Neurology & Gen’l Surgery

Location:

Street 1 & 2 (see below for bed count)

# Beds:

50 (total)

Unit Manager:

Andrea Sekura, RN, M. Ed.Admin., CNRN, MSRN

Asst. UM:

Bobbi Cox, RN

Type of unit:

Combined unit with four wings (over 2 floors)

• 1 wing (Street 2) ~ Surg II
  • General surgical patients, 12 patients
• 2 wings (Street 1) ~ Acute Neuro/Surgical (ANS)
  • Neurology & neuro-surgical + general surgical patients → 2 wings = 27 beds total
• 1 wing (Street 1) ~ Comprehensive Neuro / Surg (CNS)
  • stepdown level + Stroke Unit with 11 beds neurology & neuro-surgical + general surgical patients

Typical nurse to patient ratio:

Surg II: 1:4 ANS: RN, LPN, C.N.A. team : 8 patients CNS: 1:3

Typical pt diagnosis:

ANS ~ neurology and neuro-surgery patients (post lumbar laminectomies, anterior & posterior cervical fusions, strokes, neuro-medicine pathology, seizures,) General Surgery ~ all post-op diagnosis’ CNS ~ all the above, requiring higher, step-down level of care

Common skills utilized:

Chest tubes, Alaris PCA pumps

Most common meds / those nurses must be familiar with:

Valium, Lopressor, Labetelol, Morphine, Demerol, Dilaudid, Heparin, Potassium, Insulin

Care extenders used:

CNAs & Nurse Techs ~ assist with patient’s personal care (baths, feeding, answer lights)

Selling points for Unit:

Great teamwork. Excellent core staff. ONLY Certified JCAHO Stroke Center in tri-county area (Polk/Hardee/Highlands). We utilize Get With the Guidelines for Stroke (American Heart Association data tool). Staff have unit-level shared governance team, where many decisions are made.

More about our Stroke Center & How we're doing!

Go to Stroke Center