Areas of Specialty

Surgery/Anesthesia/GIDA/Pain Management

General Surgery

The patients served by operative and anesthesia services in the Main OR are primarily surgical patients, ranging from healthy ambulatory to critically ill patients, in need of any surgical procedure with the exception of heart, liver, pancreatic or renal transplants. The patient population ranges in age from the premature neonate through the geriatric patient.

Operative and anesthesia services are staffed on a 24/7. Elective procedures are scheduled Monday through Saturday during normal day shift hours, while urgent and emergency procedures may be performed at any time throughout the day.

The twelve OR suites in the Main OR are designated for major general, orthopedics, neurological, plastic and OHN surgery. In addition, two OR suites are designed for non-invasive urology procedures. One of the twelve OR suites is secured for use for designated trauma patients and one of the twelve OR suites is designed as an orthopedic trauma room.

Pavilion Surgery and Pavilion PACU

The Pavilion Pre-Anesthesia and PACU provides pre-operative and post-operative care to ophthalmology, ENT, plastics, general, podiatry, dental, urology and gynecological patients. The majority of patients are treated on an outpatient basis and ages range from newborns to adults. The PACU provides a highly humanistic nursing touch with less emphasis on invasive monitoring than a typical PACU. This is due in part to the highly selective surgical procedures performed on the large pediatric and geriatric client population.

The PACU staffing is comprised of Professional Registered Nurses. The nurse to patient staffing is 1:1 to 1:3, depending on the level of nursing care needed. The Pavilion Surgery unit is open Monday-Friday. Evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays are staffed by on-call.

The Pavilion Surgery Department provides surgical care for the pediatric and adult patients. ophthalmology, ENT, plastics, general, podiatry, dental, urology, and gynecological procedures are performed in the Pavilion Surgery unit. Professional Registered Nurses and surgical technicians assist the surgeon in providing quality care to the patients.

Nurse to patient ratio is 2:1. The Pavilion Surgery unit is open Monday-Friday. Evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays are staffed by on-call.

Pre-Anesthesia – Main PACU/ POPU

The Pre-Anesthesia Unit provides pre-operative nursing care to a variety of surgical patients including ENT, gynecological, neurological, orthopedic, general, urology and plastics. Pediatric as well as adult patients receive pre-operative care in the Pre-Anesthesia Department. The Pre-Anesthesia unit also provides discharge care to outpatients after surgery and other procedural departments including Radiology and the Respiratory Therapy Department.

Professional Registered Nurses utilizing a nurse to patient staffing ratio of approximately 1:3 staff the Pre-Anesthesia Unit. The unit is staffed Monday-Friday with Saturday and holidays staffing met by on-call hours.

The PACU cares for a variety of surgical patients including ENT, gynecological, neurological, orthopedic, general, urology and plastics. These patients span from pediatric to adult. A variety of highly specialized equipment is utilized to care for the post surgical patient in the PACU. Intra-cranial and invasive pressure monitoring, ventilators and telemetry are utilized to care for the post-surgical patient. The PACU provides challenging critical care nursing to the Professional Registered Nurse.

The PACU staffing is comprised of Professional Registered Nurses. The nurse to patient staffing is 1:1 to 1:3; depending on the level of nursing care needed. The PACU is staffed 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Weekend and holiday staffing is on-call.

Gastrointestinal Diagnostics Unit (GIIDA)

GIDA is a relatively small unit, but typically busy, with approximately 18-25 patients per day. Seventy percent are outpatients and 30% are inpatients. Both diagnostic and therapeutic procedures are performed including, but not limited to, colonoscopy, EGD (esophagogastroduodenoscopy), ERCP, PEG placement, dilatations, 24 hour pH and manometrics.

Nursing responsibilities for a routine outpatient include completing a comprehensive patient assessment; obtaining a written consent for treatment; starting an IV line; administering pre-procedure antibiotics if ordered; transporting the patient to the procedural room; assisting the physician with the procedure; administering conscious sedation if ordered; assessing and treating discomfort; and overall patient monitoring. Post procedure, the patient spends approximately one hour in recovery and is discharged to a responsible person after discharge instructions and teaching is complete.

GI Department hours are 6:00 am – 5:30 pm Monday through Friday. Staff members are called in for Saturday, Sunday and holiday cases. Patient age groups range from pediatrics to geriatrics, with the pediatric procedures performed mainly in the OR. Other cases are performed in the ED, ICU, IMC or patient rooms as needed.

Prerequisites for GI employment are one to two years hospital experience, ACLS preferred. One-two students per day are allowed to observe.

Pain Management Center

The Pain Management Center is a diverse unit dedicated to the treatment of chronic and acute pain. The Professional Registered Nurse collaborates with the Neurology and Anesthesia team to provide care to these unique patients. Procedures, as well as follow-up visits, are performed in the Pain Management Center.

Nurse to patient ratio is 1:1 or 2:1 depending on patient complexity. The Pain Management Center is open Monday – Friday, closed weekends and holidays.

 

For more information

email ann.randol@st-johns.org