Rachel Cartwright-Vanzant – Impending Doom: Crisis Prevention and Management in the Deteriorating Patient

Outline

Sepsis Crisis

• What are the 3 most likely causes of a sepsis crisis
• Three cardinal signs of sepsis
• Understanding diagnostic tests to differentiate sepsis from other possibilities
• Summary of the current evidence-based findings
• Complications of illness

Cardiovascular Crisis

(Acute MI, Cardiogenic Shock, Pulmonary edema, TIA/CVA)

• What are the common causes of all cardiovascular diseases
• Symptomology differences between genders in cardiovascular disease
• Examination clues that help you recognize a cardiovascular crisis
• What diagnostic tests, labs, x-ray, imaging can help with diagnosis of a CV emergency
• Nurse’s role managing a cardiovascular crisis

Anaphalaxis Crisis

• Do you know the typical causes of anaphalaxis?
• Signs/symptoms to look for in patients experiencing anaphalaxis
• What quick nursing actions can save your patient’s life in anaphalaxis?
• Medications that can avert an anaphalaxis crisis

Diabetic Crisis

(Ketoacidosis, Hyperosmolar Syndrome)

• Key differences between ketoacidosis and hyperosmolar syndrome
• What subtle signs do patients display when heading towards a diabetic crisis?
• Important labs that give clues in diabetic crisis and its resolution
• What nursing skills are important to help reduce diabetic crisis complications?

Pulmonary Crisis

(Status Asthmaticus, Acute Respiratory Failure)

• Identify causes that can lead to a pulmonary crisis
• Are all breath sounds alike?
• When asthma is no longer simple
• Which patients are likely to develop acute respiratory failure – and what can you do about it?

Hypovolemic Crisis

(GI bleed, Trauma, Internal Bleeding)

• Causes of hypovolemic shock that you will encounter
• When anxiety, restlessness, agitation and confusion are not a mental health problem
• Are there earlier signs than hypotension that signal a hypovolemic crisis?
• Fluids, Fluids, Fluids. Fluid resuscitation can save a life.

Rapid Response Teams

• Effective use of the RRT in a clinical crisis
• When to utilize the RRT
• What team members are needed on RRT