Hello and welcome to our unit!
I’m Donnie Polk, MSN, RN, Manager of the Neuroscience Stepdown, also known as Neuro Stepdown. We will be located on the 11th floor of the Jim Ayers Tower at Vanderbilt University Hospital. We are now accepting applications and staff will be onboarded on Ortho/Spine, 6 South VUH and Neurology/Neurosurgery Intensive Care (Neuro ICU), 6th Floor Critical Care Tower VUH to help them transition to our new unit, which will open in April 2026.
We are building a new unit centered around a culture of compassionate, specialized care for patients with complex neurological needs. Our ideal team members include nurses who are not only clinically skilled, but also deeply empathetic and committed to supporting this unique patient population.
The environment will be fast-paced, collaborative, and at times unpredictable, reflecting the dynamic nature of our patients' conditions. We are committed to fostering a supportive atmosphere where every team member feels empowered, valued, and equipped to provide exceptional care. We care for adult patients age 18 and older who are being treated for acute ischemic, hemorrhagic stroke, subdural, epidural hematoma, subarachnoid hemorrhage, seizures, Guillain-Barre syndrome, Myasthenia Gravis exacerbation, meningitis and encephalitis, spinal cord injury, cerebrovascular intervention, and brain and spinal tumor resection.
Our patients are unique because they have specialized neurological needs.
One of the perks of working on my unit is belonging to a team where you'll collaborate with some of the most skilled nurses and specialized teams at Vanderbilt, supported by state-of-the-art equipment and cutting-edge technology.
Our nurses thrive because they are empowered with the support and resources needed to grow. They develop strong neurological assessment skills, sharpen their critical thinking and time management abilities, and foster a deep sense of teamwork and key elements for success in our dynamic care environment.
We orient new nurses to our unit with a comprehensive 6-7-week unit-specific orientation supported by dedicated preceptors to ensure a strong foundation for success.
We encourage professional growth.
If your career goal is to build strong clinical experience, the Neuroscience Stepdown Unit offers an excellent opportunity. You'll care for patients with complex neurological and medical conditions, gaining valuable exposure that will enhance your clinical judgment, critical thinking, and hands-on skills. Our unit is a great place to launch your career.
If you have any questions about my unit, please email me at donnie.polk@vumc.org or visit Work for Vanderbilt Health: Nursing Careers to explore open nursing positions.
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