Help with prioritization and delegation scenario

[dasburyRN]

Hey everyone,

I need help with this scenerio. While I understand priority (ABC's and Maslow's) and delegation, I am having difficulty with this particular scenerio. I feel it should go like this:

1. Fainted Visitor- I would be going to evaluate this person myself, and would have other staff available to go as well

2. IV infiltration and late antibiotics- I would have the LPN go to discontinue the IV and report findings back to me as soon as the new IV have been placed by IV therapy. As long as the patient is stable, the LPN could then hang the new antibiotics.

3. OR just called and is coming for the ORIF patient- The CNA can get the last set of vitals before going to surgery assuming the consent and teaching had already been comleted.

4. Dr. Notnice- I would have to ask him to discuss this later (at a mutually agreed upon time)

5. The 3 late dinner trays- unit secretary to call dietary.

6. Toilet overflow- unit secretary to call maintenance.

Ahhhhhh! There are so many ways this could go. What do you think?

You are the charge nurse on the 3-11pm shift of a busy medical-surgical unit. It has been a relatively quiet evening. When you return from dinner at 7pm, you are greeted by several personnel who relate the following situations. The other RNs are all busy with their patients, but you have the following people to delegate to: Yourself, a Unit Secretary and a LPN. Indicate IN ORDER OF PRIORITY who should be delegated each task

a. A visitor has fainted.

b. The public toilet down the corridor is overflowing and waste products are pouring out rapidly.

c. Three patients have not received their dinner trays form the dietary department. Dinner trays normally arrive at 6:15pm.

d. The OR just called and they are on their way to pick up Mr. Mister for an ORIF (open reduction and internal fixation).

e. Dr. Notnice is waiting to discuss a medication error that was made on one of his patients two weeks ago.

f. Mrs. Poorsoul's IV has infiltrated; her IV fluid is behind schedule and the IV antibiotic was due at 6:00pm.

[TheSquire, DNP, APRN, NP]

The doc can wait - he's not a health hazard like the toilet.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

Hey everyone,

I need help with this scenerio. While I understand priority (ABC's and Maslow's) and delegation, I am having difficulty with this particular scenerio. I feel it should go like this:

1. Fainted Visitor- I would be going to evaluate this person myself, and would have other staff available to go as well

2. IV infiltration and late antibiotics- I would have the LPN go to discontinue the IV and report findings back to me as soon as the new IV have been placed by IV therapy. As long as the patient is stable, the LPN could then hang the new antibiotics.

3. OR just called and is coming for the ORIF patient- The CNA can get the last set of vitals before going to surgery assuming the consent and teaching had already been comleted.

4. Dr. Notnice- I would have to ask him to discuss this later (at a mutually agreed upon time)

5. The 3 late dinner trays- unit secretary to call dietary.

6. Toilet overflow- unit secretary to call maintenance.

Ahhhhhh! There are so many ways this could go. What do you think?

.

YOu're thought process is great and you're right it can go many ways.

1,2,and 3 are good........then......Here's what I would do.....

4) Have the secretary call maintainence.......can be a health and saftey issue

5) Call for the 3 late tray's customer service and the kitchen could close soon.

6) Even thought the MD could be a pain and it would be easier to deal with him to get him out of your hair......he is the least urgent........

Well done!

[dasburyRN]

Thanks for your help! I didn't realize anyone responded to my question!