Question

A nursing student is providing a hand-off report to the RN assuming her patient's care. She explains, "I ambulated him twice during the shift; he tolerated walking to end of hall each time and back with no shortness of breath. Heart rate was 88 and regular after exercise. The patient said he slept better last night after I closed his door and gave him a chance to have some uninterrupted sleep. I changed the dressing over his intravenous (IV) site and started a new bag of \(D_{5} 1 / 2\) NS Which intervention is a dependent intervention? a. Providing hand-off report at change of shift b. Enhancing the patient's sleep hygiene c. Administering IV fluids d. Taking vital signs

Short answer

The dependent intervention is c. Administering IV fluids.

Step-by-step solution

Identify Dependent Interventions

A dependent intervention is a nursing action that requires a provider's order before it can be carried out. Review each choice to determine which action fits this description.

Analyze Choice A

Providing hand-off report at change of shift is a standard nursing responsibility and does not require a provider's order.

Analyze Choice B

Enhancing the patient's sleep hygiene by closing the door for uninterrupted sleep is a nursing-initiated intervention. This action is taken based on the nurse's judgment and does not require a provider's order.

Analyze Choice C

Administering IV fluids is a dependent intervention because initiating or changing an IV fluid requires a provider's order.

Analyze Choice D

Taking vital signs after exercise is an independent nursing action; it does not require a provider's order and is a part of standard nursing care.

Key concepts

Administering IV Fluids

When it comes to administering IV fluids, it's a fundamental aspect of nursing care that can have significant implications for a patient's health. The process involves hooking up a bag of intravenous fluids, which could be anything from normal saline to a dextrose solution, into a patient's bloodstream. This is often done to treat or prevent dehydration, maintain blood pressure, or deliver medications and nutrients directly into the bloodstream.

It's important for nursing students to understand that this is a dependent nursing intervention, which means you will need a doctor's order to administer IV fluids. You can’t initiate this on your own judgment as you would with independent interventions like aiding in patient mobility or providing comfort measures. In practice, before you administer IVs, you will need to learn how to interpret the physician's orders, identify the correct solution, calculate drip rates, set up the IV equipment correctly, and monitor the patient's response carefully while ensuring aseptic technique to prevent infections.

Nursing Interventions

Understanding different types of nursing interventions is critical for student nurses. These interventions are categorized into three types: independent, interdependent, and dependent.

Independent interventions are the actions nurses initiate without any direction from other healthcare professionals. An example would be adjusting the position of a patient to prevent bedsores. On the other hand, interdependent interventions are those in which nurses collaborate with other health team members, like implementing care plans created by a multidisciplinary team.

Dependent interventions, as discussed earlier, require orders from a physician or another healthcare provider, with administering IV fluids being a prime example. One tip for nursing students is to always ensure clarity in these orders and to communicate effectively if there’s any uncertainty. Implementing these interventions safely and correctly is vital and speaks to the core responsibility of nursing care; always be vigilant about the details.

Nursing Student Education

The education of a nursing student is multifaceted, focusing on theoretical knowledge as well as practical skills. For a nursing student, mastering concepts such as dependent nursing interventions is just the beginning. Effective education involves hands-on experience through clinical rotations, simulation labs, and case studies that help reinforce the theoretical classroom learning.

Furthermore, educational programs prioritize teaching students critical thinking and decision-making skills necessary for patient care. Always remember, as a nursing student, that asking questions, actively participating in clinicals, and seeking out additional learning opportunities are keys to success. These experiences are what will transform theoretical knowledge into the practical savoir-faire required to excel in the nursing field. Instructors value students who take initiative and demonstrate curiosity, as this attitude often leads to a deeper understanding of nursing care and better patient outcomes.