Acute care nursing at UK HealthCare 
Acute care nursing staff cares for patients with non-critical ailments and a wide variety of illnesses, including:
- neurological disorders
- solid organ transplantation
- trauma and orthopedic injuries
- respiratory isolation
- general medicine
- short stay
- vascular and abdominal surgery
- patients who are subjects in research studies
The registered nurse (RN) staff is assisted in patient care by nursing care technicians and by the patient's family members. Families of the patients areconsidered integral participants in the patient’s care.
Acute care nursing services are provided for patients in the following areas:
Admission/Discharge/Transfer (ADT) Unit
This unit cares for adult patients who have been admitted to the hospital directly from the clinic, home or emergency department. Here they receive care unitl their admission orders are ready and a room is assigned.
Cardiology
Telemetry nursing for heart or cardiac patients.
Burn Unit
Care for patients of all ages who have sustained burn injuries.
Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit
Care for adult patients who have had cardiothoracic or transplant surgery (heart and/or lung) requiring frequent monitoring and observation, specialized diagnostic treatments and specialized intensive care nursing.
Cardiothoracic Step-Down Unit
Care for adult patients who have had cardiothoracic surgery and are in stable condition, patients transferred from the intensive care unit (ICU) and pre-operative candidates.
Clinical Decision Unit
'Overflow' care; adult patients are transferred here to allow a better nurse-to-patient ratio.
Coronary Care Unit
Care for adult patients with cardiac conditions idenified as critical that require specialized diagnostic treatments, frequent observation and specialized intensive care nursing.
Intensive Care Step-Down Unit
Care for adult patients in stable condition who can benefit from close supervision and monitoring. The staff works closely with family members, who are encouraged to be active in the patient's plan of care to allow quicker transfer to an acute care bed or rehabilitation center.
Medical Intensive Care Unit
This unit cares for adult patients with illnesses requiring frequent observation, specialized monitoring and medical treatment and specialized intensive care nursing.
Neurosurgery Intensive Care Unit
Care for adult patients who have complex neurosurgical problems and trauma, requiring frequent observation, critical monitoring and medical treatment and specialized nursing care.
Surgical Intensive Care Unit
Care for adult patients with multiple injuries or who have had complex surgical procedures that require frequent observation, specialized monitoring and medical treatment and specialized intensive care nursing.
Telemetry
Care for adult medical-surgical patients requiring cardiac monitoring, particularly those with a cardiac diagnosis, and for heart and lung transplant patients that have been transferred from the intensive care unit (ICU).
Trauma Intensive Care Unit
Care for adult patients with multiple trauma injuries and complex surgical procedures that require frequent observation, specialized monitoring, medical treatment and intensive specialized nursing care. This unit admits patients directly transported by the Air Medical Service and is a mainstay for the Level 1 Trauma Center.
General Surgery
Care for patients ranging in age from adolescence to the very elderly requiring a 'short-stay', those requiring constant observation via cameras, epileptic patients requiring continuous EEG-video monitoring, and express admission of patients waiting for beds from the emergency department, post-anesthesia care unit (PACU), critical care and admitting.
Kidney/Liver/Pancreas Transplant
Care for patients waiting for or undergoing any stage of kidney, kidney/pancreas or liver transplantation.
Medical Isolation Unit
Care for patients ranging in age from adolescence to the very elderly requiring isolation due to drug resistant organisms or respiratory isolation.
Neurosciences
Care for patients ranging in age from adolescence to the very elderly admited for elective neurosurgical procedures, traumatic injuries requiring neurosurgical interventions and complex neurosurgical or neurological problems.
Orthopaedic Surgery Unit
Care for patients ranging in age from adolescence to the very elderly admitted for elective orthopedic surgery, sports injuries or those who require complex fracture management including hand reconstruction and spine care.
Renal Dialysis
Care for patients ranging in age from infants to the very elderly suffering from acute renal failure, as well as chronic renal failure requiring hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis and CVVHD. Treatments are delivered in the dialysis unit, at the bedside, emergency department, post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) or operating room.
Stroke Unit
Care for stroke patients in Lexington's first premiere stroke care unit certified by the American Stroke Association and the Joint Commission of Accreditation of Hospitals Organization (JCAHO), and a participating hospital in the prestigious American Heart Association/American Stroke Association "Get with the Guidelines Stroke Program".
Trauma Surgery Unit
Care for patients ranging in age from adolescence to the very elderly requiring a Level 1 Trauma Center care.
Our nursing care is rooted in evidence-based practice; we consult with our nursing council and an evidence based practice group to constantly improve our nursing practices.
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