Creation of a surgical step-down unit during the COVID-19 pandemic Meeting Abstract
| Authors: | Rosamilia, M.; McTague, P.; Palazzolo, K.; Spellman-Foley, P. |
| Abstract Title: | Creation of a surgical step-down unit during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| Meeting Title: | 47th Annual Congress of the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) |
| Abstract: | Like many health care facilities significant changes were made to care for patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. At this Magnet recognized 514 bed cancer center based in New York City, changes included halting elective surgeries, redeploying or uptraining staff and converting the step-down unit (SDU) into an ICU. Nursing was at the forefront of these changes and the care provided. As time progressed, surgeries resumed to perform necessary interventions for our oncology population. When these resumed, it was necessary to create a new surgical SDU for the critically ill postoperative patients as the previous SDU remained an ICU. The unit designated to become a surgical SDU had expertly trained nurses, primarily in head and neck surgical oncology, head and neck medical oncology, melanoma, sarcoma, and telemetry. To become a SDU these nurses required uptraining of additional knowledge and skills. A collaborative approach between nurse educators, clinical nurse specialists, and nursing leadership was used to provide training to the staff and safely transform the unit. Initially, there was a unit-to-unit collaboration in which SDU nurses cross covered until uptraining was completed. A blended approach of didactic and hands on training was used to uptrain 63 RNs to ensure competency. The didactic education involved an in-depth review of arterial line monitoring, vasopressors, titration, and case studies. The nurses spent time in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) or ICU to cross train. In addition, nursing partnered with biomedical engineering to install new monitors with enhanced capabilities as well as upgrading the remote alarm system to notify nurses of clinical changes. From January to September 2021, a total of 202 patients admitted to the surgical SDU. Of the SDU patients admitted, 36% were hepatopancreatobiliary surgical patients, followed by thoracic and gastric mixed tumor surgery, 38% and 24%, respectively. The COVID-19 pandemic showcased adaptability across the care continuum, allowing swift action to provide highly skilled patient care. By upgrading this unit thoughtfully with future implications in mind, upgrades in monitoring, ventilator capability, and patient visibility affords us the capability to quickly transform if a pandemic or natural disaster warranted it. |
| Keywords: | united states; program development; operating rooms; california; observation units; congresses and conferences -- california; covid-19 pandemic -- united states |
| Journal Title: | Oncology Nursing Forum |
| Volume: | 49 |
| Issue: | 2 |
| Meeting Dates: | 2022 Apr 27- May 1 |
| Meeting Location: | Anaheim, CA |
| ISSN: | 0190-535X |
| Publisher: | Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) |
| Date Published: | 2022-03-01 |
| Start Page: | E43 |
| End Page: | E44 |
| Language: | English |
| DOI: | 10.1188/22.Onf.E2 |
| PROVIDER: | EBSCOhost |
| PROVIDER: | cinahl |
| PUBMED: | 35191905 |
| DOI/URL: | |
| Notes: | Meeting Abstract: P75 -- in PDF named "2022 ONS Congress Poster Abstracts" -- Source: Cinahl |
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