Critical Values
Normal adult blood pressure.
What is 120/80.
When assisting with post mortem care, the PCT should ensure that the eyes and mouth are closed. What can you do to so that the patient's mouth remains closed?
What is place a small towel rolled up under the chin?
This government agency has operational standards that focus on patient safety and quality care. This also includes hospital accreditation standards pertaining to patient rights, patient education and operational improvement. (This is the agency that awards "accreditation" for health care facilities.
What is the Joint Commission?
What is the difference between medical and surgical asepsis?
Medical asepsis is known as clean technique (goal of decreasing the number of micro-organisms and stop their growth.)
Surgical asepsis is known as sterile technique (removal of ALL pathogens.)
Describe the procedure for performing ostomy care.
Gather supplies, use a bed protector, peel off the appliance while holding the skin taut, place the appliance in a bedpan, wipe away feces from the stoma using toilet paper, cover the stoma with gauze in case anu stool leaks, take the bedpan to the bathroom, remove gloves and wash hands. Return in a wash basin with warm water, remove gauze and cleanse around stoma, apply adhesive, verify size, press wafer to skin for 1-2 minutes, fold the bottom of the pouch in a cuff and apply clamp, assist the patient into a comfortable position , discard supplies, remove gloves and wash hands.
Normal adult pulse.
What is 60-100 bpm?
The post mortem body should be placed in a supine position and a small pillow should be placed under the head? What is the reason for using the pillow?
What is prevents pooling of blood and face discoloration?
This government agency has established operational standards for laboratory testing?
What is the (CLSI) Clinical ad Laboratory Standards Institute?
Describe the procedure for opening a sterile package.
1. Gathers supplies, check expiration date and packaging.
2. Place on a clean work surface.
3. Open the flap furthest your body, then the sides and finally the flap closest to you.
What is the difference in the appearance of stool form an ileostomy versus a colostomy?
ileostomy- small intestine= liquid stool
colostomy- large intestine= semi formed/formed stool
Normal respiratory rate for an adult.
What is 12-20 breaths per minute?
What is the proper positioning for the post mortem patient?
What is supine, arms at the sides of the body, palms facing down or across the abdomen?
This government agency is part of the U.S. department of labor. It ensures safe and healthful working conditions by setting and enforcing standards and providing training, outreach, education and assistance for all workers.
What is the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA)?
What diseases fall under "droplet precautions", what PPE is required and how far should the PCT distance him or herself for the patient?
Diseases: rubella, meningitis, mumps, influenza, pertussis
PPE: regular surgical mask
Distance: 3 feet
If the ostomy device requires trimming or cutting to adjust for size, how much larger should the opening be than the stoma?
1/16 of an inch larger.
What are the normal fasting (no food for 8 hours), random glucose and postprandial (2 hours after a meal) for an adult
fasting = 70-110 mg/dl
random= <200 mg/dl
Postprandial= age 0-50= <140 mg/dl
Postprandial= age 50-60= <150 mg/dl
Postprandial= age 60 and older= <160 mg/dl
What is the role of the PCT when assisting with the patient's valuables post mortem?
What is document the valuable, place them in the appropriate bag and offer them to the family (as per facility guidelines)?
This federal agency helps protect workers and patients by focusing on identification, prevention and control of infectious diseases. In terms of workplace injuries, this agency focuses on the prevention and handling of needlestick injuries.
What is the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)?
What diseases require "airborne" precautions, what kind of special room should the patient be placed in and what PPE is required?
Diseases: Varicella, tuberculosis and measles
Room: Negative pressure
PPE: N95 mask
What do SCDs prevent, how should they be applied and often should they be removed? What are SCDs usually worm with?
SCDs are sequential compression devices and are used to prevent formation of blood clots (thrombus). When applied the PCT should be able to fit 2 fingers between the cuff and the skin. They should be removed once a shift or every 8 hours and are usually worn with antiembolism stockings.
Normal O2 saturation.
What is 95% or greater?
What are Elizabeth Kubler Ross' five stages of grief and in what order can these stages occur?
What are denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance? The stages can occur in the order listed or out of order depending on the person's experiences.
This federal law protects protected health information (PHI).
What is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996?
What diseases require "contact" precautions and what PPE is required?
Diseases: diphtheria, herpes, scabies, hepatitis A, RSV, wound infections with MRSA or VRE.
I am your patient and I need assistance using an incentive spirometer. Please explain the purpose of using it and how to properly use it.
You will use this device to help with lung expansion that will prevent respiratory complications such as pneumonia. Wrap your lips around the mouth piece, inhale and hold your breath for at least 3 seconds then exhale. While awake use it to take deep inhalations every 1-2 hours.