The nurse is assisting the health care provider with a lumbar puncture in the client's room. The unit secretary calls over the room intercom and tells the nurse that the laboratory is on the phone with a critical value report for one of the nurse's other clients. What action should the nurse take?

Question

The nurse is assisting the health care provider with a lumbar puncture in the client's room.  The unit secretary calls over the room intercom and tells the nurse that the laboratory is on the phone with a critical value report for one of the nurse's other clients.  What action should the nurse take?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A critical value is a result that is significantly abnormal and requires the nurse to contact a provider immediately to initiate appropriate interventions. An example is a potassium level of 7 mEq/L (7 mmol/L). The nurse should delegate the task to the charge nurse so appropriate interventions can be initiated while the nurse finishes the sterile procedure (Option B). This is the option with the least client risk. Timely reporting of critical results is part of the International Patient Safety Goals. (Option A) The unit secretary does not have the background, training, experience, and education to understand the implications of the critical value or know the next step. A registered nurse or other licensed practitioner must take the report. (Option C) The nurse cannot "abandon" the client in the middle of a sterile procedure to take the report. (Option D) The typical policy calls for the laboratory to verbally communicate critical results and document which nurse took the report. A written report may never be received or the nurse may forget to look for it. The best response is to have another nurse take the report. Educational objective: Registered nurses must learn to delegate tasks appropriately when busy. A critical value must be reported in a timely manner so interventions can be put in place to enhance patient safety.

The Nurse Is Assisting the Health Care Provider with a Lumbar