Question

You walk into your patient's room at the beginning of your shift.

You find your patient disconnected from the monitor.

As you approach your patient, you realize your patient is pallor and your patient's mouth is open with saliva dripping from the corner of the mouth. Your patient is unresponsive.

Remember this is now your patient.

What is your first response . . . what will you do???

Are you prepared?

Will you remain calm?

Answer 1

First of all, yes I am prepared. It the beginning of my shift and I am ready for everything. After seeing the patient in that condition I would panic a little at first but I know I have to keep my calm and act likewise.

- I would immediately connect the patient to the monitor and notice the monitor readings and check the pulse of the patient.

- I would wipe the patient's mouth and keep his head straight.

- The monitor is disconnected, that means the patient might have got seizures or the patient might have gasped for oxygen before being unresponsive.

- The patient id pallor, that may be due to reduced amount of oxyhemoglobin in blood. I would immediately start the oxygen supply of the patient.

-Next I would call the doctor or house-staff on duty and report all the symptoms I observed and next I would do what the doctor asks.