Registered nurses (RNs) are responsible for assessing patients’ health needs, developing and implementing nursing care plans, and providing education and counseling to patients and their families. Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) provide basic nursing care under the supervision of RNs or physicians. Unlicensed assistive personnel (UAPs) provide support services such as bathing, dressing, and grooming patients, as well as feeding them and helping them to use the toilet. Through collaboration with other medics, LPNs, RNs, and UAPs can deliver the best service to clients with different complications, especially those with breathing complications, when Clinicians are busy.
When faced with a client who has become pulseless and is not breathing, I would delegate two tasks to the UAPs. Firstly, I would UAPs the task of checking for a pulse and begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) as needed. It is important to remember that in an emergency situation, the goal is to ensure that everyone is safe and stabilized as much as possible. When the client cannot breathe, it is best to delegate the pulse checking and CPR provision tasks to provide those lifesaving measures while other physicians care for other aspects of the emergency.
Secondly, I would assign the UAPs the role of beginning the bag-mask ventilation to the patient. Studies have shown that providing basic life support (such as bag-mask ventilation) to a patient can improve their chances of survival (Olasveengen et al., 2021). Similarly, the UAPs are more likely to be familiar with performing bag-mask ventilation than the clinician. Bag mask ventilation is important because it is the way to get oxygen into the lungs of a person who is not breathing (Benditt, 2019). When someone becomes pulseless and not breathing, their heart stops beating, and they are essentially suffocating. By using a bag mask to ventilate them, they get supplied with oxygen, thus giving them survival chances. I will also request UAPs to keep the area clean, organized, and free for fresh air circulation.
Additionally, I will need to collaborate with an LPN (new graduate) to help the patient. In such a situation, I will assign the new LPNs tasks such as checking the client’s vitals and providing emotional support to other staff and family members. It is essential to remember that these new LPNs are still learning, so they should not be entrusted with tasks that could potentially put the client at risk. It is crucial to check a client’s vitals in the event that they become pulseless, as this will help to determine their condition and whether or not CPR is necessary (Safari et al., 2022). Checking a client’s vitals includes taking their blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen saturation levels. If any of these readings are abnormal, it may indicate that the client needs CPR.
In maintaining the safety of the clients, I will need to call for help (911) and activate the emergency response plan. In the meantime, I will need to take appropriate steps to ensure the safety of my other clients. This may include moving them away from the affected client or locking down the unit if necessary. I will also stay calm and focused in this difficult situation to provide the best possible care for everyone involved.
When a client develops breathing complications, the RNs, LPNs, and UAPs on the team will work together to provide care. The team can delegate duties amongst themselves to assess the situation and take appropriate action, such as calling for help or starting CPR. The UAP can assist with CPR and other treatments as needed, and the LPN can aid with keeping track of vital signs and providing emotional support to the client’s loved ones. By working together, the team can provide effective care to the client. In conclusion, by working together, RNs, LPNs, and UAPs can collaborate with other clinicians to provide the highest quality of care to their patients.
References
Benditt, J. O. (2019). Respiratory care of patients with neuromuscular disease. Respiratory Care, 64(6), 679-688. Web.
Olasveengen, T. M., Semeraro, F., Ristagno, G., Castren, M., Handley, A., Kuzovlev, A., Monsieurs, K. G., Raffay, V., Smyth, M., Soar, J., Svavarsdottir, H., & Perkins, G. D. (2021). European resuscitation council guidelines 2021: Basic life support. Resuscitation, 161, 98–114. Web.
Safari, R., Khashmin, M. M., & Abdi, A. (2022). The experience of pre-hospital emergency personnel in breaking death news: a phenomenological study. BMC nursing, 21(1), 1-11. Web.