Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is a common characteristic of critically ill patients according to the text?
What is a common characteristic of critically ill patients according to the text?
Why is it important to document all initial assessment information in critical care?
Why is it important to document all initial assessment information in critical care?
What is the purpose of effectively communicating assessment findings to multidisciplinary teams?
What is the purpose of effectively communicating assessment findings to multidisciplinary teams?
Why is effective communication with the patient and their family vital in critical care?
Why is effective communication with the patient and their family vital in critical care?
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What is the primary purpose of history taking during patient assessment?
What is the primary purpose of history taking during patient assessment?
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What should be done to enable full disclosure of a patient's health history?
What should be done to enable full disclosure of a patient's health history?
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What is universally accepted in critical care regardless of the patient's consciousness?
What is universally accepted in critical care regardless of the patient's consciousness?
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During physical assessment, what does the 'look, listen, and feel' approach correspond to?
During physical assessment, what does the 'look, listen, and feel' approach correspond to?
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How does the text describe admission to the critical care environment for patients and their families?
How does the text describe admission to the critical care environment for patients and their families?
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When should additional assessments be prompted during patient care?
When should additional assessments be prompted during patient care?
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Why is it important to involve conscious patients in decision making about their treatment?
Why is it important to involve conscious patients in decision making about their treatment?
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What should be done with all assessment findings according to the text?
What should be done with all assessment findings according to the text?
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Study Notes
Critical Illness and Patient Care
- Critically ill patients are at high risk for actual or potential life-threatening health problems, requiring intense and vigilant nursing care.
- The more critically ill the patient, the more likely they are to be highly vulnerable, unstable, and complex.
Admission to Critical Care
- All information obtained during the initial assessment should be documented electronically or on paper to ensure ongoing effective care and identification of patient needs.
- Effective communication of assessment findings to multidisciplinary teams improves patient safety and ensures continuity of care.
Communication with Patients and Families
- Effective communication and psychological support are vital for patients and their families in the critical care environment.
- Communication with patients is essential, regardless of their consciousness or mental capacity.
- Family members may provide insight into the patient's wishes if they lack mental capacity or are unconscious.
Patient Assessment
- A systematic assessment of the patient is required to optimize patient care and management.
- Assessments should be conducted on admission, at the start of each nursing handover, and prompted by changes in the patient's status.
- The assessment process involves a review of the patient's past medical history, reason for admission, and physical assessment findings.
History Taking
- History taking is essential for identifying contemporary and past illnesses, understanding how the patient and their family are affected by the illness, and informing the clinical diagnosis.
- Put the patient at ease to enable full disclosure of their health history.
- Use broad questions initially, followed by system-specific questions to identify primary signs and symptoms of the problem.
Physical Assessment
- Physical assessment involves a 'look, listen, and feel' approach, including inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation.
- Document all assessment findings in an agreed format and communicate to the multidisciplinary team and patient as appropriate.
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Description
Learn about the assessment process for critically ill patients in the medical surgical department, focusing on vulnerability, instability, and complexity. Understand the importance of documenting information electronically or on paper.
