A nurse is working with a patient who seems changed from earlier in the shift. The nurse cannot pinpoint exactly what has changed but is concerned that the patient is getting worse. The best action by the nurse would be to
a. call the physician and voice concerns about the patient's status.
b. consult with the charge nurse and ask for his or her opinion.
c. continue monitoring the patient, looking for distinct changes.
d. document the findings and reassess the patient in an hour.
A
Nurses should listen to their inner voices and confidently voice concerns, in this case by calling the physician about the patient's status.
Consulting with someone who has more expertise is always a good idea, but the best option is for the nurse to voice concerns to the physician.
Waiting for distinct changes to occur before reporting the patient's status may lead to a poor outcome. Many times the patient deteriorates significantly before showing distinct symptoms. Nurses often report that "something was not right" with a patient who later worsens.
Documentation is important, but if the nurse feels the patient is getting worse, waiting an hour to reassess would not be in the interest of patient safety.
You might also like to view...
A female client with bone metastases secondary to lung cancer is admitted for palliative radiation treatment and pain control. The client is presently experiencing pain that she rates at 9 out of 10
Which of the following nonpharmacological treatments is most likely to be a useful and appropriate supplement to pharmacological analgesia at this point? A) Teaching the client guided imagery and meditation B) Initiating neurostimulation C) Heat therapy D) Relaxation and distraction
A pregnant patient asks the nurse what "teratogenic effect" of medications means. Which is the nurse's best response?
a. The ability to cause damage to the pregnant woman b. A type of anaphylactic reaction in the pregnant woman c. The ability to cause damage to the fetus d. A term for stating the therapeutic effect of the medication for the fetus
The nursing student is conducting an assessment for a client on a medical-surgical unit. Which findings are indicative of a client who is experiencing tachypnea? Select all that apply
A) Excessive rapid breathing B) Chest pain C) Rapid breathing at rest D) Shallow breathing E) Cyanosis
Both men and women can have causes of infertility identified via blood tests
Indicate whether the statement is true or false.