Waiting to Exhale...

Well, last night they posted the results for the pass/fail critical thinking and care plan tests. And........

I passed both. As did my two best friends. We are all so relieved. The scenario was a good one. A bit challenging, because there were no vital signs, just what you observe upon entering the room and doctors orders.

Actually, here it is, in case anyone is interested:

68 year old man with hx of HTN, CAD, and Angina Pectoris, in the hospital for cardiac catheterization. He is pos-op and back on the floor. His doctors orders are as follows:

O2 @ 3L/min
VS Q 15 min for 1 hour, then Q hour X 4 hours
Clear liquid diet progressing to regular as tolerated
Complete bed rest with left leg extended for 6 hours
Cardiac enzymes Q 8 hours X3
Cardizem PO (can't remember the dose)
Nitrodur Patch 2.0 mg 1 Q24 hours
Nitro-tab 0.4 mg sublingual PRN
Morphine 2.0 mg PRN acute pain
Darvocet PO Q 4 hours for pain (can't remember the dose)

You walk into the room 4 hours later and find the pt sitting up on the side of the bed slumped over. Pt states that as he tried to get up to go to the bathroom, he felt dizziness, chest pain, and slightly short of breath. He also states that he feels a "weird tingling" all over his left side, especially in his left leg. You notice that his speech is slightly slurred.

Not one vital sign. Can you believe it?

Now, on to the med-surg final Thursday. I knew the teacher was going to keep it short. 65 questions for 7 months of material. Isn't that nice? :P

W. :)