The third patient, who is having drastic blood sugar fluctuations, would be my lowest priority. However, I would still need to assess them and make sure that their blood sugar is stable. I would also need to educate the patient about how to manage their blood sugar at home.
I would use the following critical thinking process to prioritize my assessments and activities:
- Identify the patients who are in the most immediate danger.
- Assess the patients who are in the most immediate danger.
- Intervene as needed for the patients who are in the most immediate danger.
- Assess the other patients.
- Intervene as needed for the other patients.
I would organize and prioritize implementation of care by first completing the interventions that are most urgent. I would then complete the interventions that are less urgent. I would also make sure to document my assessments and interventions in the patients' charts.
Here are some additional tips for prioritizing my assessments and activities:
- Use the ABCDE approach to triage patients. This approach prioritizes patients based on their airway, breathing, circulation, disability, and exposure.
- Use the patient's presenting symptoms to prioritize your assessments. For example, if a patient is complaining of chest pain, you would prioritize assessing their cardiac status.
- Use the patient's past medical history to prioritize your assessments. For example, if a patient has a history of myocardial infarction, you would prioritize assessing their cardiac status.
- Use the patient's laboratory values to prioritize your assessments. For example, if a patient has a low blood sugar, you would prioritize assessing their glucose levels.