Nursing homes are generally for people who need 24 hour-a-day supervision and care; or who have medical problems requiring nursing attention more than once or twice a day; or who need rehabilitation that cannot be provided at home. In Vermont, there are residential care homes that should be considered before one decides on nursing home placement.
Skilled Nursing at Woodridge
At Woodridge, we provide skilled nursing care around the clock. Our nursing department consists of approximately 170 employees. The majority of our staff are Licensed Nursing Assistants (LNAs), with the rest of the staff being both Registered Nurses (RNs) and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN).
Each of our 51 bed units has a charge nurse to oversee the clinical care of the residents, as well as a nurse manager to oversee staff issues, scheduling, timekeeping and regulatory guidelines for the unit.
Nurse Practitioners
Always working within the scope of their practice, dedicated Nurse Practitioners at Woodridge become the extension of the attending physician. Some of their responsibilities are assessing the health status of patients, reviewing diagnostic results and communication those results to resident and families, collaborating with the nursing department with the clarification of complex medical problems and much more.
Our Registered Nurses
Registered Nurses (RNs) are health care professionals that are registered and licensed to practice nursing. They have completed nursing school and passed an exam administered by a State Board of Nurse Examiners. Registered nurses are responsible for carrying out the physician's instructions. They supervise practical nurses and other auxiliary personnel who perform routine care and treatment of patients.
Our Licensed Practical Nurses
Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) work under the direction of a doctor or registered nurse. Most LPNs provide basic bedside care to patients. They take vital signs such as temperature, blood pressure, pulse, and respiration and are responsible for administering medications, doing treatments and overseaing the work of LNAs.
Our Licensed Nursing Assistants
A licensed nursing assistant (LNA) is an allied health professional who provides basic nursing services and work under the supervision of a licensed practical nurse. Responsibilities include communicating with patients, providing assistance with personal care (bathing, dressing and grooming), and performing nursing tasks like checking vital signs. They can also help patients become ambulatory again, monitor for signs of bed sores and similar complications, and answer patient calls to provide other forms of assistance.
Pain Management
Woodridge has a high level of commitment to controlling any pain that our residents might experience. We believe that pain should never be ignored, and that left untreated can cause undue emotional stress and harm to the body. Residents who take an active role in their pain management get the best results, so we encourage you to partner with us in treating your pain. Our nurses and therapists will develop a comprehensive plan of care around pain after performing a complete pain assessment and determining how that pain affects you. Pain treatments vary for different conditions, and will be continually re-evaluated to assure optimal comfort levels.
Diathermy electrical stimulation, a method of providing heat deep in the body by short-wave electric currents, is one modality favored by our therapists for pain management. This non-invasive technique has proven to be effective at reducing pain and promoting tissue healing, which can therefore decrease the need for or the amount of pain medication required by our patients.
Additional Services
All residents at Woodridge have access to a registered dietitian, an onsite dentist and podiatrist, and hospice services. Our staff will also help you make appointments with other specialists when needed.
Dietitians
Our registered dietitian works with patients to create meal plans to ensure that they are receiving all of the nutrients they need to maintain and improve their health. This is particularly important for patients with dietary restrictions due to certain medical issues.
Physician Visits
Residents are visited by their physicians at least once every 60 days, and more frequently under certain circumstances as required by regulation. The physician will also visit when the resident is ill or requiring examination. In addition, our nursing staff will be in contact with the physician whenever there is a change in the resident’s condition or if medications need to be changed. Residents are also free to make office appointments, if they so desire.
Specialists
We will arrange appointments for residents with specialists such as dentists, podiatrists, audiologists and ophthalmologists. Some will make a “house call” and others will require an office visit. The Social Service staff will help schedule these visits and arrange transportation.
Hospice Services
Hospice Services are available as a collaboration between Woodridge and Central Vermont Home Health and Hospice. To learn more about CVHHH’s offerings, visit their website at www.cvhhh.org.