Circulatory System
Hypertension, coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction and congestive heart failure are all common conditions that affect this body system.
What is the Circulatory system? or What is the heart?
Sequential compression devices (SCDs) and TED stockings (anti-embolism stockings) are worn on legs while a patient is in bed to help ______ the blood and prevent _____.
What is CIRCULATE the blood and prevent BLOOD CLOTS?
[Disc: What types of patients do you think would benefit from this intervention?]
An emergency code initiated for any patient who experiences a sudden cessation of vital signs (for example no breathing, no pulse).
What is a CODE BLUE?
[Disc: How is a code blue different than an RRT or a Code MERT?]
Weight changes can signify _____ or a _____ of a disease.
What is ILLNESS or a WORSENING of a disease?
[Disc: Can you name any conditions that are affected by weight gain? ]
Documentation allows everyone involved in the care of the patient to know ____ has happened, ____ is planned and _____ needs to be done.
What is "what?"
[Disc: Why is this important?]
Mr. James is newly admitted to your unit. He tells you that he has a severe headache. You notice that his fingers and hands look swollen. You take his vital signs. T 36.8; P 72; RR 16; BP 201/108. What do you do?
What is notify the nurse.
[Discussion: What do you think is going on with Mr. James? What makes you think that? How can you help Mr. James?]
Before transferring a patient from the bed to a wheelchair, it is important to _____ the wheels.
What is lock?
The A-B-Cs of resuscitation are now C-A-B. The "C" stands for _____.
What is circulation?
[Disc: Why is this important? What does circulation do?]
Medication dosing, fluid balance, I&O, and nutrition calculations are rely on ____ _____ to plan the patient's care.
What is daily weight? Patient weight?
[Disc: Why is this important?]
Which of the following is an example of correct documentation for a patient who fell?
A. Pt states, "I tripped over my IV." No apparent injury noted. VSS. ~ Nurse Wonderful
B. Found patient on floor. ~ Nurse not so Wonderful
What is A?
[Disc: Why is A better than B? How could a legal team interpret the documentation in B?]
_____ occurs when heart muscle tissue dies from lack of oxygen and build of cell waste.
What is a heart attack? MI?
[Disc: What do you do if you think your patient may be having a heart attack?]
An ischemic stroke is caused by ______.
What is CLOTS that block arteries leading to or within the brain?
[Disc: What is the other cause of stroke?]
True or False. When returning a code cart to Central Sterilization after a patient code, it is important to keep the Zoll defibrillator with the cart when you leave the unit.
What is FALSE?
[Disc: Why is this false? What is the correct process?]
_____ weights are the most accurate way to weigh your patients and should always be the first choice.
What is STANDING weight?
What does the acronym FACTs stand for?
Mrs. Beechum is admitted for Congestive Heart Failure (CHF). Upon admission, her weight was 72kg. The doctor orders daily weights. When you weigh her today, she weighs 74kg. What do you do?
What is notify the nurse?
[Disc: Why is weight gain/loss important for the CHF patient? What else is important to monitor for this patient?]
While helping your patient back to bed after toileting, your patient suddenly complains of dizziness and starts to go limp. You slide the patient down the body gently to the floor. True or False. This is considered a patient fall.
What is TRUE?
[Disc: A fall is defined as any sudden, uncontrollable descent from a higher to a lower level.]
Chest compressions, staying with the family, and bringing supplies are important tasks that the PCT can do to help during a Code. What is one task that the PCT can not do? Hint: think of your Scope of Practice
What is handle medications?
[Disc: Why is it important to know your Scope of Practice?]
It is important to ____ the bed with the same items on the bed before weighing a patient.
What is ZERO?
[Disc: Why is this important? What are some reasons that a standing weight might be different than a bed weight?]
Care that is ___ documented, or is documented _____ can cause serious issues in the event of legal action.
What is NOT documented? Documented INCORRECTLY?
[Disc: What do you do if you forgot to document something? What if you document something incorrectly?]
True or False. It does not matter which scale you use to weigh the patient each day. You can use whichever scale is nearest.
What is False?
[Disc: Why does the scale matter?]
Patient care technicians (PCTs) are the _____ and _____ of the healthcare team.
What is EYES and EARS?
YES YOU ARE!
Your patient is wearing a purple bracelet. You notice that she is no longer breathing. What do you do?
What is notify the nurse?
[Disc: What does a purple bracelet mean? What does DNR mean?]
Night shift should complete patient weights and document by this time.
What is 0600?
[What time is that in standard time?]
True or False.It is good practice to copy and paste documentation from flowsheets from shift to shift.
What is FALSE?
[Disc: Why is it not a good practice to copy documentation from the previous shift?]