Assignment task: You are a newly hired RN whose first assignment after graduation is in the recovery room of a hospital that specializes in cardiovascular procedures. You have learned the recovery room procedures quickly and have further developed your nursing skill set to meet the demands of the position. After working there for two weeks, you are assigned to Phoebe as a one to one nurse.
Phoebe is a 58-year-old woman who coded during valve replacement surgery and is not doing well in the recovery room. Nurses are only assigned one to one to the most unstable and critical patients. Phoebe finally regains consciousness several hours after surgery, although the endotracheal tube remains in place, and she is still connected to a ventilator. The surgeons speak to Phoebe about the severity of her condition and the likelihood that she may die, then they leave the recovery room.
Phoebe indicates that she wants a pen and a paper pad to write on because she cannot speak with the endotracheal tube in place. She writes about half a page, folds the note, and writes an address on it. Using the pad of paper, she asks you if you will send the letter out for her after you get home. You gladly agree.
- As the nurse caring for Phoebe, what are your priority concerns?
- Are there any issues with sending the letter for Phoebe? Why or why not?