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Miscellaneous Clinical Information

NURSING STUDENTS

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Assessing and Managing Pain• The following pain assessment tools are

utilized at PSMH for all types of patients– Numeric Pain Intensity Scale (NPIS)– Visual Pain Analogue (VPA/faces)– Pain Assessment in Advanced Dementia(PAINAD)– FLACC (face, legs, activity, cry and consolability)

for non-verbal infant and pediatrics– Neonatal Intensity Pain Scale (NIPS) for neonates

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Pain Assessment

• A comprehensive pain assessment is initiated on admission/arrival

• Patients will be reassessed after administration of pain medications within a time consistent with the anticipated onset of effect of the specific medication administered.

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Team Communication

• Students and Instructors must communicate care, progress and changes in patient conditions to the primary nurse with a frequency sufficient to support the patients plan of care

• The ISBARQ communication tool is utilized for communication between members of the health care team

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ISBARQ

• ISBARQ will be the format utilized in all hand off communication– I- Introduction– S- Situation– B- Background– A- Assessment– R- Recommendation– Q- Questions

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Palliative Care

• PSMH employees and students will work collaboratively to ensure respectful and responsive care of the dying patient.

• Needs of the dying patient will include psychological, social, emotional and spiritual support. Students will work collaboratively with nurses and instructors to provide this need for patients, families and friends.

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Color Coded Arm Bands

• The following color coded arm bands are utilized at PSMH– WHITE- patient identification– RED- allergies– YELLOW- fall risk– PINK-----no blood pressure, lab sticks, IVs, or injections to

that extremity for any reason (lymphedema, dialysis site, mastectomy, etc.)

– PURPLE- Do Not Resuscitate– GREEN- Blood Bank