High Acuity Nursing

Question 1

What is a key process and starting point when assessing patients in clinical settings?

Answer 1

ADPIE - specifically assessment

Question 2

What are intermediated medical care units (IMCU) intended for?

Answer 2

For pts needing close observation, but not in need of life-saving, critical interventions

Question 3

In the triage prioritization model what is considered priority 1?

Answer 3

acutely ill patients requiring life saving, critical interventions

Question 4

In the triage prioritization model what is considered priority 2?

Answer 4

seriously ill patients possibly in need of immediate medical interventions

Question 5

In the triage prioritization model what is considered priority 3?

Answer 5

critically ill patients, who will not likely recover from their disorders

Question 6

In the triage prioritization model what is considered priority 4?

Answer 6

patients who might be terminally ill

Question 7

What are advantages of technology in the ICU?

Answer 7

• allows for close monitoring of pts
• provides programs to diagnose pt disorders
• source of readily available reference information

Question 8

What are disadvantages of technology in the ICU?

Answer 8

• depersonalization of the pt
• overload
• over - reliance
• nurse / caregiver burnout

Question 9

What does “taming the technology mean”?

Answer 9

connecting on a human level despite the presence and dominance of technology

Question 10

What is cultural competence?

Answer 10

self-awareness of one’s own to communicate thoughts and feelings about others with different backgrounds
- knowledge
- respect
- understanding
- acceptance

Question 11

What is the CRASH model?

Answer 11

consider Cultures
show Respect
Assess and Affirm differences
show Sensitivity and Self-awareness
provide care with Humility

Question 12

What are causes of nursing burnout?

Answer 12

• nursing shortages
• long work hours
• loss of concentration
• repeated exposure to pts during suffering
• feelings of powerlessness
• exposure to pain and traumatic loss

Question 13

What are work related factors that improve the ability of the nurse to manage stress

Answer 13

• positive social climate
• managerial support
• staff cohesiveness
• availability of debriefings

Question 14

What are needs of the family of the pt with high-acuity illness?

Answer 14

information, comfort, support, accessibility, assurance

Question 15

What are educational needs of pts and families?

Answer 15

• information about pt progress
• informed decision making
• acknowledgement of the past
• optimal learning environment
• orientation to routines and care
• support

Question 16

What are barriers to learning for the high-acuity patient?

Answer 16

• condition related fatigue
• communication barriers
• pain
• medications

Question 17

What is transfer anxiety?

Answer 17

Care result from movement to a less-acute care unit

Question 18

Environmental Stressors for pts in high acuity environments?

Answer 18

• sensory overload
• sensory deprivation
• pain
• loss of sleep

Question 19

What is kinetic injury?

Answer 19

Injury caused by motion
- blunt trauma or penetrating trauma

Question 20

What is blunt trauma?

Answer 20

shearing, accelerations and deceleration, compression

Question 21

What is penetrating trauma?

Answer 21

low to medium energy missiles, secondary missiles, high energy missiles

Question 22

What does AVPU stand for?

Answer 22

Alert, Verbal Response, Pain response, Unresponsive

Question 23

What is the primary survey?

Answer 23

ABCDE - a systematic approach to assessing pt, trauma is viewed as a multi system disease

Question 24

What is the secondary survey?

Answer 24

Head to toe assessment, thorough assessment of each body system, roll patient to see all wounds in all areas of pts body, AND resume primary survey (ABCDE) if patient becomes stable

Question 25

What are the 3 peak periods of death from trauma?

Answer 25

1st peak - within minutes of injury
2nd peak - within 2 hours of injury
3rd peak - within days to weeks after injury