Nurse Leader Observation

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For my nurse leader observation experience, I was with Tracey who works as a case manager on the observation unit. Her role within this unit was to talk with all inpatient and observation patients and help determine what additional needs they may require once they are discharged from the hospital. She also would offer recommendation to the physician assistant based on her findings if the individual would qualify to be discharges and if so to what living environment setting. Starting our day, Tracy would take report from the floor nurses working to gain insight on the patient and what their status is. She would ask what orders they have, what setting they currently live in, and their reason for being in the hospital. After collecting information …show more content…

Some topics they discus include; if the person is fit to return to their previous environment, does the person need to be referred to an assisted living or long-term care facility, or do they need a referral to other disciplinary staff. One client that they discussed was a man in his 60s who had been brought in from a long-term care facility with complaints of chest pain. All tests had ruled back negative, however he had complications with his oxygen management. He was currently on 5 – 7/L of oxygen and required CPAP and BiPAP at night while in the hospital. He did not know what he usually ran his oxygen at and stated that he was not using his CPAP while in the long-term care facility. His wife and him were requesting that he be discharged back to their family home and that his wife will be his sole caretaker. Tracey and the social worker were hesitant due to his history and current status between oxygen management and being …show more content…

The way that the case manager ensures safety and quality of care is by having an open conversation with their patient. These conversations include asking if they require any assistive aid to ambulate, where they currently live, if they have a ride home, if they receive any home health assistance and if they have any questions or concerns about their care. Another major aspect of the case manager’s role is discussing Medicare/Medicaid payment and options. In order for the patient to have their stay covered by Medicare they are required to have a 3-day inpatient stay. This does not include observational stays, so it is important that all patients are aware of their current status. When they are changed to inpatient status, they are notified and are presented with a sheet which they are required to sign to show they know their status has

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