Question

A patient has just experienced a cardiac arrest on the unit. The nurse has implemented the acute care plan for management of code situations. What is the next step the nurse should take?

1) Resume all interventions for previously identified nursing diagnoses.
2) Perform the steps of the nursing process related to the patient's current condition.
3) Seek physician input related to updating the nursing diagnosis statements.
4) Evaluate the success of the acute care plan for management of the cardiac arrest.

Answer 1

The nurse should perform the steps of the nursing process related to the patient's current condition after the implementation of an acute care plan following cardiac arrest, including re-assessing the patient, planning, implementing immediate interventions, and evaluating the plan's success.

Step-by-step explanation:

After a patient has experienced a cardiac arrest, and the nurse has implemented the acute care plan for the management of code situations, the next step the nurse should take is to perform the steps of the nursing process related to the patient's current condition. This entails assessing the patient's response to the resuscitation efforts, planning further care based on the assessment, implementing necessary interventions immediately, and then evaluating the outcomes. The nurse should also ensure that CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) is being performed effectively if the patient's heart has not resumed spontaneous beating, which is essential for maintaining blood flow, especially to the brain. Following the resuscitation attempt, evaluation of the acute care plan's success is crucial to provide feedback on the effectiveness of the interventions and to determine the next steps in patient care.