The hospital's emergency response plan has been activated due to a nearby industrial explosion, creating an urgent need to free up inpatient beds for incoming victims. The charge nurse on a medical-surgical unit is identifying current clients who can be safely discharged. Which of the following clients should the nurse recommend for immediate discharge? Select all that apply.
- A client admitted 24 hours ago for observation of a minor head injury who has a normal neurological assessment.Answer
- BA client receiving a continuous intravenous heparin infusion for a newly diagnosed deep vein thrombosis.
- A client scheduled for a routine elective inguinal hernia repair later this afternoon.Answer
- A client who is 48 hours post-operative from an uncomplicated appendectomy and is tolerating a regular diet.Answer
- EA client with an acute asthma exacerbation who requires nebulizer breathing treatments every 2 hours.
Answer
The clients who should be recommended for discharge are the client admitted for observation of a minor head injury, the client scheduled for an elective hernia repair, and the client who is 48 hours post-operative from an appendectomy.
During an emergency response that requires freeing up inpatient beds, clients who are the most clinically stable and require the least amount of ongoing nursing care should be discharged first. The client with a normal neurological assessment after a minor head injury, the client scheduled for a non-urgent elective procedure, and the client recovering well after an uncomplicated surgery are all hemodynamically stable and safe to discharge.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
During an external disaster with a mass casualty influx, the emergency response plan includes discharging the most stable clients (e.g., those awaiting elective surgery, those ready for routine discharge, or those requiring minimal care) to free up beds for critically ill incoming victims.
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