NURS 471 Lecture Notes - Lecture 13: Mediastinum, Liver Injury, Pseudoephedrine
Document Summary
Unresponsiveness lack of palpable pulse will have an organized cardiac electrical activity (rhythm) on the monitor it can look like anything on the monitor except asystole, vfib or vtach. -- need to identify the problem--- will have the rhythm (electrical activity) but will not have a heart beat that can be auscultated or palpated --- they are clinically dead. Underlying causes must be identified- hs and ts: hypovolemia- loss of fluid in circulatory system can be a major contributing cause to cardiac arrest. Look for obvious blood loss: hypoxia- inadequate oxygen supply can be a significant contributing cause to cardiac arrest ensure that the airway is open, patent. Look for rise & fall of the chest, bilateral breath sounds. Make sure that oxygen is properly connected & flowing: hydrogen ion (acidosis)- if patient is in respiratory acidosis- Abgs will be done to assess this need to provide adequate ventilation to prevent respiratory acidosis.
