Ch. 7: Prioritizing Client Care Flashcards
Level 1 evidence comes from
A review of a number of randomized controlled trials or from clinical practice guidelines that are based on such review
Level 2 evidence comes from
At least one well-designed RCT
Level 3 evidence comes from
Well-designed controlled studies that are not randomized
Level 4 evidence comes from
Well-designed case-controlled and cohort studies
Level 5 evidence comes from
a number of descriptive or qualitative studies
Level 6 evidence comes from
A single descriptive or qualitative study
Level 7 evidence comes from
The opinion of authorities and/or reports of expert committees
What is an example of a high priority for the nurse?
Client needs that are life-threatening or that could result in harm to the client if they are left untreated.
What is an example of intermediate priority for the nurse?
Non-emergency and non-life-threatening client needs like a bed bath
What is an example of low priority for the nurse?
Client needs that are not related directly to the client’s illness or prognosis.
The nurse is assigned the following clients. What its he order of priority in assessing the clients?
- A client with heart failure who has a 4lb weight gain since yesterday and is experiencing shortness of breath
- A 24 hr postoperative client who had a wedge resection of the lung and has a closed chest rube drainage system
- A client admitted to the hospital for observation who has absent bowel sounds
- A client who is undergoing surgery for a hysterectomy on the following day.
1, 2, 3, 4
What patients classify in the emergent/red highest priority category?
Life-threatening injuries that need immediate attention and continuous evaluation but have a high probability for survival when stabilized. These pts include trauma victims, clients with chest pain, clients with severe respiratory. distress or cardiac arrest, clients with limb amputation, clients with acute neurological deficits, and clients who have sustained chemical splashes to the eyes.
What patients classify in the urgent/yellow, second priority category?
Pts who require treatment and whose injuries have complications that aren’t life-threatening, provided they’re treated within 30 minutes-2 hours. These clients require continuous evaluation every 30-60 minutes thereafter. This includes patients with open fracture with a distal pulse and large wounds.
What patients classify in the nonurgent/green, third priority category?
Clients with local injuries who don’t have immediate complications and who can wait at least 2 hours for medical treatment; these clients require evaluation every 1-2 hours thereafter. This includes pts with a closed fracture, minor lacerations, sprains, strains, or contusions.
