Job Description
The Acute Surgical Assessment Unit (ASAU) is a process for acutely ill surgical patients that can improve efficiency and safety. It assesses and treats unplanned patients with acute medical, surgical, and psychiatric conditions. The ASAU is part of the Acute Floor, which includes an ED, Resuscitation Unit, and Acute Medical Unit. Its primary aim is to deliver Senior Decision Making early in the pathway of selected acute surgical patients. Treatment may be provided on the spot, through ambulatory or outpatient care, or admission. The main quality measures are to reduce Patient Experience Times and inappropriate admissions, providing better patient care. Additional gains include savings in average length of stay, increased patient satisfaction, and decreased time to diagnostics and surgery. The ASAU c ANP/r ANP service provides safe, timely, evidence-based nursing care to patients at an advanced nursing level, demonstrating advanced clinical and theoretical knowledge, critical thinking, clinical leadership, and complex decision-making abilities. The service involves comprehensively assessing, diagnosing, planning, treating, and discharging patients in accordance with collaboratively agreed caseloads, local policies, and protocols.