Airway And Baseline Sentibility In The Nurse's Assessment

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Register to read the introduction… Baseline vitals are the key in helping to quickly assess if the patient is on a downward spiral or after measures are taken, the vitals become stable. It is important to have baseline vitals to use for comparison. Baseline vitals that need to be recorded are heart rate, oxygen saturation, respiratory rate, blood pressure and pulses (radial and pedal). If there are changes in the baseline vitals, the nurse can then take measures to provide the appropriate care. Prioritizing is the nurses main duty in each and every patient she treats, it can literally mean life or death. If a patient came into the ER with shortness of breath, checking their pulse first would not be the priority and can potentially harm the patient if the assessment is not done correctly. Airway, breathing and circulation are always top priority, especially in a patient experiencing …show more content…
When the geriatric patient first showed signs of decreased level of consciousness and difficulty breathing, the nurse should assess airway and administer oxygen, either through oxygen mask or nasal cannula. The emergency room nurse also needs to continue to monitor vital signs after baseline vital signs have been recorded. When the patient’s status started to deteriorate, the emergency room nurse may enlist a certified nursing assistant or medical assistant to notify the doctor of the patient’s change in status. An x-ray tech will perform a CT scan if needed and a respiratory therapist may be called to help assess with the geriatric patient’s dyspnea. If the patient is admitted to the hospital, once she is stable, she will moved to the appropriate floor for treatment and continued care during her admission. After she is established, more team members may include: a social worker who can assist with home care, financials and long term facility placement if needed, a Geriatrician who specializes in this population, a Pharmacist to help deliver the correct information about any prescribed medication, an Occupational and/or Physical therapist to assist the patient in activities of daily living if they have been interrupted by her condition, a Neurologist is there were complications from a stroke or to address other cognitive issues, a Dietician to help plan meals since she is diabetic, a Cardiologist to address any cardiovascular issues that may have been discovered through the EKG and a Chaplin if the patient has a desire for spiritual support and

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