Admission is an act of allowing the patient/client to stay in the health facility for a period. This brings about a change in the patient(s) environment which could be:
· Sudden and drastic due to an emergency or
· Planned
The first impression created is very important therefore the nurse should be understanding, courteous, confident and efficient.
Aims
Allows the patient to stay in the hospital for observation, investigation, treatment of a disease and bedrest.
Types
· Planned: The patient is informed well ahead of time to allow him or her prepare for the admission. The patient usually walks in to the facility alone or accompanied by a relative. The patients are usually admitted for investigations and planned treatment.
· Unplanned (Emergency): The patients usually has no plans of being admitted and arrive on the ward in an unprepared state. Patients for emergency admission are usually very ill and may be transported into the ward in a wheel chair or on a trolley through the emergency units. However, occasionally a patient for unplanned admission may walk into the ward. The patients are admitted with an acute condition requiring immediate treatment.
Requirements
· Admission bed and its accessories (Per patient condition)
· Manual or electronic folder
· Vital signs tray
· Oxygen apparatus
· Treatment or emergency tray
· Suction apparatus
· Admission and Discharge documents (Manual or Electronic)
Steps
1. Welcome patient and relatives to the nurses’ station
2. Introduce self (nurse) and any staff present
3. Collect necessary documents, admission notes and any other information from the accompanying nurse
4. Assess the patient’s conditions and note any supportive gadgets/devices
5. Identify and confirm patient’s name, particulars and reassures him/her and relatives
6. Send patient to bedside and position him/her as per the conditions permits
7. Make relative comfortable in the waiting area
8. Take comprehensive history from the patient or relatives
9. Perform general head to toe assessment
10. Check vital signs and records
11. Secure intravenous access and extracts sample for requested laboratory investigations
12. Send patient to do other requested investigations e.g. X-rays, C.T. Scan etc. (if any)
13. Inform charge nurse of any urgent prescribed medication and ensure they are available
14. Administer prescribed medications
15. Assist patient to change into appropriate clothing
16. Ask patient to declare valuables if any according to the institution’s protocol
17. Keep patient valuables according to the institution’s protocol
18. Explain National Health/Mutual Insurance Schemes to patient and relative(s)
· If client is a scheme holder, go ahead and process
· If client is a cash-in client, request for deposit per the institutional protocol
19. Introduce him/her to other patients near him/her in the ward
20. Orientate patient/relative(s) to ward if condition permits
21. Inform patients/relatives about the routine ward activities
22. Enter patient’s name into admission, discharges book and daily ward state (manually or electronically)
23. Instruct patient/relatives to read and sign consent form if necessary
24. Allow relative(s) to see patient and bid goodbye
25. Document all assessments, findings and treatments in appropriate notes charts (manually or electronically)
26. Plan care for the patient using the nursing process approach
0 Comments