Introduction
Medical Imaging in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) possesses several challenges, all of which have the potential to affect image quality and diagnostic accuracy (1). The purpose of the case study is to assess the main issues presented in the case, discuss the principles of patient positioning, and compare theory with practice.
First of all, since the patient is in a slightly oblique position, he needs to be straightened and moved up the bed. It is important to move the patient into an upright position so that optimal AP chest X-rays could be obtained (2). In addition, the patient is unconscious and he is not able to cooperate with the examination. He weighs 145kg and the nurse looking after him refuses to help because she is pregnant. Therefore, manual handling would be needed and it should be performed properly to reduce the risk of back injury of staffs (3). Besides, the patient is mechanically ventilated, therefore the positioning should be performed carefully to avoid displacing monitoring devices(2). Meanwhile, it is also important to move the external portions of lines and catheters above the clavicles and off the patient if possible (2). By doing so, artifacts would be less likely to cover disease and cause confusion (1). Moreover, the patient is MRSA positive. Infections with MRSA may increase morbidity, mortality and healthcare costs in ICU patients (4). Therefore, it is important to improve infection control within ICU and hospital-wide screening and
As Jane was presenting with a symptom of a life threatening event it was important that treatment was immediate. Priority was initially made from assessment of the airways, breathing and circulation, level of consciousness and pain. Jane’s respirations on admission were recorded at a rate of 28 breaths per minute, she looked cyanosed. Jane’s other clinical observations recorded a heart rate of 105 beats per minute (sinus tachycardia), blood pressure (BP) of 140/85 and oxygen saturation (SPO2) on room air 87%. It is important to establish a base line so that the nurse is altered to sudden deterioration in the patient’s clinical condition. Jane’s PEWS score (Physiological Early Warning Score) was 4 and indicated a need for urgent medical attention (BTS 2006). Breathing was the most obvious issue and was the immediate priority.
This study focuses on methods to confirm proper tube placement. Through a cross sectional study, the research concluded that over seventy eight percent of critical care health workers use multiple methods to confirm tube placement. Some of the more common methods include looking at the gastric aspirate’s pH, observing the patient for signs or respiratory distress, and capnography. Auscultation of the air bolus was not included in the study because it was deemed “unreliable”. However, a small separate study was done and about eighty eight percent of critical care health workers claimed they also used an air bolus auscultation as a method of confirming placement. So, what is the reasoning for health care workers to continue doing this if it is unreliable? It has been hypothesized that this method requires the least amount of supplies and the nurses can do it quickly and easily. This research study along with many others concludes that air bolus auscultation is not an accurate method because the sounds nurses are used to hearing that “confirm” proper tube placement in the gastrointestinal tract are the same as sounds heard in the lungs and other areas of the
Additionally, the care environment developed a hazard when the patient population increased both in number and acuity with the admission of the acute respiratory distress patient and increasing patient load in the lobby without note of available back up staff being called in. Examples of errors from the flow chart comparison might include failure to assess and monitor when Nurse J initiates blood pressure and SpO2 measurements, fails to initiate ECG with respiration monitoring, fails to administer supplemental O2, and leaves the room without apparently noting the baseline of the patient2. Furthermore, there appears to be an error in the lack of communication collaboration between the RN and LPN regarding Mr. B’s post procedure status and monitoring needs, and there is a failure to rescue when the LPN notes the low SpO2 value, fails to respond, and instead re-initiates another blood pressure reading without noting the results. As Mr. B’s condition deteriorates and a code is called, an ACLS error is observed in the timeline when the patient is noted first to have absent pulse and respirations and that a monitor is next applied and the patient and displays ventricular fibrillation. Chest compressions appear to not have been the first action in this scenario, nor is end tidal CO2 monitoring noted as initiated to monitor the quality of compressions. These are examples of hazards and errors in the care of Mr. B and in an actual RCA the level of detail would likely turn up
The patient did have black soot around his nose and mouth. Thats when first responders started manual ventilation's via BVM and 02 at 15 LPM. At this time Medic 1 assumed patient care. Medic 1 assigned first responders to obtaining vitals signs that are stated in the vital section of the report. It was at this time that Medic 1 applied a OPA after first measuring on what size to use. First responders also applied fast patches to the patients right upper chest and left midaxillary line At this time Medic 1 assigned first responders to start chest compressions a 15:2 ratio. Medic 1 at this time started a IO in the patients plateau region of the right leg. The Plateau region is inferior and lateral to the knee cap. At this time Normal Saline bolus was started with a 60 drop per ML set. Medic 1 found the patient to be in a sinus rhythm At this time miscommunication with Medic 1 and first responders happen with chest comparisons started. We then secured the patient on the cot via 4 straps and transported a code red patient to the nearest hospital. While enroute to hospital radio report was given with chief compliant and treatments listed in the appropriate category of the report. Vitals was continued to be taken every 5
Unfortunately, “VTE comprised of DVT and/or PE represent a serious public health challenge, affecting up to 600,000 Americans annually. The consequences can be deadly; VTE has been identified as the most common cause of preventable mortality in hospitalized patients, accounting for up to 10% of hospital deaths” (Shermock et al., 2013, p. 1) It is imperative that all patients admitted to the ICU should be assessed for VTE. The assessment should be done frequently. It is important to assess both subjective and objective data. Past medical history is very important. It is essential to find out if the patient has any predisposition to a VTE including any trauma to veins, any varicosities, obesity, COPD, HF. Certain medications can also put a patient at risk for VTE such as oral contraceptives, hormone therapy, tamoxifen, or raloxifene. Also, any recent surgeries such as orthopedic, gynecologic, gastric, or urologic and past surgeries involving veins or a central venous catheter can put a patient at risk. Objective data includes fear, anxiety, and pain. Monitor vital signs frequently. Check the integumentary system for symmetry; taut, shiny, warm skin, erythematous, tender to palpation. Not every patient
M.C. is a 4 week old Caucasian male and was assessed on 2/3/2015. M.C. was awake and crying in his mother’s arms. He appeared to be well-nourished, well developed and in distress. M.C.’s mother stated his full name and date of birth, which matched his ID band. His mother was sitting in the hospital bed holding him in her arms and attempting to comfort him. His father was laying on the couch in the room. A complete head to toe assessment was not done during this time but the following results were obtained based on a focused assessment. M.C. was on contact-droplet isolation. M.C. had a temperature of 37.2C, his blood pressure was 33/47 with a MAP of 68 taken on his left leg. His respirations were 40 breaths per minute with an oxygen saturation of 100%. His pulse was 178 beats per minute. M.C. was on room air and had a PIV located in his left hand. There was no presence of tubes or drains. Pain was not assessed at this time however, M.C. was fussy and crying. The anterior and posterior fontanels were inspected. The anterior fontanel was soft and flat. M.C.’s lung sounds were clear to auscultation. His mother reported that he had some nasal congestion but had no
thoroughly examine the patient he doesn’t know the patient has a severe case of pneumonia and misdiagnosing the patient.
and determines there is no sign of infiltration or phlebitis. What should the nurse do?
Notified by the patient. Two patient verifier completed. Per PA Alford the patient was advised that her x-ray result were negative for pnuemonia. Currently the patient states that she is doind much better. She states that sh still has a cough but is improving. The patient denies fever, chill, SOB, and chest pain. Instructed the patient if she starts having this symptom report to the ER. Also instructed the patient if her symptoms worsen please scheudle an apt with her provider. The patient agrees and verbalize
As a hospital, quality care should be a priority for patients that are going to be treated for a sickness, or any type of procedure that is going to take place. A lot of times a patient gets an infection while they were at the hospital, on top of being treated for what they original came in for. Health facilities should be environments of healing, which they are, but they also have tons of various types of germs and infections, which grasp onto individuals that have weak immune systems/are sick. Some infections that are at hospitals are Tuberculosis, VRE, VAP, C-Diff, UTI, and MRSA. Preventive measures to stop the spread of the infections is lacking tremendously in the work and aim to provide safety for all patient’s health. The work
Early post-operative complications of the critically ill following major surgery can have devastating results (McElroy et al., 2015). These complications are mitigated by immediate detection and beginning of appropriate treatment or intervention (Hudson, McDonald, Hudson, Tran, & Boodhwani, 2015). These all require effective communication between the surgical and post-surgical team (Nagpal, Vats, Wong, Sevdalis, & Moorthy, 2012). The purpose of a handoff from the operating room (OR) to the intensive care unit (ICU), is to undertake and intermesh the physical transfer of the surgical patient with the knowledge of patient’s clinical information occurring from the surgical team to the accepting post-surgical team (McElroy et al, 2015).
is Pneumonia. This is based on the patient’s subjective and objective data. The collaborative diagnosis to address this problem is Pneumonia r/t immobilization; r/t pleural effusion, and r/t debilitation (Carpenito, 2013, p. 859-860). The nursing goal for this patient on the day of care is to control and reduce the complication of pneumonia (Carpenito, 2012, p. 860). The nurse will monitor the patient’s respiratory status while assessing for sign and symptoms of infection, and inflammation (Carpenito, 2012, p.
Donabedian, in 1966 that is based on measurement of structures, processes and clinical outcomes (Elverson, & Samra, 2012, p. 154). On the list of NDNQI nurse sensitive indicators is nosocomial infections or hospital acquired infections as an outcome. One of the leading nosocomial infections is CLABSI. Furthermore, central venous catheters (CVC), like UVC, used in the NICU are associated with increased morbidity and mortality related to CLABSI’s (Greenburg, et al., 2015, p. 1080). Improvement in patient outcomes are believed to be centered on the quality of direct nursing care received at the bedside. Therefore, how nurses handle UVC at the bedside have a direct effect on the rate of CLASBI seen in the NICU. In order to determine if nursing interventions are decreasing the rate of CLASBI in the NICU, it is important to understand how this indicator is
This patient is in the intensive care unit (ICU), and a portable chest x-ray is ordered by his referring doctor. He weighs 145kg, and is lying slightly oblique. The radiography cannot be done while he is oblique, because the image quality will not be acceptable. Based on the knowledge that has been taught from first year, minimum 5 people are needed to reposition this patient to keep safety for both patients and staff (year 1, week 5). He is unconscious, and using mechanical ventilator, which means everyone needs to be extremely careful during performing the radiography to prevent hitting the machine. This patient has Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), so infection control protocol needs to be considered for this examination.
Two milligrams of morphine was given to relieve pain. 162 milligrams of aspirin, a chewable tablet, and 50 milligrams of metroprolol was given. Heparin drip is started as ordered by the doctor. The patient is resting without any pain or shortness of breath. Blood pressure, pulse, respiration and temperature are monitored continuously. The patient was transferred to the intensive care unit by the baccalaureate nurse with the patient care assistant on the cardiac monitor and oxygen. The nurse makes sure to carry all the necessary medications like atropine, dopamine, vasopressin, and lidocane. She also carries the ambubag in case of an emergency. The report was given to the nurse in the intensive care unit. The baccalaureate nurse thanked all the staff and doctors who helped in taking care of the patient.