you have undergone a significant procedure, and you are going to need the assistance of nurses regularly, your health care provider may suggest that you move into a skilled nursing facility, where you can be provided with care by a skilled nurse and get the therapy you need.

Tip #1: Choose a Facility That Meets Your Needs

First, it is important to choose a facility that can meet your needs. You want to choose a facility that has the right type of therapists and specialists on staff to assist with your recovery. The point of going to a skilled nursing facility is to get the help you need so you can recover and eventually go home.

You want to make sure the facility can assist you with that goal. You will want to look for a facility that can provide rehabilitation services on the weekend and the week. You want a facility that will take care of your special needs.

Tip #2: Transfer Early in the Day

Second, when it comes to transferring from the hospital to the skilled nursing facility, you will want to see if you can be discharged early in the day. There are lots of things that need to be taken care of when you get to the facility for the first time, and by transferring early, you can ensure that it is all handled before a shift change, so your transfer is as smooth as possible.

Tip #3: Ensure Discharge Orders Are Correct

Third, when you are getting discharged from the hospital, be sure to review the discharge paperwork. The nurses at the facility can only do what is spelled out in your discharge paperwork. Make sure that your physician has written detailed notes in your discharge paperwork. For example, if you are supposed to get a certain number of physical therapy hours every day, your discharge paperwork needs to say that. Having detailed discharge orders will make the transition easier.

Your discharge orders should explain the type of physical therapy, medications, and dietary restrictions necessary for your recovery. It should even detail how long your stay is expected to be.

Tip #4: Review All Information With the Intake Nurse

Finally, when you arrive at the skilled nursing facility, it is essential to take the time to go over all the details in the discharge paperwork with the intake nurse. The intake nurse needs to know about your medication and dietary needs right away to address those. They also need to know about your care plans so they can implement those plans. Be sure that the intake nurse also has your emergency contact information.

When recovering from a serious procedure that will require a nurse to work with you, you may want to pursue recovering in a nursing facility, where you will have access to the daily skilled nursing therapy and assistance you need. Find a facility that meets your care needs, and work with them to get you home.

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