2 Prioritization in Nursing Care Free Online FlashCards

What is prioritization in nursing care?

Prioritization is the ongoing process of deciding which patient need or nursing action requires attention first, what can follow, and what can safely wait.

Which threats do the ABCs prioritize?

Address threats to the airway, breathing, and circulation promptly; ABCs are a useful starting point in acute emergencies.

Why should ABCs not be applied as a rigid rule?

ABCs are not a rigid rule. Consider the whole presentation, including severity and time sensitivity.

What cues can signal acute deterioration?

A sudden mental-status change, concerning vital-sign changes, or strong staff concern about worsening can signal acute deterioration and require prompt response.

How are immediate, urgent, and routine needs distinguished?

Immediate problems require action now; urgent problems are high-risk or time-sensitive; routine needs are stable and may be scheduled or safely deferred with monitoring.

Can a patient be high risk with stable vital signs?

A patient may be high risk despite stable-looking vital signs. Consider high-risk conditions and the possibility of deterioration, not vital signs alone.

What three questions help assess time-sensitive risk?

Ask what is happening now, what could happen next, and how soon delay could cause harm.

What is the NCSBN clinical-judgment sequence?

Recognize cues, analyze cues, prioritize hypotheses, generate solutions and take action, then evaluate outcomes.

How should a nurse begin managing several competing needs?

Make a rapid situation scan: identify immediate threats, determine time-critical actions, and decide who can safely assist.

A patient develops new stridor while another may have hypoglycemia. What takes priority?

Respond first to the threatened airway and activate appropriate assistance; arrange prompt assessment and treatment for the possible hypoglycemia as well.

Why must nurses reassess after an intervention?

Reassess after acting because patient status and priorities can change; revise the plan when new cues or competing demands arise.

What should a shift-start safety scan identify?

Start with a safety scan of handoff information, unstable or high-risk patients, important changes, and time-critical treatments.