PCCN: Chapter 1 - Assessment of Progressive Care Patients and Their Families

Why is assessment of acutely ill patients and their families essential? Traditional approaches to Patient As- sessment include: Progressive care clinicians must bal- ance: Collection of assessment data is ob￾tained in: What is the crucial element to develop￾ing competence in assessing progres- sive care patients? Discuss the importance of a consistent and systematic approach to assessment of progressive care pt and families? Assessments should first focus on (2): What are the TWO standard approaches to assessing patients? Most progressive care nurses use a (2): Assessment of the progressive care pa￾tient begins (2) The pre-arrival assessment helps the nurse (3): information obtained identifies immedi- ate and future needs so a plan of care can be initiated - include a complete evaluation of patient history - comprehensive physical exam of all body systems -need to gather data -prioritizing and providing care -phased or staged manner -consistent with pt care priorities -consistent and systematic approach - helps avoid missing subtle signs or de￾tails that identify actual or potential problem -indicate a pt's changing status -patient (focal point of practitioner's at￾tention) -technology (augments info obtained from direct assessment) -head-to-toe approach -body systems approach -combination systems approach -applied in a top-to-bottom manner -moment nurse aware of pending admis- sion/transfer -continues until transitioning to next phase of care -paint an initial picture - to anticipate physiologic and psycho￾logical needs PCCN: Chapter 1 - Assessment of Progressive Care Patients and Their Families 2 / 25 The information received in the prearrival phase is crucial because (2): When should the arrival quick check as- sessment be obtained? What assessment acronym is used in the arrival quick check assessment? Define what the letters in the assess- ment acronym, "ABCDE" represent. The FOCUS of the quick check assess- ment is a quick overview of the: Why is the arrival quick check is ESSEN- TIAL because: When is a comprehensive assessment done? The timing of the comprehensive as- sessment is dictated by: When the patient is admitted directly to PCU from OUTSIDE the hospital, the comprehensive assessment includes: -determine appropriate resources need- ed -allows nurse to adequately prepare en- vironment -meet specialized needs of pt/family -immediately upon arrival to the unit _"ABCDE" A = Airway B = Breathing C = Circulation, Cerebral Perfusion and Chief Complaint D = Drugs and Diagnostic tests E = Equipment -adequacy of ventilation and perfusion -to ensure early intervention for life threatening situations -(obtaining a quick overview of the key life-sustaining systems) -validates that basic cardiac and respiratory function is sufficient As soon as possible -degree of physiologic stability -emergent treatment needs -an in depth assessment of PMH and social hx -complete physical exam of each body system