Medical Surgical/Intensive Care Unit
Potomac Valley Hospital Nursing Med Surgical/Intensive Care Unit
At Potomac Valley Hospital we believe that the process of nursing is an
organized, systematic process of identifying the patient's problems and
health care needs, creating a planning process to solve them, initiating
and implementing it, and evaluating the plan's effectiveness.
Nursing care is delivered via a nursing team that is comprised of registered
nurses, licensed practical nurses, nursing assistants, unit secretaries,
surgical technicians, an operating room aid and nursing technicians.
Nursing is seen as an interactive caring process between staff, the patient,
the patient’s significant other and the health care team. It is
impossible for one profession to posses all the knowledge, skills, and
resources to meet the total health care needs of the patient. The delivery
of patient care is therefore multi-professional, cooperative and completed
through collaboration of the various professionals and departments. The
multi-collaboration patient focused approach to patient care promotes
clinical effectiveness and positive patient outcomes. It is aimed at assisting
patients to return to optimal health and independence within the limitations
of their illness.
Here, nursing care is a dynamic process starting with the patient's entry
into the health care system. Crucial to the delivery of the highest nursing
care, the nursing staff will complete a detailed nursing history, collect
information concerning the present illness, a past medical history, presence
of allergies, vital signs, assessment of pain, spiritual need concerns,
a fall risk assessment, current medications, and body system assessments.
Educational needs will be identified, referrals completed, and a Multi-disciplinary
Plan of Care developed. The Multi-disciplinary Plan of Care identifies
the patient problems, goals or expected outcomes from care, intervention/actions
to be initiated to meet the goals, and the disciplines involved in the
care. Nursing has a significant contribution to quality patient care and
acknowledges our dependence to the collective commitment and expertise
of the multi-disciplinary team.
The nursing department is committed to the delivery of patient centered
care which focuses on the individual patient needs and delivery of holistic,
comprehensive care. Through commitment to providing educational opportunities
based on an assessment of nursing educational needs, continuous staff
development is ongoing. Nursing encompasses a sense of humor as well as
the ability to use technology to provide the quality care our patients
expect.
Medical Surgical Unit
We have a 21 bed nursing unit, including private and semi-private rooms.
We provide personalized care for patients and family. Our highly skilled
experienced nursing staff uses a team approach to treat our patients striving
to provide a positive experience through compassionate care and excellent
service.
On this unit we treat pediatric thru geriatric age range. Around the clock
nursing is provided by a nursing staff, which includes but not limited
to, Professional Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, and Nursing
Assistants who work closely with your physician to provide an individualized
plan of care as an inpatient and to ensure the continuity of care continues
upon discharge.
VISITATION:
The staff realizes visitation is important to both the patient and family.
For this reason we have visiting hours (11:00am-8:00pm) which allows family
time with their loved one while also providing the patient ample time
for rest and nursing care to be completed. Please let the nursing staff
know if you need to visit at another time.
PEDIATRIC CARE:
Specially trained staff provides pediatric care. Special accommodations
have been made for both the patient and family, which include free meals
to the parent staying with the child and free television.
ADOLESCENT/ADULT CARE:
Our scope of care includes but is not limited to; strokes, heart conditions,
respiratory problems, nutrition/metabolic disorders, wound care, and IV
therapy.
SKILLED SWING BED SERVICES:
This unit also offers skilled nursing services that meet Medicare criteria
through are multidisciplinary team. The team includes nurses, physicians,
physical therapist, pharmacist, pastoral care, dietician, social services,
and an activity director. Their care is aimed to help them achieve optimal
functional status enabling them to participate in their activities of
daily living.
Examples of skilled services are:
1. Terminal cancer requiring palliative care.
2. Residents with an unstable condition requiring evaluation.
3. IV therapy
4. Tube feedings.
5. Application of dressings involving prescription medicines and aseptic
technique.
6. Physical therapy rehabilitation.
7. Care of extensive decubitus.
8. Surgical wound care.
HOSPICE CARE:
Hospice is a special way of caring for people who have an illness that
cannot be cured. The focus of hospice care is providing comfort and symptom
control – not cure. The multidisciplinary team works together to
make sure the care provided meets the patients’ physical, emotional
and spiritual needs. The Hospice nurse will coordinate the patient care
between the hospital staff, the physician, and the hospice patients’
family.
RESPITE CARE:
While not part of the hospitals acute care services, respite care provides
an alternative care solution for families responsible for the care of
a family member in the home. Twenty-four hour care is provided, while
you the responsible party, takes a vacation, awaits an extended care or
nursing care facility, or just to take a break. This service is administered
through the Social Service department.
Intensive Care Unit
We have a 4 bed nursing unit providing 24 hour critical care for patients
with traumatic or life threatening illness, and is staffed by a specialized
nursing team providing excellent care to medical, surgical and cardiac
patients. On this unit we treat pediatric thru geriatric age range. The
around the clock nursing is provided by a nursing staff, which includes
but not limited to, Professional Registered Nurses, and Nursing Assistants
who work closely with your physician to provide your individualized plan
of care as an inpatient.
The prime consideration of the ICU is that the design allows maximum visibility
of all patients. This unit provides closer observation for patients whose
condition warrants special care, such as frequent vital signs, cardiac
monitoring, care of chest tubes, ventilator, and medication adjustments.
Everything in the unit is directed to patient care and treatment and utilizes
high quality monitoring and technology to provide a comprehensive approach
to patient care.
VISITATION:
Restricted visiting is important so that the patient rest more to aide
in his/her recovery as well as allows the patient to receive the highest
continuous nursing care they require. The staff realizes visitation is
important to both the patient and family. Visiting in the ICU is limited
to ONLY ADULT members of the immediate family. Two visitors at a time
are permitted to be in the room.
For this reason we have visiting hours:
11:00 am to 11:30 pm
1:30 pm to 2:00 pm
4:30 pm to 5:00 pm
7:30 pm to 8:00 pm