Prioritize rank (ABC) Severe C vs. Mild B

Editorial Team / Moderator · Mar 12, 2016

Severe circulation issues = catastrophic hemorrhage. This is a lesson we learned doing trauma in war zones.

Double-Helix, BSN, RN · Mar 13, 2016

Mild breathing issues- think of how you feel when you have a bad cold. Increased secretions, maybe an increased respiratory rate, coughing, but nothing that's going to cause serious harm.

Some serious circulatory issues would be- hemorrhage, cardiac disease, cardiogenic shock, cardiac tamponade, etc.

Natasha A., CNA, LVN · Mar 13, 2016

Thank you! I really appreciate it.

Magsulfate, BSN, RN · Mar 13, 2016

Serious circulatory problems will cause difficulty breathing and vise versa

bgxyrnf, MSN, RN · Mar 14, 2016

Severe C means either (a) the pump isn't working effectively, (b) the plumping isn't working, or © the reservoir is empty... all things that will maim or kill if not treated promptly.

I'll take this opportunity to share a little ABC story.

We had a trauma patient and the computers were messing up so that the docs' orders weren't showing up in radiology nor on the pyxis. We were scrambling around trying to override systems that don't like being overridden. I commented to the trauma surgeon, "I used to think that ABC meant Airway-Breathing-Circulation... now I realize that it means Airway-Breathing-Computer." She smiled and replied, "Remember, it's now CAB."

Natasha A., CNA, LVN · Mar 15, 2016

Thank you everyone!!! My weakness is "working with group of patients and who to see first". I wished nursing schools would emphasize the importance of ABC which will improve our critical thinking, observation skills, make hypothesis and patient data collection

For instance I am learning that patient assessment and observation skills are very important which is the backbone of understanding nursing framework. I didn't know that importance of recognizing acute vs chronic, onset vs progressive, severity PQRST assessment, non-cardiac vs cardiac diseases, ischemic vs non-ischemic, etc and the key features to differentiate diagnosis disorders with desired outcomes and implementation. This seems like ABC and safety

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · Mar 16, 2016

She smiled and replied, "Remember, it's now CAB."

Funny, but true!

bgxyrnf, MSN, RN · Mar 16, 2016

Thank you everyone!!! My weakness is "working with group of patients and who to see first". I wished nursing schools would emphasize the importance of ABC which will improve our critical thinking, observation skills, make hypothesis and patient data collection
For instance I am learning that patient assessment and observation skills are very important which is the backbone of understanding nursing framework. I didn't know that importance of recognizing acute vs chronic, onset vs progressive, severity PQRST assessment, non-cardiac vs cardiac diseases, ischemic vs non-ischemic, etc and the key features to differentiate diagnosis disorders with desired outcomes and implementation. This seems like ABC and safety

Something which might help you think about these who-to-see-first things is looking at triage.

Have a gander at http://www.ahrq.gov/sites/default/files/wysiwyg/professionals/systems/hospital/esi/esihandbk.pdf

Natasha A., CNA, LVN · Mar 16, 2016

Thank you for the link!!!!! I have La Charity PDA book and your link also has practice cases. I will definitely take the time to work on the case studies. :)

AceOfHearts<3 · Mar 20, 2016

Thank you for the link!!!!! I have La Charity PDA book and your link also has practice cases. I will definitely take the time to work on the case studies. :)

As as you start working your way through La Charity I think you will see a big change. I always recommend that book. I noticed I went from getting the questions right about 50% of the time to almost always getting them right as I worked my way through the book chapter by chapter. Good luck!