Specialized Inpatient Nursing at UW Hospital
"We see some of the most complex and difficult cases throughout the state, so really it's a privilege to work here because you are challenged every day."
One of the nation's most prominent teaching hospitals, the University of Wisconsin Hospital provides nursing professionals with a variety of challenges via its specialized inpatient units. Nurses are integral members of multidisciplinary teams that assess, diagnose and treat a wide variety of challenging medical conditions. Specialized inpatient units include:
Hematology, Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplantation: In order to provide a comprehensive, coordinated plan of care, this unit is comprised of a multidisciplinary team that collaboratively strives to provide quality care to our patients and their families. The services and treatments performed on this unit are multi-faceted and include physical care, psychosocial support, discharge planning, patient/family education and vigilant physical assessments. Nurses are knowledgeable in the administration of chemotherapy, blood products and antimicrobial medications.
Rehabilitation: Nurses provide complex care for rehabilitation patients with spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, stroke and multiple trauma. Rehabilitation nurses are an integral part of a multidisciplinary rehabilitation team whose goal is to restore maximum independence for patients.
Peripheral Vascular Surgery: This nursing unit cares for vascular surgery patients with both chronic and acute disease processes that require surgical intervention. Our largest case types are patients with peripheral vascular occlusive disease of the lower extremities requiring bypass grafting for limb and organ salvage. Other common surgical and medical interventions include aneurysm repairs, arterial endarterectomies (primarily carotid and renal), amputations, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, thoracic outlet syndrome and lymphedema.
Pulmonary, Gastroenterology and Renal Intermediate Care: This dynamic unit consists of 26 general care and six intermediate care (IMC) beds. Patients being weaned from mechanical ventilation and those requiring arterial lines or vasoactive or antiarrhythmic drips receive close monitoring in the IMC. Nurses are skilled at caring for patients with a variety of pulmonary, gastrointestinal and renal diseases, including patients with problems stemming from alcohol and drug abuse.
Orthopedics: Orthopedic nurses coordinate the care of patients with neuro-musculoskeletal problems. High volume patients include those admitted for spinal injuries, traumatic injury and total joint replacements. Surgical nursing is the major emphasis, with ample opportunities for nurses to contribute to discharge and planning.
General Medicine/Geriatrics: Nurses on this unit meet the daily challenges of caring for a wide array of patients involving subspecialties such as immunology, rheumatology, endocrinology, geriatrics and general medicine. Patients have multiple diagnoses, some of which include COPD, CHF, AIDS, hepatitis, cellulitis, gastrointestinal bleeds, pulmonary embolism and diabetes mellitus. As leaders in geriatric care, nurses participate in conducting multidisciplinary research related to patients over 65 years of age. A strong partnership with the School of Nursing involves nursing research with the geriatric population. There is a keen awareness of the psychosocial issues faced by patients and families as they cope with chronic illness.
Pulmonary, Gastroenterology and Renal Intermediate Care: This dynamic unit consists of 26 general care and six intermediate care (IMC) beds. Patients being weaned from mechanical ventilation and those requiring arterial lines or vasoactive or antiarrhythmic drips receive close monitoring in the IMC. Nurses are skilled at caring for patients with a variety of pulmonary, gastrointestinal and renal diseases, including patients with problems stemming from alcohol and drug abuse.
Orthopedics: Orthopedic nurses coordinate the care of patients with neuro-musculoskeletal problems. High volume patients include those admitted for spinal injuries, traumatic injury and total joint replacements. Surgical nursing is the major emphasis, with ample opportunities for nurses to contribute to discharge and planning.
General Medicine/Geriatrics: Nurses on this unit meet the daily challenges of caring for a wide array of patients involving subspecialties such as immunology, rheumatology, endocrinology, geriatrics and general medicine. Patients have multiple diagnoses, some of which include COPD, CHF, AIDS, hepatitis, cellulitis, gastrointestinal bleeds, pulmonary embolism and diabetes mellitus. As leaders in geriatric care, nurses participate in conducting multidisciplinary research related to patients over 65 years of age. A strong partnership with the School of Nursing involves nursing research with the geriatric population. There is a keen awareness of the psychosocial issues faced by patients and families as they cope with chronic illness.