ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces the setting and the cast of Four South. Four South is known throughout Madison Medical Center (MMC) as the “hospice unit.” Diagnoses for the acutely ill patients were as varied as they are on any general medical-surgical unit. Many of the terminally ill patients were continually readmitted and had established relationships with the nursing staff prior to the current admission. Pat is always “in charge” when she is on duty. Her daily responsibilities as charge nurse include review of the patient census and staffing for the day, and adjustment of staff assignments based on that review. At that time, the Four South staff was given the choice of remaining on the unit and working with terminally ill patients or being transferred to another unit within MMC. Each nurse obtains a looseleaf medication book in which she places the medication sheets for her patients.
