Medical / Surgical

Debra Barton, MPH, RN
Vice President
865.305.6552
Location: Lobby Level

Medical / Surgical nursing areas include the following:

• Enterostomal / Wound Therapy
• Gastroenterology / General Surgery
• Hemodialysis Unit
• Medical Critical Care
• Medical Nephrology
• Oncology / Urology
• Orthopedics
• Progressive Care Unit
• Trauma Step-Down / Neurology

Enterostomal / Wound Therapy

Nurse Manager
6 North

The University of Tennessee Medical Center Enterostomal / Wound Therapy team has two full-time registered nurses and two part-time registered nurses. Current certifications include Certified Wound Specialist through the American Academy of Wound Management and the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society (WOCN). The Enterostomal/Wound Therapy team works diligently to meet the dynamic needs of a state-designated Level 1 trauma center.

Working together with physicians, surgeons, residents and multiple other departments (i.e. dietary), the team offers a multi-disciplinary approach to the comprehensive care of both acute and chronic wounds as well as care of the ostomate. However, our team knows the most important member of the team is the patient. Therefore, working with evidence-based skin and wound protocols, our individualized holistic approach is taken with each visit. With the most desired care being that of the proactive care against the development of such wounds/ulcers.

We are committed to making a difference in the care of patients. Whether the patient’s care involves pre-op ostomy teaching, stoma site marking, pot-op ostomy teaching and care or experienced wound care, we are dedicated to providing the patient the newest technology with compassionate care and support during this difficult time.

With the support of UT Medical Center, we strive to stay abreast of the ever-changing medical field by attending annual WOCN conferences and following the guidelines of The National Advisory Panel’s Pressure Ulcer Guide and the Wound Ostomy Continence Society. Participating in the Pressure Ulcer National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators quarterly allows us to compare our pressure ulcer risk and act accordingly.

The goal of the UT Medical Center’s Enterostomal/Wound Therapy team is to provide a holistic approach to patient care through education, proactive risk management and comprehensive direct patient care.

Gastroenterology / General Surgery

Nurse Manager - Donna Patterson, BSN, RN
865.305.6011
Location: 11 East

11 East is a 30-bed unit dedicated to the care of adult and geriatric patients experiencing an acute illness, injury or surgical procedure. We have the capability to provide telemetry monitoring for 16 patients.

Our staff consists of a nurse manager, professional registered nurses, certified nursing assistants and unit secretaries. We work with a wide range of physicians, including University Gastroenterologists, University Surgeons, Internal and Family Medicine as well as the surgical and medicine residents. We are part of a multidisciplinary team that also includes case managers, dieticians, metabolic support, physical therapy, respiratory therapy, pharmacists and pastoral care.

Some frequent diagnoses of patients in the unit include the following:

• Patients with diseases or disorders requiring diagnostic or therapeutic intervention such as gastroenteritis, gastro-intestinal bleeding, bowel obstruction, diverticulitis, pancreatitis, cirrhosis, colitis and crohn’s disease.
• Post-Operative care for surgical procedures such as gastric and bowel resections, gastric bypass, cholecystectomy, appendectomy, hernia repairs, thyroidectomy, mastectomy and wound care management.
• Some patients receiving total parenteral nutrition.

We are proud to be a part of a teaching hospital. 11 East is a fast-paced unit, which allows you the opportunity to utilize many skills. Education is a high priority and begins with a unit-based orientation while working with an experienced preceptor. We encourage continuing education and promote an environment to share our knowledge and skills to nursing students during rotations through 11 East. The staff is committed to deliver to every patient “very good” care.

Hemodialysis Unit

Nurse Manager - Loretta Smithers, RN
865.305.6020
Location: 4 North

Since 1973, the Hemodialysis Unit has provided acute dialysis treatments for UT Medical Center inpatients. The patient population currently includes medical, trauma, neurology, cardiac and surgical patients with acute renal failure as well as patients from surrounding area chronic clinics who require medical and surgical care or transplant services.

Hemodialysis nurses have a wide scope of practice that includes providing care to severely compromised critical care patients with surgical, medical and transplant care needs. Patients in the critical care areas may be dialyzed at their bedside or, if stable enough, may be taken to the dialysis unit. Additionally, another component of care available to patients in this high-tech area is plasmapheresis. Patients experiencing disease processes requiring pheresis come to the dialysis unit or may be pheresed at bedside in the critical care areas. In the Hemodialysis unit, patients continually are monitored due to the invasiveness of the procedures performed. The dialysis nurse must have excellent communication skills as well as outstanding clinical skills as they routinely collaborate with many departments and services on a daily basis to provide safe and exceptional care.

One year of critical care experience is preferred to work in the Hemodialysis unit. The orientation plan includes a comprehensive experience teamed one to one with a preceptor until the nurse is clinically competent in Hemodialysis. Teamwork is essential in the dialysis unit to provide patients with excellent care. Staff nurses rotate on a nightly call schedule for emergent dialysis treatments. Exciting opportunities for certification also are available.

Medical Nephrology

Nurse Manager - Shelia Borges, MHA, RN
865.305.9845
Location: 4 South

4 South is a 28-bed Acute Care, Medical Surgical unit dedicated to the patient care of Medical Nephrology and Surgical patients. There is cardiac monitoring capacity for 16 patients. The team care for both pre- and post-procedure Hemodialysis patients. Nurses perform Peritoneal Dialysis for the patients on this treatment. They also are available to assist these patients if they are on other units.

4 South supports all entities of UT Medical Center and provides care for overflow vascular patients and urology patients. Many of its medical patients have diabetes and / or hypertension.

Oncology / Urology

Nurse Manager - Linda Barnes, BSN, RN
865.305.9821
Location: 12 East

The Oncology/Urology unit is located on 12 East, which is the top floor of the Boling Pavilion. This location allows for a spectacular view of Knoxville. 12 East is a dynamic 30-bed unit with a team of RNs, certified nursing assistants, secretaries and a clinical nurse specialist.

Patients come with a wide range of therapies. Many of them are receiving medical or surgical treatment of cancer or a cancer-related condition. Our most frequent patient populations include the following.

• Oncology
• Urology
• Surgical Oncology
• Hematology
• Head and Neck Surgery

12 East often provides specialty care such as infusion of clotting factors, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Chemotherapy is administered by chemotherapy trained registered nurses. We participate in a variety of collaborative research protocols and have many opportunities to increase professional understanding and practice. 

A holistic focus is maintained to help patients and families attain the highest quality of life. We provide both acute and respite care and collaborate with all members of the healthcare team. We strive to show respect, compassion and genuine caring. We understand that we touch lives and in doing so our own lives also are touched.

Orthopedics

865.305.6005
Location: 5 East

We are a 30-bed orthopedic unit located on the 5th floor of the East Pavilion. We have the capability of 8 telemetry beds. We specialize in providing the high level of patient care required by the complex orthopedic patient and their families. We also specialize in the care of the neurological patients and trauma patients with either orthopedic injuries or neurological injuries.

The staff consists of orthopedic trained professional RNs, certified nursing assistants and unit secretaries. We are part of a multidisciplinary team of caregivers, including physicians, dietitians, physical therapists, pharmacists, respiratory therapists, case managers and pastoral care that specialize in the care and rehabilitation of the orthopedic patients.

Our orthopedic patients offer challenging opportunities. We care for adolescents, adults and geriatric patients with differing degrees or orthopedic injuries. The goal is to assist patients and their families to resume the highest level of physical and emotional health possible. We focus on quality care and patient /family satisfaction. The plan of care is tailored to the patient’s needs for optimal physical and emotional support.

We are proud to be part of a teaching hospital and a Level I Trauma Center. We are able to influence our profession by sharing our knowledge and skills with students from area universities as they rotate through the unit. Education is a high priority. The staff receives specialized orthopedic training and individual unit-based orientation with an experienced preceptor. Continuing education is encouraged through hospital and unit-based programs. There is a special unit-based council to assess, plan, devise and implement evidenced-based, staff-driven problem solving solutions.

Trauma/Surgical

Nurse Manager - Solon Snyder, BSN, RN
865.544.6010
Location: 10 East

10 East is a 30-bed Trauma Step-Down / Neurology unit located on the 10th floor. Staff members pride themselves in providing excellent, specialized care to the complex trauma patient population of East Tennessee and the surrounding region. The nursing staff works closely with a highly skilled multidisciplinary team that consists of the trauma team, dieticians, physical therapists, pharmacists, respiratory therapists, case managers and pastoral care.

Trauma patients offer many challenging opportunities to provide exceptional care while affording the chance to make a difference in the lives of our patients who have recently experienced a life-changing event. Our team cares for adolescents, adults and geriatric patients with differing degrees of neurological, cardiac, pulmonary, abdominal and orthopedic trauma injuries. The primary goal is to help restore patients and their families to the highest functioning level possible through daily physical and emotional support.

Our status as a teaching hospital enables us to impact our profession by sharing our knowledge and experience with students from area universities as they rotate through clinical rotations. Not only are we dedicated to educating the nurses of tomorrow, but we also are dedicated to the education of new and current staff members. Staff members receive specialized trauma training and an individualized, unit-based orientation with an experienced preceptor. Once out of orientation, staff is encouraged to attend pertinent conferences, in-services and training for specialty certification or degree advancement.

Medical Critical Care

Clinical Manager - Rose Jensen, BSN, RN
865.305.6348

The Medical Critical Care Unit (MCC) is a 20-bed unit that provides intensive care treatments and services to patients with acute multi-systems failure. Our Interdisciplinary team is comprised of highly skilled physicians and nurses that have achieved the highest level of specialized training to care for the critically ill patient.

Our patient-centered team collaborates with many sub-specialty physician groups, pharmacists, respiratory therapists and dieticians who have extensive experience in intensive care.

As part of The University of Tennessee Medical Center, the Medical Critical Care Unit supports its mission to maintain the highest quality standards and achieve superior clinical outcomes for each respected individual patient.

Progressive Care Unit

Clinical Manager - Brant Sloan, BSN, RN
865.305.6348

The Progressive Care Unit (PCU) is an 18-bed unit that provides intermediate care to the patient whose acuity requires nursing interventions not available in an acute care unit and is more stable than patients in the Intensive Care Unit.

The Interdisciplinary team is composed of different specialty physicians, skilled nurses and many other qualified professionals. Our goal is to ensure the highest standard of quality in all care and services, striving for the best clinical outcomes in the shortest period of time with minimal disruption to the life of each respected individual patient, their family members and/or significant others.