Nursing at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital
ADSU (Pre-op and Recovery)
The ADSU at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital receives patients from home, skilled nursing facilities, nursing units within the hospital and from other regional hospitals for same-day surgeries. We pre-op patients for several different services such as ENT, GYN, Urology, Neurology, General Surgery, Podiatry, Orthopedics, Opthomalogy, Dental, Plastics and Vascular. The nurses complete the required paperwork, retrieve any additional information required for surgery, perform lab testing and EKG’s if needed, start an intravenous line and retrieve (and sometimes start) appropriate antibiotics needed for the surgical patient.
Pre-op Holding receives patients that have already been through the pre-op process but are having surgery in the MOR. Our pre-op holding area also receives in-house patients. The primary goal for this area is to ensure that all required paperwork and testing are done prior to the patient going into surgery. Phase I Recovery receives patients from OSDU and MOR OR’s that received general anesthetics during surgery. Our Phase I unit monitors the patient oxygen levels, respiratory rates, pulse and rhythm, blood pressure, airway status and pain. They administer necessary IV medications (to decrease or increase BP, decrease pain, etc.), wean them from facemask oxygen and transfer the patient to Phase II Recovery. Phase II Recovery receives patients from OSDU and MOR OR’s that receive MAC anesthetics during surgery, and previously recovered patients from Phase I & PACU. The Phase II unit monitors a patient’s blood pressure, pulse and rhythm, respiratory rate and pain. The nurses give appropriate oral medications, give discharge instructions and provide post-op teaching necessary for different surgeries. We then discontinue the patients IV and escort them out to their vehicle and waiting family/friend.
The ADSU team consists of registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, administrative associates, nursing care partners and service associates. The nurse to patient ratios are different for our different areas. They are: Pre-op 1:1, Phase I recovery 2:1, Phase II recovery 3:1, and Pre-op holding 7:1.
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