... like cellulitis, I and D, getting out late day surgeries - usually "simple" stuff like that. Technically was are only to take those who can physically get up an walk out themselves if there was a fire or other emergency.

It can be pretty busy with the high turnover and if something goes bad esp at night it can be REALLY ugly as we have only 2 RN's on floor from 11-7 - but becuase we have GREAT ratios (usually only 3-4:1) and the low acuity we can nip things in the bud before it gets out of hand. Also the resource nurses and supervisors all know that if we call for help that we are priority.

It is a GREAT job - I am really blessed. There is a lot of learning cause we never know what will come down the pike next and I actually get to spend time with my pts. Plus - I am working on my BSN so I can get a lot of studying done too.

mavnurse · Oct 15, 2004

I'm applying for a patient tech / extern job in November that is either in med/surg or short stay. Now that I've read this I'm not sure what a short stay tech would do...

soleilRN · Oct 16, 2004

A patient tech is like a nurse's aide or the like, am I right in thinking this? On our unit, they check in patients, get vital signs, pass trays, get diet orders, and help with a variety of other tasks.:)

mavnurse · Oct 16, 2004

You're right, a tech is like a nurse's aide. I know what the job is like on most units, but for short stay...I guess the job is the same? (Doing I+O, turning, vitals, etc.)

soleilRN · Oct 16, 2004

You got it sister! :) It is basically the same thing! You should go for it.... Good Luck!!