Prioritization of Multiple Patients

In this scenario, the learner is a nurse caring for four patients with one nursing assistant to help with basic tasks. One patient is an 82-year-old woman with a knee abscess and a drain that needs to be removed. Another patient is a 45-year-old man who is post colon resection. He will require a diagnosis through examination. The third patient is a 70-year-old with COPD who will desaturate and require the learner to initiate oxygen therapy following a discussion with the physician. The fourth and final patient is a 27-year-old woman with diabetes who requires a glucose check and insulin administration. The learner must prioritize care for all patients and delegate tasks appropriately.

Learning Objectives

– Accurately identify the priority of each task when caring for multiple acute patients
– Delegate responsibilities, when appropriate, to other team members
– Diagnose and treat common problEMS in medical and surgical patients