Week 9 Flashcards
What is a common code red emergency code?
Fire
What is a common code gray emergency code?
Severe weather
What is a common code pink emergency code?
Abducted child or baby
What is a common code silver emergency code?
Active shooter
What is a common code black emergency code?
External emergency
What are some codes that require the action of a PT?
- Code Blue
- Rapid Response
- Sepsis Alert
- Stroke Alert
- NSTEMI Alert
- Trauma Alert
What the therapist role inn the codes that require their action?
Recognizing the need for the
activation, initiating action, or assisting the teams as needed
What are the codes not traditionally initiated by therapy team?
Sepsis, NSTEMI, trauma
What are the codes that can be initiated by therapy team?
- Code Blue
- Rapid Response
- Stroke Alert
What is the goal of a code blue?
Perform resuscitation efforts after a person has stopped breathing or after the heart has stopped beating
Who initiates a code blue?
Anyone with CPR certification or who can verify that a person has stopped breathing or has no pulse
When is a code blue initiated?
- Person has stopped breathing
- Person has no pulse
- Unable to determine if the person has a pulse or breathing, and person unresponsive
- Unsure of what to do and have dire concern for the life of the person
Who are the team members involved in a code blue?
- Critical care MD
- Hospitalist
- Primary RN
- Nursing supervisor
- RT, PCT/CNA
- Recorder
- Runner
- Security
What are the characteristics of a code blue as it relates to a PT?
It is possible that you as the therapist, after calling code,
may have to initiate CPR until team arrives!
What is the goal of a rapid response?
Intervene before the onset of injury, respiratory arrest, or cardiac arrest
Who initiates a rapid response?
Anyone, including family, hospital staff, nursing staff, physicians, visitors
When is a rapid response called?
• HR>140 or <40 • RR>28 or <8 • Systolic BP>180 or <90 • Urine output <50 cc over 4 hrs • Staff, family, or visitor has significant concern about the pt’s condition
Who are the team members involved in a rapid response?
- Critical care MD
- Hospitalist
- Primary RN
- Critical care RN
- Nursing supervisor
- RT
What are the similarities between a code blue and a rapid response?
- Alert team of highly trained clinicians to respond to a medical emergency
- May be called by therapy staff
What is the main difference between a code blue and a rapid response?
- Rapid response = Goal is prevention of decline
* Code blue = Goal is resuscitation
What is the goal of a stroke alert?
Quickly notify the appropriate team of providers about an acute stroke and dedicate hospital resources to the immediate diagnosis and treatment of these patients
• Timely CT scan
• Neuro eval
• Determining need to administer tPA and/or surgical intervention
Who initiates a stroke alert?
EMS in route to hospital, ER team upon arrival in hospital, anyone on medical floor noting
stroke symptoms
When is a stroke alert initiated?
Patient exhibits signs of acute stroke: FAST
Who are the team members involved in a stroke alert?
- Neurologist
- Hospitalist/ER physician
- ICU nurse
- RT
- Radiologist
- Radiology tech
- Neurosurgeon (if needed)
What does the FAST acronym stand for when used to exhibit signs of an acute stroke?
- Face. Look for an uneven smile
- Arm: (check if one arm is weak)
- Speech (listen for slurred speech)
- Time (call 911 right away)
Anyone could mean a stroke
What is an advanced directive?
Legal documents that specify decisions about end-of-life care
What does an advanced directive: Living will do?
Outlines what treatments a patient wants in the event of life threatening conditions and/or the inability to express those desires him/herself; also may contain information regarding organ or tissue donation
What does an advanced directive: Durable power of attorney for health care do?
Document that names a trusted
health care proxy to make health care decisions when the patient is unable to do so
What are the characteristics of an advanced directive?
- Part of the routine questions asked of hospitalized patients on admission
- Not always available in emergency situations, though
What is a DNR?
Order indicating patient’s wishes to not perform CPR or other life saving measures in the even of a cardiopulmonary arrest
When is a DNR applicable?
Unless an out-of-hospital DNR exists, usually only applicable in the hospital situation
• In both cases, in/out of hospital, look for special patient identifiers
What are some other terminologies used to address a DNR?
- Allow Natural Death (AND)
* AND-I (allows specified interventions that can be performed)
What does a DNI result from?
Resulted from separating wishes of no CPR from no mechanical ventilation (MV)
• Pulmonary compromise CAN occur in setting of no cardiac compromise
• Pulmonary compromise, when left untreated, can lead to need for CPR
• What are pt’s wishes when this is the case?
What are the characteristics of a DNI?
- At times, a trial of MV appropriate (i.e., pt. w/pneumonia where trial of MV could make a difference in quality of life and ultimately result in full recovery)
- Up to physician to thoroughly explain these scenarios to get a full understanding/consent from patient
What are the safety precautions of a NPO(no food or drink) in place for?
• Minimize risk of aspiration from stomach contents or vomiting during or
immediately following a procedure
• Protect a patient from dangerous swallowing conditions
• Enforce bowel rest in the case of an obstruction or dysfunction in the GI system
In what situation will a patient have a NPO?
- Awaiting surgery
- Bowel blockages
- Severe diarrhea or vomiting
- Swallowing/aspiration precautions
What kind of conditions require a 1 on 1 care for the patient?
Medical, mental health, or behavioral conditions necessitate 1-on-1 care for the
patient
• Delirium and extreme confusion
• Suicide risk
• Situational (i.e., during meals due to aspiration precautions)
• Medical conditions that may impair judgement or create an unsafe circumstance
• Extreme fall risk
• Patient is a danger to others or is in danger FROM others (may involve law enforcement or
hospital security)
What are the restrictions put in place for a patient on 1 on 1 supervision?
NEVER leave the patient alone
• Family members sometimes asked to be the supervision, otherwise, may need a sitter
• As a PT, you may be the appropriate 1-on-1 supervision while performing treatment
• In cases where you feel uncomfortable being alone with the patient, certainly appropriate to request additional person in the room
How is a personal protective equipment (PPE) selected?
Based on what the provider is doing for the patient, or based on what type of transmission based precaution the patient is in
What are the items needed for a PPE?
- Gown
- Face mask or respirator
- Goggles or face shield
- Gloves
What does a gown do as a PPE?
Helps protect clothing from any type of splashes of fluid
What are some key points to keep in mind when donning and doffing a PPE?
- Put on PPE before entering the patient’s room
- Keep hands away from face, and don’t touch PPE
- Avoid touching areas in the patient’s room
- Remove PPE at patient’s doorway or outside of the room, and perform hand hygiene immediately
- Remove the respirator outside of room after closing the patient’s door
- If hands become contaminated during PPE removal, stop and perform hand hygiene and then proceed with PPE removal
What is the sequence of donning a PPE?
- Hand hygiene
- Gown
- Mask/respirator
- Goggles/ face shield
- Gloves
What are some tips for when wearing a respirator?
- Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions
- Perform an annual “mask fit test” with your employer
- After donning your mask, perform a seal check to ensure a proper seal and fit
How do you perform a seal check with a respirator?
Place hand over the mask, and gently inhale and exhale feeling for any leakage
What is the order for doffing the PPE?
- Gloves
- Goggles or face shield
- Gown
- Mask or respirator
- Perform hand hygiene
What are the contaminated areas of the PPE?
- Outside of gloves
- Front of the gown
- Gown’s sleeves
- Front of face shield/ goggles
- Front of mask or respirator
What are the clean areas of the PPE?
- Inside of gloves
- Back of the gown
- Gown’s ties
- Straps of face shield/ goggles
- Straps of mask or respirator
What are the risk factors of a health care- associated infection?
• Age • Immunodeficiency • Immunosuppression • Misuse of antibiotics • Use of invasive diagnostic or therapeutic procedures • Agitation • Surgery • Burns • Length of hospitalization
____ is the single most effective way to prevent the spread of infection
Hand Hygiene is the single most effective way to prevent the spread of infection
When should hand hygiene be done?
• Before and after eating
• Before and after caring for patients
• Before and after treating a cut or wound
• After using the toilet
• After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
• After touching garbage, soiled linens, or other dirty
objects
What are the guidelines for hand hygiene with soap?
• Wet hands with warm or cold clean, running water
and apply soap
• Lather hands by rubbing them together w/soap. Make sure to get the backs of hands, between fingers, and under nails
• Scrub hands for at least 20 sec (“Happy Birthday” song x 2)
• Rinse hands under running water
• Dry hands w/towel and turn off water with towel
What are the guidelines for hand hygiene without soap?
• If running water and soap not accessible, use alcoholbased hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol
• Although acceptable in the health care environment,
sanitizers DO NOT eliminate all types of germs, remove
harmful chemicals, nor are as effective when hands are
visibly dirty.
What is the techniques for the application of hand sanitizer?
• Apply gel or foam into palm of one hand
• Rub hands together
• Rub product over all surfaces of hands and fingers
until hands are dry
What are the good
cough and sneeze etiquette?
• Cover your mouth and nose when your cough or
sneeze with a tissue or by suppressing in your
antecubital space of elbow
• Wear a mask if you have a cough or cold that does not
preclude you from being at work
• HAND HYGIENE!!
• Instruct your patients to do this as well
What is the standard precaution for preventing a health care- associated infection?
Treat all patient situations as if they are potentially
infectious
• Wash hands before and after each and every patient contact
• Wear different sets of gloves with each patient
• Use personal protective equipment (PPE) such as a mask, face shield, gown, if contact w/body fluids possible (blood, urine, feces, emesis, wound exudate, etc)
• Follow respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette
• Use aseptic technique
What are the characteristics of the standard precaution for preventing a health care- associated infection?
• Terminology should be STANDARD precautions– mistake to use “Universal
Precautions” terminology
• ALWAYS FOLLOW THESE PRECAUTIONS NO MATTER WHAT OTHER PRECAUTIONS IN PLACE!
What is an airborne infection?
Contagious pathogens transmitted by airborne droplet
nuclei that have ability to remain suspended in the air for extended time:
• Measles, varicella (until lesions
dry/crusted), TB
What are the precautions to avoiding an airborne infection?
- Standard precautions plus
- Wear fitted N95 respirator mask or positive air purifying respirator (PAPR)(if N95 mask not available or does not fit properly)
- Eye protection if splash/spray to eyes likely
- Airborne infection isolation room required = negative pressure airflow
What is a droplet infection?
Transmission involves contact of the conjunctiva or mucous membranes in nose or mouth w/large-particle droplets (>5µm) generated from coughing, sneezing, talking, or suctioning.
• Influenza, meningitis, mumps, rubella, certain types of pneumonia
What are the precautions to avoiding a droplet infection?
- Standard precautions plus
* Mask with or w/o face shield depending on proximity to patient
When do contact precautions occur?
- Direct physical contact w/infected/colonized person
- Indirect contact with an object or reservoir
- Examples: MRSA, Shingles (herpes zoster), VRE, c-diff
What are the precautions to avoiding a contact infection?
- Standard precautions plus
- Gown and gloves required
- In the case of c-diff, MUST use soap and water for hand hygiene as alcoholbased sanitizers do not kill the bacteria
What are the characteristics of a neutropenic precaution?
- For patients with low # neutrophils (severe = < 500 cells/cubic mm)
- Wash hands before/after entering pt room
- Wear gloves and possibly a mask
- Care providers with illness symptoms not allowed
- No fresh fruits/vegetables or flowers allowed in room
What are the characteristics of a radiation precaution?
• Similar to neutropenic
• Items brought into room must remain in room for duration of pt’s stay
• May have time limits for visitors and caregivers d/t radiation exposure
• Likely shoe covers, gown, gloves, surgical mask– all of which must be disposed of
prior to leaving room
What is the normal range for PaO2?
75-100