Surgical Services Nursing at WellSpan
Surgical nurses work in a dynamic service line
committed to excellence in practice. Our nurses experience a contemporary
practice model while providing quality patient care. Surgical nurses are
exposed to a variety of settings including inpatient units, operating rooms,
anesthesia, pre- and post-operative units and trauma-surgical intensive care
units.
Opportunities available for our nurses include:
- cross-training
- task forces
- committees and action teams
- performance improvement initiatives
- educational programs
At WellSpan, Surgical Services nursing offers
a full scope of multi-specialty services. The department is comprised of
several different inpatient specialty units ranging from PHAS (pre-hospital
assessment services) to PACU (post-anesthesia care unit). Nurses provide care
to patients ranging in age from infancy through elder years. WellSpan surgical
nurses are exposed to a broad range of patient populations and conditions,
and as a result, develop expertise and skill in a multitude of clinical
specialties.
A multi-disciplinary approach to care is employed to ensure the delivery of
quality patient outcomes. Teamwork is essential to the provision of excellent
patient care and smooth operation of the units. All environments are
fast-paced and challenging, and focused on the education of staff and
patients alike.
Our nurses enjoy
- flexible schedules
- a great team atmosphere
- many opportunities to become involved in
their profession
- educational opportunities
Learn more about our Surgical nursing units
through the links below.
WellSpan Locations to be a Surgical
Services Nurse
Apple Hill Surgical
Center:
Apple Hill Surgical
Center (AHSC) is a for-profit joint venture between York Hospital and its
medical staff. The center was formed to address the growth of ambulatory
surgery and create a working relationship between the medical staff and
the hospital.
AHSC is one of the
busiest surgical centers in the state of Pennsylvania, and in fiscal year
2003 provided service for 12,212 patients. The surgical center is a
multi-specialty facility with our highest volumes seen in endoscopy,
general surgery, ophthalmology and orthopedics. AHSC operates Monday
through Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
AHSC has an all RN staff which rotates through
the pre-op, operating rooms, recovery, and endoscopy areas. We require
that our staff be certified in basic life support (BLS) and advanced
cardiac life support (ACLS), and encourage staff to also be certified in
pediatric advance life support (PALS). Team work and customer satisfaction
are essential to our success. The surgical center is a dynamic and
fast-paced environment that requires our nurses to be extremely motivated.
Patient assessment, organizational and prioritizing skills are essential.
AHSC is committed to providing high quality
care in a cost effective and safe environment. The surgical center follows
the basic principles of openness, integrity, fiscal responsibility and
clinical excellence. Our nursing staff is active in performance
improvement initiatives, as we believe that staff involvement is
imperative to the satisfaction of our patients and physicians and,
subsequently, the success of the center.
Gettysburg Hospital
In addition to comprehensive
inpatient surgical services, Gettysburg Hospital has same-day/outpatient
surgery services available for patients undergoing minor procedures with a
shorter recovery time. Gettysburg Hospital offers comprehensive surgical
procedures using the latest technology. Anesthetic administration relieves
discomfort during surgery and painful therapeutic and diagnostic procedures.
The staff provides compassionate, high quality individualized patient care.
York Hospital:
- Pre Hospital Assessment Services (PHAS)
Nurses in the PHAS unit are responsible for the background
work required to prepare an individual for a surgical procedure. Nurses
in PHAS work with the hospital, surgeon and patient to coordinate the
surgical procedure. PHAS nurses perform health histories and
assessments, evaluate patient testing and lab work, and ensure that the
patient is fit to receive the procedure. In addition, the PHAS staff
works with registration and care management teams to confirm health
insurance information.
- Short Stay Unit (SSU)
SSU nurses work with patients who are being prepared for the
actual surgery to take place. SSU nurses continue the work of the PHAS
staff, by making sure that all required patient information is present,
continue the health assessments, monitor vital signs, start IVs and
administer any preoperative medications that are needed. SSU nurses are
also trained to help patients cope with the inevitable anxiety that
accompanies any surgical procedure. Nurses in the SSU can also provide
second stage recovery and discharge instructions for patients receiving
outpatient procedures.
- Operating Room (OR) OR
nurses care for patients immediately prior to and during a surgical
procedure. OR nurses carry on the work of the SSU nurses by continuing
the health assessments, monitoring vital signs, securing a safe
environment for the patient, and assisting the surgeon during the
procedure. OR nurses have the opportunity to learn any of the 11
sub-specialties within surgeries performed by the surgical services
line.
- Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU)
Nurses in the PACU care for patients as they are recovering from
anesthesia. Recovery is an especially critical time for patients in
terms of pain control and monitoring of vital signs as the effects of
anesthesia are reversed and the patient is waking up.
- Trauma Surgical Intensive Care
Unit (TSICU) The TSICU includes
10 fully monitored beds. TSICU nurses provide compassionate care to a
variety of critically ill surgical patients including trauma,
neurosurgical and pediatric.
Most of the nurses time is spent at the bedside monitoring the patients
and administering care 24-hours a day. Rooms are equipped with cardiac
monitors, alarms, and ventilators. Specially certified nurses are
on-staff around the clock.
- Surgical Transitional Intensive
Care Unit (STICU) Our 10 bed STICU cares for the patient who may
need cardiac monitoring, a ventilator or increased observation. The nursing staff works with each patient's
healthcare team to develop and implement a
plan of care. Along with basic bedside care, other services can include
speech, physical or occupational therapy, dietary, social services,
pharmacy, infection control, or respiratory therapy.
- Surgical Floors
Surgical nurses have the opportunity to work on a variety of
surgical floors.
5 South
-- 5 South is a 22-bed step down unit, which cares for patients from the
age of 15 to 100. The nurses care for trauma, Bariatric, GYN oncology,
and complex vascular surgical patients.
6 Main
-- 6 Main is a 58-bed general surgery unit, which cares for patients from
the age of 18 to 100. The nurses on this floor care for patients that
have had general surgery, such as urological, simple vascular, and
plastic.
7 South
-- 7 South is a 28-bed Orthopedic and Neuroscience unit. The nurses on 7
South care for patients that have had orthopedic surgery or injuries,
neurosurgical procedures, and strokes.