As a nurse (RN), how do you figure out the BEST action or MOST IMPORTANT action to a situation?

Question

I.E. a patient that has cardiac problems.

Answer 1

In priotizing medical circumstances you have to give value to what is most lethal (or potentially most lethal) off set by what is most likely. This is further tied into what is most time sensitive.

A patient with elevated troponins is experiencing chest pain.
Lethal, likely, very time sensitive.

A patient with a negative cardiac cath is experiencing chest pain.
Lethal, very unlikely, potentially time sensitive.

A patient with prior ischemic EKG changes arrives well perfused but now desaturates to less than 90%.
Lethal, very likely, very time sensitive.

A patient with COPD desaturates to less than 90%.
Non lethal, likely, not time sensitive.

The first and third circumstances require immediate action while the second and fourth circumstances probably do not require immediate attention...at least in terms of preserving patient life and/or injury. Making the right decision requires knowledge, being well informed, and being experienced. There are thousands of possibilities.

I think it might help to consider the consequences of lack of action (lethality), the likelihood of it happening, and how important it is that something be done immediately.

Good luck.

Answer 2

Experience, education the primary task of a nurse is prioritizing what they do. As far as a patient with cardiac problems you have to be more specific, I am a nurse and have 4 patients every night I work with cardiac problems. I t all depends exactly what is happening with the patient.