Scenario 1
Mrs Fry is a 89 year old lady, admitted to hospital from a nursing home with increasing confusion, lack of
appetite and signs of dehydration. On a normal day, Mrs Fry is dependent on carers to wash, dress and feed
her as well as assist her to the toilet, although the majority of times she is doubly incontinent.
PMH: CVA X 2 in the past, Dementia, Recurrent urine infections, Breast cancer successfully treated 10 years
ago, Arthritis, Hypertension.
During your shift, you notice a change in Mrs Fry’s observations (see attached chart). She has been seen on
the ward round yesterday by the consultant, and she is being treated for another urine infection with
antibiotics and Intravenous fluids.
Questions:
1. How are you going to manage the situation and what are your priorities in Mrs Fry’s care?
2. What would your advice be regarding the frequency of observations for Mrs Fry?
3. How would you escalate Mrs Fry’s care and what would be your considerations regarding levels of
care?
Scenario 2
Mr Harris is a 65 year old man admitted with increasing Shortness of breath. He lives at home with his wife,
enjoys an active life and is fully independent.
He has been in hospital for 3 days and his shortness of breath has not improved. Drs are investigating the
cause of his symptoms, he has been a smoker for 45 years but gave up 3 weeks ago.
PMH: Hypertension, Knee replacement 5 years ago, Appendix removed as a child
Mr Harris asks to speak to a doctor because he feels that his breathing is worsening, he feels sweaty and
dizzy and this is causing him to become very anxious (see chart attached). You bleep the doctor and he will
attend the ward within 10 minutes.
Questions:
1. While awaiting the doctor to attend, what would be your priorities?
2. What is meant by the term ‘target saturations’ and how do we consider this in practice for individual
patients?
10 minutes later the doctor phone the ward to state that he is tied up with another patient and will not be
able to attend the ward for at least another half an hour.
Question:
3. What are your priorities going to be now and how could you escalate his care?
Scenario 3
Mrs Bail is a 36 year old lady, admitted to hospital following a previous appendectomy 4 days ago which she
had been discharged after. She has been transferred to the surgical ward and is in a lot of pain from her
abdomen (observations as charted). She has been seen in the Emergency Department by the surgical FY1
and has had bloods done, blood cultures taken, IV access and IV fluids commenced. She has also been given
IV paracetamol and oramorph for the pain. When you go to repeat Mrs Bails observations, she starts to
vomit copious amounts, complains of increasing pain in her abdomen and becomes very pale and sweaty.
PMH: 3 x childbirth, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Depression
Questions:
1. What would be your actions now and how would you document this?
2. What possible causes of deterioration could be relevant here in this case?
3. Your shift is about to finish and you are handing over the patients care to the night team. What are
the elements of the patients care that you will handover?