Problem
You have just arrived for your clinical day and received your assignment. Today you will provide care for two clients on the medical-surgical unit until 3PM. You are responsible for all cares for the clients from basic hygiene, meals, and mobility to medication administration and treatments including client education and safety. You should specifically indicate delegation in your plan for the day. Unit meals are scheduled for 7:30AM, 12:30PM and 5:30PM.
Client I: 82 y/o male diagnosis pneumonia admitted from LTC facility last night. The client has a history of COPD, diabetes, and osteoarthritis. Client is A&Ox3. Orders include: oxygen at 2L/min nasal cannula, nebulizer q3 hours, blood glucose before meals with sliding scale insulin, med-lock for IV antibiotics at 10A & 2P. Activity is up with assist using a walker.
Client II: 68 y/o female post-op day #1 repair of L arm fracture. The client has a history of atrial fibrillation with a pacemaker in place, osteoporosis, and mild dementia. Client is A&O x 3 but her short-term memory is poor at times. Orders include: RBC transfusion on day shift, maintain L arm elevated in sling with ice to surgical site x 24 hours with neurovascular checks q2h, IV med-lock, and PT/OT referral for evaluation, treatment, and education to return home. Activity is up to chair.
Instructions:
a) Develop list of tasks you will need to do for each patient. Remember to consider; all patient orders, hygiene, feeding, activity, medication, education, safety, standard priority treatment needs based on diagnosis
b) Using the template provided for the assignment, - prioritize the tasks on the list using one of the frameworks of prioritization.
Which task/item for each client was the main priority? Why?
Which method did you use for prioritizing? What did you like/not like about the method?
Is it realistic for you to complete all of the tasks/items on your list by the end of your clinical day?
If not, what would you do with those tasks/items left undone?