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A nurse manager is planning to teach staff about critical pathways. Which of the following information should the nurse plan to include?

A.

Nurses notes are used to create the critical pathway

B.

Critical pathways should reduce health care costs

C.

Critical pathways have an unlimited timeframe for completion.

D.

Nurses should discontinue the critical pathway if variances occur

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is B

Rationale:

A. Nurses notes are used to create the critical pathway: Critical pathways are developed from evidence-based clinical guidelines and best practices, not directly from nurses’ notes. While documentation may help track progress, it is not the foundation for pathway creation.

B. Critical pathways should reduce health care costs: Critical pathways standardize care for specific diagnoses, promoting timely interventions and reducing unnecessary treatments or delays. This efficiency helps lower healthcare costs while improving patient outcomes.

C. Critical pathways have an unlimited timeframe for completion: Each critical pathway includes a defined timeline with expected outcomes for each phase of care. This structure ensures care is efficient and progress is monitored closely to prevent delays or complications.

D. Nurses should discontinue the critical pathway if variances occur: Variances are deviations from the expected outcomes and are used to evaluate and adjust care. They do not justify discontinuing the entire pathway but rather indicate a need for reassessment or individualized modifications.


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Related Questions

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Rationale:

A. Pupil diameter 6 mm: Dilated pupils may indicate CNS stimulation or sensitivity, but this finding is less immediately life-threatening than significant hypotension. Pupil size should still be monitored, especially for signs of overdose or neurologic changes.

B. Blood pressure 80/40 mm Hg: Severe hypotension is a critical adverse effect of IV morphine that can compromise perfusion to vital organs. It requires immediate attention to prevent shock, making this the highest priority finding to report.

C. Urinary output 120 mL/4 hr: While this output is slightly below normal, it does not yet indicate acute kidney injury. Continued monitoring is warranted, but it is not the most urgent issue compared to hypotension.

D. Bowel movement 5 days ago: Constipation is a common side effect of opioids, but it typically develops gradually and can be managed with bowel protocols. It is not as urgent as hypotension and can be addressed after stabilizing the client.

Correct Answer is {"dropdown-group-1":"B","dropdown-group-2":"C"}

Explanation

Rationale for Correct Choices:

  • Pain level: The client reports severe epigastric pain radiating to the back with a pain score increasing from 7 to 9 out of 10. Managing this acute pain is critical to improve the client's comfort, reduce stress response, and help prevent complications such as respiratory distress caused by shallow breathing due to pain.
  • Blood pressure: The client’s blood pressure has dropped to 86/48 mm Hg, indicating hypotension that can lead to poor tissue perfusion and shock. After addressing pain, stabilizing blood pressure is essential to prevent organ dysfunction and maintain hemodynamic stability.

Rationale for Incorrect Choices:

  • Lung sounds: Although diminished breath sounds and rhonchi are concerning and may indicate complications, immediate pain control can improve respiratory effort and oxygenation before focusing on lung sounds.
  • Bowel sounds: Hypoactive bowel sounds are common in pancreatitis but are less urgent than pain and hypotension in acute care.
  • Temperature: Fever suggests infection or inflammation but is a lower priority compared to controlling pain and stabilizing blood pressure.
  • Blood glucose level: Elevated glucose requires monitoring but is less urgent than the client’s pain and hypotension in the acute phase.

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