Stable Client – correct answer •post op greater than 12 hours
•local/regional anesthesia
•use of the word stable
•Chronic illnesses (examples COPD & CHF; ABC does not always lead to the right)
•Lab abnormalities of least priority (creatinine Vs potassium; potassium takes priority because potassium
is a priority lab, not the creatinine level even if it is high)
•Admitted longer than 24 hours ago
•Unchanged assessments (nothing new)
•Experiencing expected signs & symptoms of a diagnosed disease
Unstable Client – correct answer •Post op less than 12 hours (aka fresh post op)
•General anesthesia within 12 hours post op
•Acute illness (examples appendicitis or pancreatitis)
•Lab abnormalities of highest priority (priority labs such as potassium, calcium, sodium)
•Phrases that a patient unstable (newly admitted/not ready for discharge)
•Admitted less than 24 hours ago
•Changed assessments (new finding)
•Experiencing unexpected signs & symptoms of a diagnosed disease
Unstable client (continued) – correct answer Even if expected, makes patient automatically highly
unstable:
-Hemorrhaging! (Always)
-Temp of 105 or higher (leads to seizure)
-Hypoglycemia (leads to coma/death quickly)
-Pulselessness or breathlessness
(This will be in the modifying phrase, last part of the question)
Priority Questions come in 4 parts – correct answer Age
Gender
Diagnosed disease
Modifying phrase (pay attention to the last part of the question, is it expected/unexpected or is it a
highly unstable phrase like hemorrhaging/temp of 105)
Example of a priority Question – correct answer A 16 year old male with bacterial meningitis with a
temp of 103 for the last 3 days