5 West Trauma

The 5 West Unit is a 24-bed inpatient unit located on the 5th floor in the South Tower of Shands Healthcare. The unit includes 24 medical/surgical private rooms with two rooms having isolation capability Monitoring capabilities include continuous telemetry monitoring and continuous pulse oximetry monitoring. Special care requirements are accommodated such as placing confused patient near nurse’s station and providing private room to patient with privacy needs such as dying patient.  Care is provided 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.  Average bed occupancy is 91%

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Patient Population

Common medical diagnoses of adult patients admitted to this unit include various trauma cases including multiple traumas from motor vehicle crashes, craniofacial trauma, thoracic and neck trauma, head injuries, orthopedic trauma, stab wounds, gunshot wounds, spinal cord injuries and stable burn patients.  The primary admitting service is the Trauma/Emergency Service (TRE). Patient population includes adolescents (> 15 yrs), adult and geriatric.  The average length of stay is 2.36.

Nursing Care

Nursing care is focused on the assessment, diagnosis, planning, treatment and evaluation of preoperative, postoperative, nonsurgical and trauma patients from admission to discharge with emphasis on cardiovascular monitoring, airway management, patient/family education and support, post-operative and post-trauma care and initiation of the rehabilitation process.The trauma unit/role specific job descriptions identify the patient populations/common diagnoses served, equipment utilized, skills required to perform treatments/procedures, clinical parameters monitored, safety precautions initiated and emergency events encountered.

Nursing activities consist of:

  • pain management including epidural and patient controlled analgesia
  • wound management including Vacuum Assisted Closure Systems, JPs, Duvals
  • respiratory management including pulse oximetry, oxygen therapy and chest tubes
  • cardiac management including telemetry
  • neurologcical management including TLSO braces, cervical devices and spinal stabilization
  • orthopedic management including traction, splints/cast care
  • nutritional management including TPN, NG-tube/G-tube/J-tube feedings
  • assessment and management of abdominal/GI drainage systems including G-tubes, J-tubes,  NGs
  • medication management, safety precautions and patient/family education and support

Health Care Team

The Director of Trauma Surgery provides leadership for the unit.  The faculty, physician’s assistants and residents provide 24 hour medical care of the med/surg patients.  Multidisciplinary, comprehensive care of patients and families on 5 West are provided by medicine, nursing, social work services, case management, pastoral care, food and nutritional services, pharmacy, rehab services and other health care providers as indicated by the patient’s health status and identified needs.

Nursing management for the unit includes registered nurses in the positions of Nurse Manager and a Clinical Coordinator. Additional unit support is provided a Unit Assistant.  Unit staff includes registered nurses, patient care assistants and clerk monitor technicians.

Registered nurses on the unit meet the basic requirements for Registered Nurse staff and function in accordance with the unit-based job description, as described in the Hospital Plan for Nursing Care.  Additional unit requirements for registered nurses includes completion of the telemetry course, a positive attitude toward family-centered care, and the ability, willingness, and interest to work with the age-appropriate patients including adolescent, adult and geriatric.

Patient care assistants and Clerk monitor techs meet the basic requirements for their positions and function in accordance with their unit-based job description, as described in the Hospital Plan for Nursing Care.