Nurses devote the majority of their time to swing bed patients, Graves said. On an average day, she said, they occupy 15 to 18 of the hospital’s 25 beds. Custom Care Plan A team of caregivers, including physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, therapists, dietitians, and others, collaborate to create an individualized care plan for each patient. Discharge planners help patients who need additional care or equipment after they leave the hospital. “We get people who have had knee replacements, hip replacements,” Graves said. “Outside of those recovering from fractures and surgeries and the like, we do get other patients that have just become deconditioned from being sick and staying in a hospital. They need some overall strengthening.” Deconditioning becomes a greater risk with age. “If you don’t use it, you lose it,” Graves said, “and it can happen very quickly with the elderly.” In the Room a Lot Nurses check on swing bed patients every four hours, but, as Graves points out, they often find themselves in those rooms much more frequently. This is because patients have a range of needs that require attention and care. It's important to remember that hospital patients are often not at their best. They may be feeling frustrated or in pain, and it's completely understandable if they come across as cranky, listless, impatient, or uncooperative during their stay. Despite these challenges, nurses are dedicated to motivating and encouraging their patients. They gently remind them to take their medications, participate in their therapies, and follow their care plans. This support is crucial in helping patients regain their strength and mobility, enabling them to return home safely without the risk of falls or other accidents. Graves noted the compassion that nurses have in their interactions. When nurses show kindness and empathy, patients often respond in kind, creating a supportive environment that can significantly aid in their recovery. Important for Healing “I think it plays an important part in their healing process,” she said. “If they have an overall good attitude about everything and are feeling positive, recovery is going to be a faster process most of the time.” By the time patients are ready to “graduate” from the Swing Bed Program, the nurses know them very well. “And they know us,” Graves said. “Usually on a first-name basis. And that’s the way we like it.” She said CCH nurses operate by one simple rule: “We treat patients like we would want our family treated. Like we would want someone to treat our family, our mother, our father.” CovingtonCares 25 For information about the Swing Bed Program, call 601.698.0130 or 601.698.0132 or scan this QR code. LEARN MORE WHY DO PATIENTS NEED SWING BED CARE? Our goal is to help patients return home safely. Swing bed services can help patients who need: • Long-term IV antibiotics • Wound care • Rehabilitation after surgery • Therapy after a stroke, accident, or injury • Rehab or skilled care after a recent hospitalization
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