Question

When modifying a care plan to meet a patient whose status has changed significantly over the past few days, What should the nurse do?

1) Add more nursing interventions from a standardized plan of care
2) Redevelop the entire patient care plan
3) Perform a complete reassessment of all patient factors
4) Focus on changing the nursing diagnoses and goals

Answer 1

Upon significant changes in a patient's status, a nurse must perform a complete reassessment of patient factors and revise the care plan as needed, incorporating collaboration with healthcare professionals.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a patient's status changes significantly, it is crucial for a nurse to perform a complete reassessment of all patient factors. This is because patient care must be individualized and based on the current needs and conditions of the patient, which can evolve over time. After reassessment, the care plan should be revised accordingly, which may involve adding new nursing interventions, redeveloping the plan, refining diagnoses, or setting new goals. The collaboration between healthcare professionals, like that between the surgeon, nurse, and anesthesia professional, is essential to review aloud key concerns for recovery and care management, ensuring that the care plan is comprehensive and fits the patient's current condition.