Orthopeadic Specialty Unit (OSU)

Location:

Swann Tower, 6th Floor

# Beds:

27

Unit Manager:

Robin Testerman, RN

Asst. UM:

Sherry Harper, RN

Clinical Educator:

Type of unit:

Orthopedics (bones, joints, etc.)

Typical nurse to patient ratio:

RN/LPN Team for 9 patients with C.N.A./Nurse Care Techs

Typical pt diagnosis:

Total joints, fractures, kyphoplasty, laminectomies; adult medical overflow patients

Common skills utilized:

Med/surg nursing, PCAs, epidural catheter, blood transfusions, drains, dressing changes

Most common meds / those nurses must be familiar with:

Antibiotics, anticoagulants, blood products, pain meds

Care extenders used:

C.N.A.s and Nurse Techs ~ pass meals, set up rooms, a.m. & personal care

Certification req for cert diff:

ONC (Nat’l Ortho Nurse Cert), through NAON (Nat’l Assn of Ortho Nurses)

Selling points for Unit:

Strong core staff, 12-hour shifts, self-scheduling, charge nurses, 29% of RNs are nationally certified in orthopedics

More about How we focus on Pain Management