A registered nurse (RN) has just received the morning shift handoff report for a group of clients on a medical-surgical unit. In which order should the RN assess the following clients? Arrange the clients from highest priority (to be assessed first) to lowest priority (to be assessed last).
- 1A client with an acute asthma exacerbation who is increasingly lethargic and has an abrupt cessation of previously audible wheezing.
- 2A client who is 4 hours postoperative following a total thyroidectomy and reports frequent swallowing and a sensation of neck fullness.
- 3A client receiving a continuous intravenous heparin infusion for a deep vein thrombosis who reports a sudden onset of severe lower back pain.
- 4A client with chronic kidney disease who is asymptomatic and scheduled to receive a routine dose of sevelamer with their morning meal.
Cevap
The correct sequence of assessment is: 1) the client with asthma and a silent chest, 2) the client post-thyroidectomy with signs of a neck hematoma, 3) the client on heparin with back pain, and 4) the asymptomatic client with chronic kidney disease.
The correct assessment sequence relies on the ABC (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) framework and the principles of triage. The client with asthma is in active respiratory failure (silent chest), representing the most immediate threat to life. The client post-thyroidectomy has signs of an expanding hematoma, which is an impending airway obstruction. The client on heparin is exhibiting signs of retroperitoneal hemorrhage, a severe circulatory emergency. Finally, the client with chronic kidney disease is stable and requires only routine care.
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Anahtar Kavram
Prioritization using the ABC (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) framework and identifying immediate life threats vs. impending threats.