Critical Care Nursing Assessment Quiz and Flashcards

12 Questions

What is a common characteristic of critically ill patients according to the text?

They are highly vulnerable, unstable, and complex

Why is it important to document all initial assessment information in critical care?

To ensure ongoing effective documented assessment and identify patient needs

What is the purpose of effectively communicating assessment findings to multidisciplinary teams?

To improve patient safety by ensuring continuity of appropriate care

Why is effective communication with the patient and their family vital in critical care?

To provide psychological support and reduce fear

What is the primary purpose of history taking during patient assessment?

To inform the clinical diagnosis

What should be done to enable full disclosure of a patient's health history?

Put the patient at ease

What is universally accepted in critical care regardless of the patient's consciousness?

Communication with the patient is vital

During physical assessment, what does the 'look, listen, and feel' approach correspond to?

Auscultation, inspection, palpation

How does the text describe admission to the critical care environment for patients and their families?

As a frightening experience requiring effective communication and psychological support

When should additional assessments be prompted during patient care?

Whenever there are changes in the patient's status

Why is it important to involve conscious patients in decision making about their treatment?

To improve patient outcomes and satisfaction

What should be done with all assessment findings according to the text?

Document them in an agreed format and communicate to relevant parties

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.

Critical Care Nursing Assessment