Question

To prepare a patient on the unit for a bronchoscopic procedure, a medical-surgical nurse administers the IV sedative. The medical-surgical nurse then instructs the licensed practical nurse to:

A. Educate the patient about the pending procedure.
B. Give the patient small sips of water only.
C. Measure the patient's blood pressure and pulse readings.
D. Take the patient to the bathroom one more time.

Answer 1

A licensed practical nurse should measure the patient's blood pressure and pulse readings to ensure stability before a bronchoscopic procedure. This is part of pre-procedure checks which are crucial for patient safety, much like checklists used in aviation and other high-stakes environments.

Step-by-step explanation:

To prepare a patient for a bronchoscopic procedure, after a medical-surgical nurse administers an IV sedative, it would be appropriate for the licensed practical nurse (LPN) to measure the patient's blood pressure and pulse readings. This action is within the scope of practice for an LPN and helps ensure that the patient remains stable prior to the procedure. The LPN plays a critical role in the pre-procedure checklist, which includes ensuring the patient's vitals are within safe parameters, a step that can be analogous to the safety checks performed in other high-stakes environments, like aviation, before a critical event such as takeoff.

Ensuring patient safety and preparation involves a team approach, where the surgeon, nurse, and anesthesia professional review key aspects of the patient's care, including identity confirmation, procedure verification, and evaluating the patient's airway and aspiration risk. Ultimately, tasks such as providing patient education, giving sips of water, or assisting the patient to the bathroom are to be determined by the specific roles and responsibilities outlined by the healthcare facility and relevant regulatory guidelines.