Emergency Nursing Care Philosophy

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Questions and Answers

What is one of the key responsibility areas for nurses in critical care units?

Personal and Professional Development (correct)

Public Relations

Financial Management

Administrative Tasks

Which standard emphasizes the need for nurses to work within legal frameworks?

Professional Judgment Standards

Legislation and Common Laws Standards (correct)

Quality Improvement Standards

Patient Safety Standards

What must critical care nurses demonstrate regarding their professional judgment?

Accountability for Their Actions (correct)

Independence from Organizational Policies

Zero Tolerance for Mistakes

Ignorance of Patient Needs

Which of these competencies involves the systematic approach to patient care?

Nursing Process Utilization Signup and view all the answers

In the context of critical care, what does ensuring safety for patients and staff entail?

Creating and Maintaining a Safe Environment Signup and view all the answers

Which standard addresses the importance of protecting patients from infections?

Infection Control Standards Signup and view all the answers

What is a crucial aspect of health education provided by critical care nurses?

Enhancing Health Promotion and Maintenance Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary action to take in a patient who has suffered a traumatic injury and may have abdominal injuries?

Prepare for immediate surgery without providing any fluids Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a responsibility of critical care nurses in providing patient care?

Performing Administrative Tasks Only Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following skills is essential for an emergency room nurse when dealing with patients in distress?

Observation and assessment skills Signup and view all the answers

When assessing a patient, which factor should not be ignored during the initial examination?

The size and reactivity of pupils Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of starting ECG monitoring in an emergency setting?

To monitor the electrical activity of the heart Signup and view all the answers

What type of skills are crucial for quick decision-making in emergency situations?

Patient care skills combined with emotional stability Signup and view all the answers

What is one way to manage the immediate environment around a patient in distress?

Ensure fresh air circulates but prevent crowding Signup and view all the answers

In case of suspected fractures, what is the proper nursing action?

Apply splints to the suspected fracture sites Signup and view all the answers

Which quality is the least important for an emergency room nurse when handling emergencies?

Ability to perform complex surgeries independently Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary role of an emergency room nurse?

Lead, initiate, and coordinate patient care during emergencies Signup and view all the answers

How is an emergency defined in the context of emergency nursing?

A situation requiring immediate action to prevent serious health deterioration Signup and view all the answers

What are the common qualifications of an emergency room nurse?

Rapid assessment skills and critical thinking abilities Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following accurately represents the scope of emergency care nursing?

Handling both minor and serious health crises effectively Signup and view all the answers

What should be a priority when providing emergency nursing care?

Conducting thorough assessments and prioritizing interventions Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes an emergency nursing philosophy?

Immediate intervention can prevent imminent severe damage or death Signup and view all the answers

What differentiates a medical emergency from other conditions?

It requires high-quality medical care to avert loss of life or limb Signup and view all the answers

In emergency care, discharge education is important for which reason?

It ensures patients understand their discharge instructions for follow-up care Signup and view all the answers

Which principle should always take precedence in patient care according to the provided information?

Nonmaleficence Signup and view all the answers

What are common complications associated with the use of restraints on patients?

Development of nosocomial infections Signup and view all the answers

Which factor is NOT mentioned as a consideration for nurses when deciding to use restraints?

Patient's financial status Signup and view all the answers

According to studies, what has been shown to be a consequence of increased sedation in patients?

Increased time on a ventilator Signup and view all the answers

What constitutes acute respiratory failure?

Insufficient oxygen transport to systemic organs Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a responsibility of nurses in relation to restraints?

Obtain consent when possible Signup and view all the answers

What should nurses emphasize when making decisions about patient restraints?

Potential untoward effects Signup and view all the answers

What are some identified respiratory modalities for respiratory failure?

High-flow nasal cannula Signup and view all the answers

What does the U wave represent?

Repolarization of the Purkinje fibers Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is considered an ectopic beat?

Premature Junctional Contractions Signup and view all the answers

What is the normal range for the PR interval in a Normal Sinus Rhythm?

0.12 to 0.20 seconds Signup and view all the answers

What is defined as the absence of cardiac rhythm?

Arrhythmia Signup and view all the answers

Which condition is indicated by a prolonged QT interval?

Digoxin toxicity Signup and view all the answers

What are the normal limits for the heart rate in a Normal Sinus Rhythm?

60-100 beats/min Signup and view all the answers

What is one common monitor problem that can occur during ECG monitoring?

False high-rate alarm Signup and view all the answers

What structural change can occur in the ECG readings of older adults?

Shift of the QRS axis to the left Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Emergency Care Nursing Philosophy

Emergency care is provided to people of all ages, regardless of the setting, with physical or emotional health alterations.
Emergency care addresses sudden illnesses and traumas that require immediate intervention to prevent major damage or death.
An emergency nurse is responsible for providing immediate care to patients who identify a situation as an emergency or when their care may prevent an emergency from arising.
Emergency nurses must lead, initiate, and coordinate patient care, which includes a rapid assessment, prioritized care, appropriate intervention based on the assessment, continual evaluation, and discharge or referral with education provided.

Concept of Emergency Nursing

The term emergency is used for those patients requiring immediate action to prevent deterioration of their condition or stabilize them until services are available.
An emergency is a condition considered urgent due to its ability to result in loss of life or a limb if not treated promptly.
A medical emergency is a situation in which a patient requires acute and high-quality care to prevent loss of life or limb, and/or for treatment to begin to restore a normal, healthy life.
Emergency care is the episodic and crisis-oriented care provided to patients with conditions ranging from minor to serious or life-threatening injuries or illnesses.
Key focuses of emergency care include:
- Maintaining a patent airway and providing adequate ventilation, including resuscitation measures when needed.
- Controlling and managing hemorrhage and its consequences.
- Evaluating and restoring cardiac output.
- Preventing and treating shock.
- Maintaining or restoring effective circulation.
- Conducting a rapid initial and ongoing physical examination.
- Assessing patient consciousness, including whether the patient can follow commands and evaluating pupil size and reactivity.
- Initiating ECG monitoring when appropriate.
- Applying splints to suspected fracture sites, including the cervical spine in patients with head injuries.
- Protecting wounds with sterile dressings.
- Starting a flow sheet to track patient vitals and neurological state, informing decision-making.
- Preventing crowding near the patient and ensuring fresh air circulation.
- Avoiding giving water to patients with abdominal injuries who may require immediate surgery or those in respiratory distress.

Qualifications of an Emergency Room Nurse

A registered nurse with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree
Knowledgeable and skilled in the technology and equipment used in an emergency care setting
Must have a basic understanding of triage nursing.
Must remain calm and collected under pressure, demonstrating sympathy for patients and their families.
Must be detailed-oriented as physician orders must be carried out correctly and instantly.
Must be able to emotionally handle daily exposure to physical suffering and the reality that some patients may not be saved despite everyone's best efforts.

Qualities of an Emergency Room Nurse

Nurses working in emergency or trauma units must have specialized skills in handling emergencies.
- Observation and assessment skills.
- Quick decision-making skills.
- Patient care skills in emergency situations.
- Emotional stability and self-confidence, with the ability to lead and control patients and their families.

Emergency Nursing - Key Responsibility Areas

Nurses working in critical care units are expected to adopt the core competencies of registered nurses and specific competencies in the following areas:
- Safe and Quality Nursing Care
- Management of Resources
- Legal Responsibilities
- Ethico-Moral Responsibilities
- Collaboration and Teamwork
- Personal and Professional Development
- Communication
- Health Education
- Quality Improvement
- Research
- Record Management

Standards for Critical Care Nursing

Critical care standards provide measurements for determining the quality of care delivered and recognize the competencies of nurses in intensive care specialties.
Procedural standards provide step-by-step guidelines for carrying out daily nursing procedures in an appropriate manner.
11 Standards:
- The critical care nurse functions in accordance with legislation, common laws, organizational regulations and by-laws, which affect nursing practice.
- The critical care nurse provides care to meet individual patient needs on a 24-hour basis.
- The critical care nurse practices current critical care nursing competently.
- The critical care nurse delivers nursing care in a way that can be ethically justified.
- The critical care nurse demonstrates accountability for his/her professional judgment and actions.
- The critical care nurse creates and maintains an environment which promotes safety and security of patients, visitors and staff.
- The critical care nurse masters the use of all essential equipment, available services and supplies for immediate care of patients.
- The critical care nurse protects the patients from developing environmental induced infection.
- The critical care nurse utilizes the nursing process in an explicit systematic manner to achieve the goals of care.
- The critical care nurse carries out health education for promotion and maintenance of health.
- The critical care nurse acts to enhance the professional development of self and others.

Restraints in Critical Care

Critical care nurses believe that the principle of nonmaleficence (not harming a patient) should always take precedence over beneficence (attempting to do good for a patient).
Studies have demonstrated that the use of restraints causes physical harm to patients, leading to:
- Weakness
- Incontinence
- Constipation
- Nosocomial infections
- Slower recovery
The main factors in a nurse's decision to use restraints are:
- Glasgow Coma Scale score
- Restless behavior
- Emotional state
- Discomfort factors
- Medical devices
- Life-sustaining devices
Alternatives to restraints include:
- Sedation; however, this is concerning because more sedated patients have been demonstrated to spend more time on a ventilator, in the ICU, and in the hospital.
Nurses should use caution when using restraints, obtain consent if possible, follow available guidelines, and be diligent in their efforts to prevent negative consequences.

Respiratory Failure

A condition in which the blood doesn't have enough oxygen or has too much carbon dioxide.
Types:
- Acute Respiratory Failure:
  - The loss of the ability to ventilate adequately or to provide sufficient oxygen to the blood and systemic organs. The pulmonary system is no longer able to meet the metabolic demands of the body with respect to oxygenation of the blood and/or CO2 elimination.

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Description

This quiz explores the principles and practices of emergency nursing, emphasizing the critical role of emergency nurses in providing immediate care to patients. It covers the assessment, intervention, and coordination of care necessary to manage urgent health situations effectively. Test your knowledge on the concepts that govern emergency nursing and the philosophies behind patient care.