NCLEX-PN® ExaminationCoordinated CareMedium
A client on a medical-surgical unit is experiencing sudden onset shortness of breath. The LPN immediately assesses the client and calls for assistance. Which member of the interdisciplinary team should the LPN collaborate with first to address the client's acute respiratory distress?
- AThe respiratory therapist (RT).
- BThe client's primary care physician (PCP).
- CThe charge nurse.
- DThe unit's registered nurse (RN).
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. The unit's registered nurse (RN).
In an acute change in condition like sudden shortness of breath, the LPN's first point of collaboration is the unit's Registered Nurse (RN). The RN has a broader scope of practice, including assessment, diagnosis, and initiating immediate interventions in acute situations, and will then involve the physician or other specialists as needed.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. While an RT will likely be involved, the RN is the initial point of contact for escalating an acute change in client condition and coordinating care.
- B. The PCP may not be immediately available in an acute hospital setting; the RN is the immediate point of escalation.
- C. The charge nurse is a resource for overall unit management, but the RN directly assigned to the client or available on the unit is the first clinical collaborator for an acute change.
Collaboration: Acute Change in Condition
When a client experiences an acute change in condition, the LPN's immediate collaboration should be with the Registered Nurse (RN) as the primary clinical leader, who can perform advanced assessments and initiate rapid interventions.
- RNs have a broader scope for acute care assessment and intervention.
- LPNs escalate acute changes to the RN for timely response.
- Rapid response is crucial in acute respiratory distress.
Memory trick: Acute distress? RN is the best to assess and address.