priority setting frameworks

Question 1

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs

Answer 1

• Illustrated as a pyramid with five levels ranging from basic needs at the base of the pyramid, psychological needs in the middle of the pyramid, and self-fulfillment at the peak of the pyramid.
• Physiological needs must typically be met before individuals attempt to fulfill higher levels in the pyramid.
• Individuals may move back and forth through the levels at different times in their life.

Question 2

what is priority setting

Answer 2

Defined as the delivery of nursing care based on the urgency or importance of client needs.
Involves the organization of client care whereby the most critical intervention or action is completed first.

Question 3

what is intervention

Answer 3

Priority setting is an essential skill for all nurses, as the nurse’s ability to intervene on the highest risk problems first can decrease avoidable adverse client outcomes.
- as nurses we need to be able to do this effectively

Question 4

the ABCDE model (exam)

Answer 4

The ABCDE method is an algorithm that can be used in establishing priorities for an individual or group of clients and is appropriate in any clinical crisis.
A - airway
B - breathing
C - circulation
D- disability
E - exposure

Question 5

what is the ABCDE method used for

Answer 5

• Used to prioritize care for individuals or groups of clients
• Recognize and stabilize most critical issues first, then move on
• The goal is to improve the outcome for the client
• Should follow a systematic approach

Question 6

the parts of the ABCDE method (exam)

Answer 6

• Airway – is it compromised? Listen…Can they talk…symmetrical chest movement…oxygen saturation…
• Breathing – Is it adequate? Auscultate lungs…resp rate…look at chest…
• Circulation – Blood pressure, capillary refill, skin tone, pulse rate, level of consciousness, skin temp, urine output
• Disability – Level of consciousness, response to painful stimuli or verbal cues, orientation level
• Exposure – Bleeding, rashes, edema, temperature,

Question 7

the CURE hierarchy

Answer 7

Critical: Emergent, life-threatening situations.
Urgent: Situations in which the client could suffer harm of discomfort if there is a delay in addressing the client’s needs.
Routine: Routine tasks associated with client care.
Extras: Tasks that are not essential to client care but promote comfort.

Question 8

what can nurses use the CURE hierarchy for

Answer 8

Nurses can use the CURE hierarchy (critical, urgent, routine, and extras) acronym to prioritize client care when managing numerous clients’ needs.

Question 9

what is triage

Answer 9

• Triage is like prioritization, although there is a distinct difference.
  
  • Prioritization involves ranking potential nursing actions in order of importance.
  • Triage assigns priority to what is being ranked based upon a quick initial, focused assessment followed by the assignment of an acuity level indicative of how long a client can safely wait for screening and treatment.

Question 10

types of triage

Answer 10

Emergent – must be transported away immediately, life-threatening injuries w/ high probability of survival w/ treatment
Urgent or Delayed – serious injuries but non-life-threatening
Nonurgent or Minimal – minor injuries, “walking wounded”
Expectant – deceased or not expected to survive – provided with comfort measures at the scene.

Question 11

the 5-level triage system

Answer 11

• The 5-level triage system designates level 1 as the most urgent category with clients experiencing a life-threatening illness and level 5 as the least urgent category with clients being stable and suffering from nonemergency ailments.
• The most common 5-level triage system used in the United States is the Emergency Severity Index (ESI) and the Canadian Triage Acuity Scale (CTAS), which categories clients into those who need to be seen emergently versus urgently.

Question 12

what is resource allocation

Answer 12

• Resource allocation is the process of assigning a portion or amount of a service.
• Priority setting involves the allocation of resources, as users must decide how resources will be distributed in caring for their clients.

Question 13

what is rationing of care (exam)

Answer 13

A process in which allocated resources are scarce, and there will not be enough to meet all the required needs.

Question 14

if someone could suffer harm or suffer from and injury what do you need to do as a nurse

Answer 14

address that person first

Question 15

in nursing shortages what do nurses have to do for allocation

Answer 15

in a nursing shortage, nurses may have to rearrange depending on where the nurse is most needed in the facility