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Questions and Answers
What is the first step in managing a patient with a possible spinal injury?
What is the first step in managing a patient with a possible spinal injury?
Which of the following best adheres to safety protocols when handling an emergency situation?
Which of the following best adheres to safety protocols when handling an emergency situation?
What ethical consideration should be taken into account when dealing with emergency care?
What ethical consideration should be taken into account when dealing with emergency care?
In terms of assessment techniques, which action is vital when recognizing potential spinal injuries?
In terms of assessment techniques, which action is vital when recognizing potential spinal injuries?
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What communication strategy is essential when interacting with a patient in an emergency?
What communication strategy is essential when interacting with a patient in an emergency?
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What is the primary purpose of tilting the head and lifting the chin during first aid?
What is the primary purpose of tilting the head and lifting the chin during first aid?
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Which assessment technique is important when checking for natural breathing?
Which assessment technique is important when checking for natural breathing?
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What should be done if natural breathing is not detected?
What should be done if natural breathing is not detected?
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Which safety protocol is crucial when performing first aid, especially regarding airway management?
Which safety protocol is crucial when performing first aid, especially regarding airway management?
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What ethical consideration must be taken into account when providing first aid?
What ethical consideration must be taken into account when providing first aid?
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What is the primary purpose of using the AVPU scale in patient assessment?
What is the primary purpose of using the AVPU scale in patient assessment?
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Which response indicates a patient is fully alert according to the GCS scale?
Which response indicates a patient is fully alert according to the GCS scale?
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In the context of nursing interventions, which action should be prioritized for a non-responsive patient?
In the context of nursing interventions, which action should be prioritized for a non-responsive patient?
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When communicating with a patient who is unresponsive, the best practice is to:
When communicating with a patient who is unresponsive, the best practice is to:
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Which ethical consideration is critical when assessing a non-responsive patient?
Which ethical consideration is critical when assessing a non-responsive patient?
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Study Notes
Care of Unconscious Patients - Unit 4
- Objectives: Students will be able to define unconsciousness, list types and causes of unconsciousness, and explain emergency and long-term care for unconscious patients.
Consciousness
- Consciousness implies awareness and attending to one's surroundings and self.
- Consciousness is maintained by impulses mediated by the Reticular Activating System (RAS).
- Sleep is a physiological process usually accompanied by reduced impulses in the RAS.
- Individuals are easily roused from sleep, and basic protective reflexes remain intact.
Unconsciousness
- Unconsciousness differs from normal sleep in that unconscious individuals are typically not arousable and often display a loss of or interference with basic protective reflexes, including airway maintenance, coughing, swallowing, and withdrawal from noxious stimuli.
Definition
- Unconsciousness is a state where a patient is completely unaware of themselves and their surroundings and unable to meaningfully respond to external stimuli.
- Level of Consciousness (LOC) is a measurement of a person's arousability and responsiveness to stimuli.
Levels of Consciousness (LOC)
- Conscious: Normal, oriented to self, place, and time.
- Disoriented/Confused: People who do not respond quickly with information about their name, location, and time.
- Delirious: Restless, agitated, and may exhibit marked deficit in attention.
- Somnolent/Obtunded: Excessive drowsiness, respond to stimuli with incoherent mumbles or disorganized movements, reduced interest in environment.
- Stuporous: Responds only to painful stimuli by grimacing or drawing away.
- Comatose: No response to stimuli, no corneal or gag reflex.
Causes of Unconsciousness
- Shock
- Asphyxia
- Poisoning
- Head Injury
- Cerebro-Vascular Accidents (CVA), Stroke
- Epilepsy
- Hysteria
- Infantile Convulsions
- Hypothermia or Hyperthermia
- Diabetes Mellitus (Hypo/Hyper)
- Fainting/Syncope, Vasovagal Attacks
- Heart Attacks
- Meningo-encephalitis
- Fluid and Electrolyte Disorders
Care of the Unconscious Patient
- Emergency Care: Remove the patient from hazardous situations, check breathing and clear airway obstructions, if not breathing initiate rescue breaths/CPR, check pulse. If both pulse and breathing are present, loosen restrictive clothing, treat obvious life-threatening injuries.
- Long-Term Care: In a hospital setting, the cause of unconsciousness needs to be determined, usually involving physicians, nurses, and other specialists (physiotherapists, nutritionists, etc.); often intensive care is needed.
First Aid (Emergency Care)
- A (Airway): Clear the airway using head tilt/chin lift or oral/nasal airway, and intubation if needed.
- B (Breathing): Look, listen, and feel for normal breathing. Check for symmetry, breathing sounds, tidal volume, and respiratory rate.
- C (Circulation): Check the pulse rate and rhythm. Check for arterial pressure (hypertension or hypotension).
- D (Disability): Check responsiveness using the AVPU (Alert, Voice, Pain, Unresponsive to stimuli) or the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS).
- E (Exposure): Remove or cut clothing for a thorough visual examination of injuries.
Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)
- A tool used to assess the level of consciousness of a patient. Values range from 3-15, with higher scores representing better responses.
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Description
This quiz covers essential knowledge about unconsciousness, including definitions, types, and causes. Students will also explore emergency and long-term care strategies for unconscious patients. Enhance your understanding of this vital topic in patient care.
