Welcome to F4/6
This is a review of what to expect during your stay with us. Please ask questions and discuss your concerns as soon as they arise. We want your stay to be as pleasant as possible.
Rooms
All rooms are single rooms. There is a call light attached to the wall. The call light is used to control the television, call the nurse or nursing assistant, and control the lights in the room. Be sure that your call light is within reach before staff leaves your room.
Primary Nursing
At UW Hospital, we practice primary nursing. This means that one nurse will be your primary nurse. This nurse will be responsible for getting to know you and working with you to create a plan of care. This nurse will talk with the health care team about your needs and concerns to arrange a plan for your care.
Tests and Procedures
Labs are blood draws that are done at certain times of the day. These tests are based on your condition. This includes early morning and nighttime draws if needed. You can ask your doctor or nurse about the lab results.
Tests and procedures may be ordered for you. Your doctor should explain them to you. You may need to stop eating and drinking for a certain number of hours before the test. Ask for more information if you need it. Your doctor will discuss the results with you either later in the day or the next day once the results are final.
Medical Treatment and Equipment
When you arrive on F4/6, an IV (intravenous catheter) will be placed in one of your arms. You may receive fluids and/or medicine through this IV. It is a UW Hospital policy that an IV is changed every 3 days. Tell your nurse if your IV becomes sore, painful, or swollen.
A Foley catheter may be placed in your bladder if you are not able to get up to use the bathroom, have had surgery, trauma, or trouble with urine leakage, etc. Even though your bladder is empty, you may still have the urge to pass urine. This is normal. The Foley will be removed as soon as you no longer need it.
If your oxygen levels are below normal or you are having trouble breathing, you may be given oxygen through small plastic tubing placed near your nose or a face mask. The nursing staff will check your oxygen levels, and remove it when your levels have returned to normal. Tell the nurse if you feel short of breath or have trouble breathing.
You may have tubes, drains, an ostomy, or an incision. The staff will work with you to make sure you know what these are for and how to care for them in the hospital and at home, if needed.
Since you may not be moving as much as you would at home, SCDs (sequential compression devices) are often ordered by the doctor. These are sleeves that wrap around your legs. They tighten and loosen to maintain proper blood flow in your legs in an effort to prevent blood clots from forming in your legs. TEDs (anti-clotting compression stockings) are stockings placed on one or both legs to prevent blood clots, often used along with SCDs.
Pain Control
Managing your pain and discomfort is one of our main goals. The nurse will ask you if you are having pain, where it is, and how much you have. The nurse will ask if you would like pain medicine. Your pain medicine will be chosen based on your condition and conversations between you, your nurse, and your doctor. You may have a PCA (patient controlled analgesia) or epidural allowing you to press a button when you need more medicine. Tell the nurse if your pain does not go away after pain medicine is given. Use your call light to call the nursing staff if you feel your pain is not controlled.
Activity, Exercise, and Safety
It is important for you to slowly resume your normal activity level as soon as you can. We’d like you to sit in a chair to eat, walk to the bathroom, and walk in the hall with help. Do NOT try to do these things without help! Please call for help getting to chairs, bathroom, etc. Moving around can prevent weakness, bed sores, and stiffness. Movement helps to speed your recovery.
Nutrition
The doctors will select a proper diet for you. It will be entered into a computer system. UW Hospital offers Room Service. You will able to select your meal choices from a menu once the doctors approve you to eat. The number to dial to order food is 5-0202. You will be asked your name and room number which is listed on the dry erase board in each room. The dietary staff has your diet order entered into their computer and knows what you can and cannot eat. If you need help with placing your order, please ask the nurse or nursing assistant. If you are unable to order, a tray will be sent to you.
Self Care
We suggest patients wash up daily as it is a part of your normal routine at home. We can provide some personal care items and help with bathing. Linens are changed daily to ensure your comfort.
Visitors
Visiting hours are from 8:00 am to 9:00 pm. While children under 16 may visit, an adult must be with the children at all times. If a visitor will be staying past 9:00 pm, the person must have a pass from the security office. The pass must be worn at all times. All visitors must be healthy.
Discharge Planning
It often takes a few hours to complete your discharge. Paperwork, prescriptions, and appointments must be finalized. Your doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and case managers will work to complete your discharge in a timely manner. Please tell your nurse as soon as you can if there is a certain time that you need to or plan on leaving.
The information provided should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
Last Updated: 01/12/2011
Copyright © 12/14/2010 University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority. All rights reserved. Produced by the Department of Nursing. HF#6853
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