7. UTILIZATION OF PATIENT CARE AREAS

1. Inpatient

a. Admissions

1. Clinical Programs Inpatient Nursing adheres to the Clinical Program Policy Inpatient Admissions, Discharges and Internal Transfer MS 5.01.
2. Observation Beds – Process for observation and interventional patients is described in Clinical Programs Policy Transfer of Inpatient Admissions to University Hospital MS 5.12.
3. It is the responsibility of the assigned RN to notify the team resident of the arrival and status of all patients. Physicians are expected to visit all patients as soon as possible. Physician visitation should occur daily with appropriate documentation and collaboration with the nursing staff.
4. The Patient Coordination Department collaborates with the Care Delivery Facilitator (CDF)  and/or Charge Nurse in placement of patients. Considerations in placement of patients include diagnosis, sex, age, patient acuity and competency of staff.
5. Nursing responsibilities to the newly admitted patient include:

1. Completion of admission data.
2. Completion of an admission assessment by a RN (non RN staff may assist in the collection of admission data)
3. Acknowledgement/noting of admission physician orders by the admission RN
4. Care planning
5. Initiation of Discharge and follow-up plan via Patient Profile referrals and initiation of d/c summary note

6. Demands for beds beyond capacity and off-service placement will be handled as outlined in the Clinical Programs Policy M.S. 5.
7. Patients admitted for psychiatric or substance abuse