Chosen Scenario B – Sepsis
Mary is a 27 year old female that has been admitted to the emergency department. She has been diagnosed with acute appendicitis and is NBM waiting to be taken to a surgical ward and then the operating theatre. Mary is known to have mild asthma and is prescribed a Salbutamol inhaler to use as required.
From the end of the bed she appears clammy and pale. She is alert but anxious.
On assessment the following is noted:
Airway is clear
Respiration rate 26
Saturations 92% on room air
No abnormal breath sounds
Blood pressure 90/45
Pulse 135 regular and ‘bounding’
Capillary refill time 4 seconds
Temperature 37.2 oC
Pain score 6/10 – she describes the pain as sharp and in the right lower abdominal quadrant
Introduction (approx. 250 words)
• Background to the topic (recognition and escalation of the deteriorating patient) – why is it important for nurses to have an understanding of this?
• State the scenario that you have chosen to use e.g. “This case study is based on the patient described in scenario
A”
ABCDE Approach (approx. 1750 words)
• Background and critique of the ABCDE approach- what is it and why is it useful?
• Using each step of the approach discuss details of the assessment and the immediate interventions that might be
required – this must be based on your chosen scenario
• Use subheadings to structure your writing e.g. ‘Airway’, ‘Breathing’ etc
Discussion of Ongoing Care (approx. 1750 words)
• Discuss what might happen to your patient after the initial assessment – how should this situation be escalated?
What might the ongoing care be?
• A critical analysis of relevant overarching topics should be included. Such as;
Early warning systems
Human factors
Communication strategies
National guidelines and patient safety campaigns
Conclusions (approx. 250 words)
• Summarise the important points discussed in the main body of your assignment and draw relevant conclusions
• Summarise what has been learnt as a result of analysing this patient’s case
• Legislative framework for acute care
• Ethical issues of acute care
• Care planning in acute care
• Health education following acute care
• Escalation of care
• Evidence base practice for acute care
• Bio-psycho-social causes and consequences in acute care
• Assessment in acute care-including rapid and adjustment of plans of care