atsp (asked to see patient) booklet
TRANSCRIPT
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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ATSP Re
Dr Frances Bennett
Dr Gillian Jackson
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Page 2 Introduction
Page 3 ABDOMINAL PAIN
Page 4 AGITATIONCONFUSION
Page 5 BLOOD IN CATHETER BAG - Example o documentation
Page 6 DECREASED GCS
Page 7 DYING PATIENT
Page 8 FALLSCOLLAPSE
Page 9 FLUID REVIEW amp INSULIN SLIDING SCALE
Page 10 HAEMATEMESISCOFFEE GROUND VOMITMALAENA
Page 11 HIGH EWS (General Assessment)
Page 12 HYPERKALAEMIA (stable patient)
Page 13 LOW URINE OUTPUT (catheterised patient)
Page 14 SHORTNESS OF BREATH
Page 15 TACHYCARDIAPALPITATIONS
Page 16 COMMONLY PRESCRIBED DRUGS
Page 18 PRESCRIBING OUT OF HOURS
Page 20 General Hints and Tips or seeing patients out o hours
1
Contents
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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Introduction
Dear all new FY1s
We know how daunting starting lie as a newly qualied junior doctor can be particularly
i you start your rst shit on-call or working nights During our oundation experience in
medicine we ound that medical school had prepared us well or emergency situations
with numerous courses like ILS AIMS and similar with the main emphasis being on ABCDE
and managing acute presentations
When you are asked to see patients on hospital wards this sort o training only gets you
so ar itrsquos a great structure to start with but oten the presentations are not that acute anda basic ABCDE assessment just isnrsquot enough
The aim o this teaching material is NOT TO TEACH you medicine you already know It
is there as a guide and prompt to help you out in situations you havenrsquot covered as a
student and to make sure you are a sae practitioner The material has already been trialled
in Pennine Acute Trust with positive and constructive eedback rom both experienced
clinicians and junior doctors so we think we have most eventualities covered
The individual case scenarios have been presented to you in a lay out which should help
with your documentation as well as assessment and management plan or the patient Thepresentation on blood in the catheter bag is set out as an example o good documentation
whereas the other examples are shortened versions with emphasis on the most important
aspects o each presenting complaint Make sure you donrsquot just read them mindlessly
you still always need to think about your course o action regarding ABCDE initially You
should also be able to come up with diferentials and take an appropriate history or most
scenarios which is why we have not included detailed prompts or this We have ocussed
on the areas which ourselves and our colleagues struggled with initially
Whenever you have an encounter with a patient it really is important that you document
what you have done in a systematic way This is to rstly protect yoursel rom a legalperspective should any harm come to the patient and secondly to help your colleagues
who are in charge o their care You will understand this soon enough or yoursel
We hope you nd this booklet useul and that it provides you with the majority o
inormation yoursquoll need when you are ATSPrsquod
I you have any urther eedback or us on the material or anything you would like to add
please eel ree to contact us with your suggestions
Gillian and Fran
A note rom the authors
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Initial Assessment
Examination
History
Investigations
Plan Hint
Medication Review
ATSP Re ABDOMINAL PAIN
A V P U
ABCDE
Is this patient acutely unwell
Are they post-op
ABDO EXAM
PR EXAM i appropriate (ie i there is history o haematemesismeleana i you suspect obstruction
or i you think the patient may be aecally loaded)
VASCULAR EXAM ndash eel the pulses
1 SOCRATES - CHECK BOWELS
Associated symptoms should include
urinary and gynae
3 PMHx including
bullalcoholconsumption
bullconstipationdiarrhoea
bullPreviousabdopelvicsurgery
bullBPH
REASON FOR ADMISSIONand most recent proceduresoperations
Consider
bullBloods-FBCUampEincCa2+LFTamylase
coag X-match i signs o bleed
bullAXRerectCXR
bullECG
bullDipstickurineMSUorCSU
bullStoolsample(Cdiffifonabx)
Discuss need or abdo USS with senior
Depends on working diagnosisimpression
bull KeepNBMuntildiagnosismade
bull IVaccess+-FLUIDS
bull Analgesiabull MonitorBPampurineOPCatheterise
bull ConsiderNGTifvomiting
bull Keepdetailsandcheckonthemlater
Most in-hospital abdo pain is not anemergency and this plan will be a bitexcessive or the majority o casesConstipation andor pre-existing chronic
pathology is the leading cause o abdo painin this group o patients unless they arepost-op Symptomatic treatment is mostoten suicient
Unless this is an ACUTE situation youshould ocus on symptom control whenout o hoursConsider holding bullNSAIDSifsuspectgastritisGORbullOPIATESifconstipatedConsider startingbullOMEPRAzOLEPRNGAVISCONbullAnalgesiandashPainladder(notNSAIDS)
Try BUSCOPAN(seeBNF)foranycramp
like colicky sounding painbullLaxativesorenemaifconstipatedOnly use an enema i patient is aecally loadedbullAntibioticsifsuspectUTI-checkprevious
MSUs
Foranon-acutesituationthinkaboutcommon
causes or in-hospital abdominal painbullConstipation - remember this may present as
overlow incontinence
bullUrinary retention
bullPre-existing pathology eg partial obstruction
CholecystitisPancreatitisGastritis(ulcerGORD
inective causes)
bullUTI (catheterised)
bullInection eg Cdi
If ACUTE ABDO ie perforation or bleedbull BP+feelthepulsebull IVAccessampbloodsbull ErectCXR+AXRbull SeniorHELP
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Initial Assessment
Examination
History
Investigations
Plan
Medication Review
4
Is patient in PAINFluid balanceTEMPAMTGCSSEPTICLRTIUTI
ABCDE
BM
bullChestandAbdoExam
bullNEUROLOGICAL EXAM - Likely to be limited
bullExposureforsource o sepsis including venous access catheters woundssores
bullSignsofhead trauma especially i patient has allen
bullSmellyUrine
Isthispersonnormallylikethis
Anyhistoryofdementia
HowWhenhavetheychanged
Any precipitants eg medsalcohol
withdrawal
Consider (according to clinical picture)
bullBloodsFBCUampEsincCa2+LFTs
bullDipstick MSU- check previous ones
too
bullCultures (i temperature has spiked)
bullCXR
bullABG i patient unwell
bullCT head (senior decision)
Only use sedation i you think the patient is putting
themselves or others at risk of harm NOT if they are just
being disruptive
DO NOT SEDATE PATIENTS WHO HAVE FALLEN AND MAY
HAVE SUFFERED A HEAD INJURY
bullRegular(2-4hrly)nursingobsinwelllitroom
bullTreatsuspectedcause+-analgesiaifnecessary
bullRegular ward staf must review bloods try and elicit
cause or change in moodAMT
bullOnceserious cause exluded bullForsleeplessness - Zopiclone 375-75mg PO
bullForagitation - Diazepam 5mg PO
- Haloperidol check BNF for indications and doses
Notorious drugs that cause conusion
bullOPIATES especially TRAMADOL
bullBENZODIAZEPINES
bullGELOFUSINE
bullINSULIN (too much)
THINK ABOUTRISKFACTORS or
- Sepsis - Lungs skin UTI recent surgery
- Hypoxia - PE pneumonia respiratory depression
- Pain (including constipation urinary retention)
- CVATIA
- Hypoglycaemia
Treat the reversible causesbeoreprescribing any sedatives
Reducing Regimen o
CHLORDIAZEPOXIDE or
ALCOHOL WITHDRAWAL
Day 1 and 2 20-30mgQDS
Day 3 and 4 15mgQDS
Day 5 10mgQDS
Day 6 10mgBDDay 7 10mgNocte
ATSP Re AGITATIONCONFUSION
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Examination
History
Investigations Medication Review
Investigations History
Name o DrMelanieCrowtherFY1Bleep1234
A V P U
Speaking ull sentences
RR 17
Sats 98 on air
Description
Chest clearGoodbilatAE
JVP Not raised
CRTlt2secs
Mucus membranesMoist well hydrated
+0HS
CalvesSot and non tenderNo oedema
Further relevant examinations
Inspection of catheter sitebull Noevidenceoftrauma
Appearance of urinebull 520mlinbagbull Bloodstainedbuttranslucentbull Noclots
BS normal Sot and non-tenderNo organomegalyNo ascites
Bladder not palpable
A
B
C
D
E
Patient Details NAME DOB Hosp No
EXAMPLE OF DOCUMENTATION
ATSP Re BLOOD IN CATHETER BAG
HR 86 reg
BP-lying13972
-standing13274
Fluidbalance
IN 1500ml12hr
OUT 1200ml12hr
Temp372
AMT1010
BM NA
Agitationmood no change
Any relevant PMHx eg TURP No
Past Hx o same thing None previously
When was catheter put in Catheter inserted
37 ago
Any record o diculties Doctor was called
to perorm as several nurses struggled to pass
tube
Why was pt catheterised Urinary retentionAny immediate distress or raised EWS No
I III
ABDOEXAM
prev now prev now
Hb 111 Na 138
WC 89 K 42
Plt 435 Cr 198
MCV 89 Ur 98
INR 11 CRP 57
Consider holding
Clexane and PO anticoags
MUST CHECK WITH SENIOR FIRST
Patients may be on anticoagulants
eg or AVR
1) Ensure IV access2) SendbloodsFBCUampECROSS MATCHCLOTTING3) Regularobs(2-4hourly)4) Strictuidbalancerecording (maintainurineopgt30mlshr)
5) Change catheter bag (to re-measurewith time)
6) Dipstick urine and send or CSU
SIGNED M Crowther GMC 7895432
Bloods
PlanMedication Review
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Initial Assessment
Examination
History
Investigations
Plan
Medication Review
ATSP Re DECREASED GCS
ABCDE AIRWAY amp OXYGENGCSPUPILSBM
ChestandAbdoExam(Quickfullassessment)
NEUROLOGICAL EXAM
bullReexesincplantars
bullPUPILS
COLLAPSESEIZURE - TRAUMA
DRUG TOXICITY
HYPOGLYCAEMIA
Look at medical notes yoursel
Commonly hypoglycaemia or opiate toxicity
but must rule out any serious acute events
Think about RISK FACTORS or
bullSepsis
bullStrokeorMI
bullLowBM
bullDrugtoxicity(opiatessedatives)
bull RenalFailure
Consider (according to clinical picture)
bullBloods
bullDipstickUrine
bullCXR
bullECG
bullABG
Treatsuspectedcause+-analgesiaifnecessary
bullOpiate ODNaloxonerdquoNarcanrdquo400mcgIVandrepeatuntilresponsive
In opioid toxicity reversal with naloxone produces instantaneous results once it has reached therapeutic levels
Remember it is very short acting and the patient may require a naloxone IVI depending on the amount and
natureoftheopiateODRefertotheBNForlocaltrustpolicyforthisanddiscusswithaseniorrst
bullLow blood sugars get senior helpifcausingsignicantlyreducedGCSNeedtoconsider10-25dextrose
IVIsIfGCS14+givelucoadeandcheckBMin30minsNursesshouldalreadyhavegivensomethingcalled
HYPOSTOP i patient is known diabetic beore calling you as it does not require a prescription
bullBenzodiazepinesunlikelywithin-hospitalpatientsbutthereversingagentisFLUMAzENILYoushould
never be using this on your own and most wards do not stock it anyway
Regular(2-4hrly)nursingobsinwelllitroom
IfyouareinANYDOUBTorsuspectanacuteeventhasoccurredyouMUSTseekSENIORHELP
IMMEDIATELY
Notorious drugs that cause sedation
bull OPIATES (OD)
bull BENZODIAZEPINES
6
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History
Initial Assessment and Examination
Ater Death
Medications or symptom control
ATSP Re DYING PATIENT
A V P U
A - isthisobstructedArethereexcesssecretions
B - isrespirationregularoragonal
C - ispatienttachycardicThis may be only sign o painD - isthepatientagitatedoruncomfortable
- ispatientvomitingorconausea
- isthepatienthavingseiures
E - isthepatientitchy
Arethefamilyawareofthesituation
Whataretheirinstructionsaboutbeingcontactedifpatientdeteriorateseginmiddleofthenight
HaspatientbeenassignedtoLCPanddocumentationallinorder
Go and see the body
Document Your name and bleep numberbull ldquoCalledtoconrmdeathNovitalsignsrdquoStatetime o death
bull Fixedanddilatedpupils
bull Norespiratoryeortfor3minutes
bull Nopulseorheartsounds
bull DOCUMENT WHETHER OR NOT PATIENT IS FITTED WITH PACEMAKER RADIOACTIVE IMPLANT
bull YoudoNOTneedtoputacauseofdeathifyoudonrsquotknowthepatientunlessalreadyclearly
documented in notesbull YouDONOTneedtowriteadeathcerticate
bull WhetherornotNoKinformed
bull RIP
bull Painbreathlessness MorphineNB DIAMORPHINE is commonly stated as drug o choice in prescribing guidancebut oten hospitals donrsquot stock it I this is the case you can still use this inormation butensure you MULTIPLY the dose o diamorphine by 15 or a morphine equivalent (EgStateddoseDiamorphine10mgSC24hrsthenmorphineequivalentwouldbe15mgSC24hrs)
bull NauseavomitingLevomepromaine
bull Secretions Glycopyroniumbull RestlessnessagitationMidaolam
bull Itchiness Chlorpheniramine(Piriton)
See ldquoICP or the Care o the Dying Prescribing Guidance V 40rdquo or your trust equivalent or detailsRemember Some patients at the end o lie do not require heavy sedation or maximum pain relietailor your prescription according to your assessment and listen to the nurse caring or themWrite these meds up as PRN or via a syringe driver i itrsquos necessary (ie nurses constantlyadministering)Do NOT put patients on the Care o the Dying Pathway (ie withdraw lie-prolongingmedications)ndash this is a consultantrsquosMDT decision
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Initial Assessment and Examination
History
Investigations
Plan
Medication Review
ATSP Re FALLSCOLLAPSE
ABCDE
GCS
BM
ForHead Trauma ensure you document
the ollowing
1 Mechanism o injury
2AnyLOCReducedGCSConfusion
3AnyvomitingorSeiuresymptoms
4HeadexaminationegBruising
LacerationBoggy swellings
Signsoftrauma
bullHeadandneck
bullHIPS
Neuroexam
Lying-StandingBP
RISK FACTORS or
bullMechanicalFalls
bullStroke
bullLowBM
bullDrugtoxicity(opiatessedatives)
bullArrhythmiasbullSeiure
bull Infection
bullAlwaystakeaFALLS HISTORY but remember
you are ocussing on making the patient SAFE
rather than diagnosing a cause or their all
Oten none are needed (always do a lying
and standing BP though)
Depend on history and exam ndingsConsider
bullECG
bullBloods
bullDipstick
bullCThead(senior must be inormed)
bullRegularnursing+-neuroobsifindicatedbullAddressunderlyingcauseifappropriate
Wounds Most can be glued or steristripped I concerned send patient to AampE
Consider withholding the ollowing
bull Antihypertensives
bull Sedatives until head trauma ruled out
bull Warfarin i patient is at risk o allsagain ie undetermined cause o alls
or unsteady on eetdementia Check
with senior rst patient may have articial
valve replacement
bull Inorm nursing staf o any changes
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Assessment or repeat prescription
History
Sliding scale or IV insulin
High BM
1 The REASONfortheiruids(NBMslidingscaleunwellsepticunsafeswallow)
2FLUIDstatusndashcheckforoverloaddehydrationInput-Outputchart
3 CHECK UampEpayingattentiontoK+requirementsDonrsquotjustrewriteuidswithoutchecking
mostrecentUampEsIfnobloodsforgt48hrsandonregularuids repeat uampersquos beore represcribing
Write a blood card or next appropriate monitoring so it doesnrsquot get missed4ChecktheKARDEX or PO electrolyte supplements and diuretics I patient is receiving diuretic
anduidssimultaneouslythencontactseniorforadvice
Duringon-callyouwillnormallybeaskedtore-writetheslidingscaleontheuidchartBMsare
monitored every hour by nursing staf and inusion rate is altered accordingly
In the inusion pump
bull50mlsNsaline+50unitsACTRAPIDinsulin
bullKClmayalsobeaddeddependingonthepatientrsquoslevelsIflt3add20mmolif3-5add10mmol
BloodGlucoseLevelmmolL Standardscale Augmentedscale
Units o insulinhour Units o insulinhour
lt4 0 0 4-7 1 2
71-11 2 4
111-17 4 8
171-22 6 12
gt22 8 16
Stopinfusionfor30minutesthencheckBMagainRestartslidingscaleatslowerrateof05mmolhour
Stopping the insulin inusion completely can be especially dangerous in patients with type 1 diabetes
A high BM is oten nothing to worry about during an oncall shit It is usually because the patientrsquosnormal blood sugar control regime has been disrupted due to acute illness changes to routine or acombinationMake sure you1 Check BM charts or previous readings and whether this is new or them or not2 Check urine or ketones3 Do ABG i patient looks unwell I this is the case they are likely to have a high EWS so manage
appropriately4 Document your ndings and action taken (if any)
Ifpatientisnotonaslidingscaleyoucanprescribe10unitsactrapid(evenifNIDDM)tobringtheBMdown but donrsquot start messing around with their normal blood glucose control it is not an emergencysituationandcanbedealtwithduringwardhoursbyspecialiedteamswhohavealotofexperienceinthese cases
Ensurepatientisnotuidrestrictedforanyreasonieheartfailureoedemaandascites
ATSP or FLUID REVIEW
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Initial Assessment
Examination
History
Investigations
Plan
Medication Review
ATSP Re HAEMATEMESISCOFFEE GROUND VOMITMALAENA
A V P U
ABCDE
Chest Exam
ABDO EXAM
bullAnysignsofperforationTender
bullPR EXAM ndashALWAYScheckforevidenceYOURSELFevenHaematemesisCGV
IV Access and bloods
Work out EWSBP lying and standing
IfpthashadsignicantupperGIbleed
1 A signicant posturaldrop(gt20mmHg)in BP is oten the rst sign2Theureawillusuallybecomeproportionally higher than creatinineoten with little other evidence o renalailure
bullRememberHbwonrsquotdropimmediately afteraGIbleed-thereforenormalHbisnt
reassuring
RISK FACTORS or GI BleedbullGastricirritantmedications
(NSAIDS)bullAlcoholALDbullLackofgastro-protective
medicationbullUlcersbull ReuxGORDbull Persistentvomitingbull Endoscopystentingproceduresbull Postabdosurgery
Mandatory bullBloods-FBCUampEincludingCa2+ LFTINRandclottingX-match send as URGENTConsider bullAXRerectCXR bullUrgentendoscopyifHbhastaken
massive drop rom previous or is verylow ie lt7 Seniors denitely need tobe inormed beore considering this
WITHOLD
bullAny anti-coagulants
bullNSAIDS
CONSIDER
bullAntiemetic
bullPPI(lansopraoleisindicatedfor
patients on aspirin and clopidogrel
omepraoleifnot)
bull KeepNBMuntilwardteamassessmentuntilyouaresatisedthepatientisstablebull IVaccess+-FLUIDSbull Regularnursingobs-recheckonehourlaterand2hourlythereafterbull FluidbalanceMonitorurineOPandmaintaintogt30mlhrbull Keepdetailsandcheckonthemlater
NB Patients are not normally transused blood products over night unless it is an emergency IVuidswillpreventhypovolaemiaanditsconsequencesIfyouthinkyourpatientlooksabitdryoris slightly tachycardic etc then stay on the sae side and run through some saline (unless otherwisecontraindicated)
ue Haematemesis or Malaena is a medical emergency and will oten be accompanied with a high EWSeat accordingly i this is the case In-hospital patients oten suer simple coee ground vomits without
any systemic disruption but must still be considered as a potenital emergency
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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Medication Review
Initial Assessment Examination Possible CAUSES to consider
Investigations-depend on scoring parameters
Medication Review
Plan
History - ALWAYS look in the notes
Impression
ATSP Re HIGH EWS (General Assessment)NB always ask nurses or VALUES OF PARAMETERS and what they are COMPARED TO NORMAL
TrustguidelinesindicateforFY1sEWS3ndashAssessmanageandreassessactionsafter30minutes
EWSgt5ndashSeniormustbeinformedafterinitialassessmentndashattheveryleastjusttomakesuretheyareaware
RR
Sats
HR
BP
Fluid balance
Temp
AMT
BM
Agitationmood
GCS
CHEST-THOROUGH
clinical respiratory exam
is vital to guide urther
management
HS
JVP
Calves
Mucus membranes
CRT
bull PEbull HA Pneumoniabull Failure ndash heart lungsbull MI
bull Decompensated heart ailure
bull Acutedecompensated Renal failure
bull Dehydrationbull Sepsis or inection
bull Perorationbull AAA
bull Peritonitisbull DVT (look for one- a DVT wonrsquot cause high
EWS on its own)bull Source of sepsis (lines cellulitis catheter etc)
A
B
C
D
E
Considerbull CXRbull ABGbull Routinebloods+-CULTURESforsepticscreen
i temp spiked
bull X-matchifsuspectpatientisbleedingbull ECGbull UrineDipstick
ReviewKardexforanyIATROGENIC causes o above eg NSAIDSwararin bleedIsthepatientoversedatedSYMPTOM controlbull Isthepatientinpain- analgesiabull Isthepatientvomiting- antiemetic (IVIM)
bull IsthepatientdehydratedndashIV luidsbull IsthepatientsepticndashWhatisthesource
- Antibiotics (see trust guidance)Should the patient have been on
prophylacticLMWH-PE
Has the patient suered an acute
event
Has anything CHANGED and HOW
WHYhasthishappened
A high EWS can oten resolve with SYMPTOM control Eg bring the BP up and tachyhigh RR mayresolve1 Regular nursing obs2 Treatsuspectedcause3 Strictfluidbalance+-catheterisationifpatientisunwellenough4 Analgesiaandgeneralsymptomcontrol5 Reviewyourtreatmentaction-hasithadaneffectSenior review i worried
SEPTIC SCREEN
bull CXRbull UrineDipstick bull Cultures Blood Urine (MSU) Sputum
Stoolbull Swabs rom likely sources eg wound bedsore throat eye cannula catheterdrain site
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Initial Assessment
Investigations
Plan
Medication Review
Examination
History
ATSP Re HYPERKALAEMIA (stable patient)
A V P U
ABCDE ECG
CHEST and CVS
Hydration
Unwellorstable
Fluidbalance
- Is this acute
- Is it a chronic accumulation
- Does the patient have CRF
- CARDIAC history
- LOOK at FLUID Px charts
- Is patient diabetic
- Symptoms eg palpitationsdizziness
bull ECG
bull ABG - helpul i you suspect a spurious
result
bull BloodsndashRepeatsampleifunsureof
accuracy o hyperkalaemia eg haemolysis
Hyperkalaemia treatment
bull Iflt7andWITHOUTECGchanges
Insulin and dextrose IVI- reer to local trust policy or exact instructions I unable to ind then
10unitsactrapidin50mlof50dextroseover10mins
bull Ifgt65WITHECGchanges
Salbutamol 5mg neb
Insulin and dextroseIVIthenINFORMASENIORaspatientmaywellneed
Calcium gluconate10mlof10IVover5minforcardiacprotectionEnsurepatientison
cardiac monitoring Calcium resonium PO15mgQDSCausesconstipationsowriteupalaxativePRN
Hold medications as appropriate (see above)
REPEAT BLOODS post treatment
bull Diuretics-K+sparingorlosingbull ACEA2RBinbitorsegramipril
losartan
bull NSAIDS
bull IVFluids
bull PotassiumsupplementsIVPO
bull Nutritionaldrinks
ECG
ECGchangesinhyperkalaemia
bullArrythmias
bullProlongedPRintervalwithflattened
Pwaves
bullWideQRSwithslurrySTsegment
bullTalltentedTTraves
I patient is symptomaticunstable this is a medical EMERGENCY and needs a senior doctor involved
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Initial Assessment
Assessment o uid balance
Examination
Investigations
History
Plan
ATSP Re LOW URINE OUTPUT (catheterised patient)
ABCDE
CATHETER- IS IT BLOCKED
1Checktheuidchartandworkouttotalinputandoutput(usuallyover24hrsbutpatientis commonly post-op so calculate rom the time since they returned rom theatre i this is the case)2Remembertheurineoutputshouldbe05mlkghrDonrsquot orget to account or parenteral eeds stoma output and insensible losses
Fluid balance over 4 hours eg post opInput 500ml Output Urine 100ml Insensiblelosses 200ml Stoma 500mlTOTAL 500ml TOTAL 800ml
FLUID BALANCE=-300mliepatientisDRY
CHEST-isthepatientuidoverloadedABDO EXAM bullTenderUrinaryretentionNotepost-opileuscancauseurinaryretention bullStomasitendashisitinfectedLook or acute serious pathologies and try to correct these
bullAlwaysremembertolookatthenotes This problem is commonly seen in post op
surgical patientsbullCheckwhichoperationtheyrsquovehad and any important details on the op notes
beore you speak to senior docbullEnsurethatthepatientisnotuid restrictedegCCFascites
Consider
bullBloods-FBCandUampEstomonitorrenalfunction bullAXR bullDipstickurineMSUorCSU bullStoolsample(Cdiifonabx) bullSepticscreenDiscuss the need or imaging with senior i suspecting intra-abdominal sepsis
bullOftenallthatrsquosneededisauid challenge o 500ml saline particularly i the patient is dry (negative uidbalance)Getnursestorunitthroughstatandcheckopnomorethan1hrlaterIfpatientissimply
dehydrated their urine op should have picked up rom this CAUTION IN CCFCRF patients
bullCorrectunderlyingcauseoncediagnosedbullMonitorBPampurineOP(maintainurineopto05mgkghranddocumentthisinstruction)bullConsiderdiuretics(statdose40mgfurosemideIV) i you think the patient is uid overloaded (usually with positiveuidbalance)howeverusewithcautionandalwayscheckpreviousU+ErsquosConsultwithseniordoc
beore doing this you could easily exacerbate the problem
Think about RISK FACTORS orbullDehydrationLookforpotentialuidlosseseg
vomiting diarrhoea poor oral intake high stomaoutput
bullUrinaryobstructionegnatureofopco-morbiditiesbullInfectionSepsisbullDrugseganticholinergics
SEPTIC
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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Make a very quick decision as to whether or not you are confdent in treating this patient on your own
Patients who are short o breath can deteriorate very quickly indeed Call or a Senior immediately i you are unsure
Medication Review
Examination
History
Investigations- dependingon scoring parameters
Plan
Medication Review
ATSP Re SHORTNESS OF BREATH
A V P U
ABCDE
OXYGEN (highowinitially)ABG
THOROUGH exam is vital to guide management
Hydration assessment
- Onset
- Duration
- Exacerbating or relieving actors
- Check clerking proorma or
co-morbidities
bullABGndashimmediatelythenrepeatbullCXRCheckmostrecentoneDonrsquot
be araid to repeat CXR i things havechanged clinically Order a portable ilm
i you eel the patient is too unstable to betransported - discuss this with the nurses bullECGbullCulturesBloodandsputumif
appropriate andor check previous orsensitivities
bullRepeatbloods
bull Staywithpatientuntilyouarehappytheyarestable
bull Regularnursingobs(2hourly)
bull KeepawatchfuleyeontheirbloodsCXRetc
CALL FOR SENIOR HELP IF YOU ARE UNSURETHESE PATIENTS CAN DETERIORATE VERY QUICKLY INDEED
Patients with anxiety exacerbatingtheir respiratory disease are otengiven Oramorph by the nursingsta Be wary o this as you dontwant to be causing respiratorydepression in eg COPD patientsAsk a senior i unsure
Is patient on thromboprophylaxisWhat can I givebull ThinkaboutyourchoicesforOxygen
Therapy depending on patientrsquos chronic diseasestatusandABGresult
bullWheezeSalbutamol5mgneb+- atrovent500mcgneb(canbegivenwith O2)bullLRTICAPHAP Antibiotics (check
protocol)bullPulm OedemaFurosemide40mgIV
JVP and ankles
Calves Thighs
Anaphylaxis
Pneumothorax
Comparesatstonormalcomparewithchronicdiseasestatus
Cardiacorrespiratorycause
Ask about ASSOCIATED FEATURES and RISK
FACTORS or
DVTPE
Overload eg recent transusionluid therapy
MI
Infection(hospitalacquired)
Anxiety AsthmaCOPD exacerbation
Recent surgery (atelectasis)
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Initial Assessment
Examination
History
Investigations - depending on scoring parameters and clinical judgement
Plan - very diferent or acutely unwell patients and those who are stable
Medication Review
ATSP Re TACHYCARDIAPALPITATIONS
A V P U
ABCDE ECG
TACHYARRYTHMIAS ARE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY If patient has developed a new tachyarrhythmia
on ECG (SVTFast AF) a senior needs to be involved Make sure you perform the following
Chest and Abdo Exam
Fluidbalance-ispatientdehydrated
Mandatory
bullECG
Consider
bullRoutinebloods+-CULTURESfor
septic screen i spiked temperature bullX-matchifsuspectpatientisbleeding
bullUrineDipstick
1IVaccess+-fluidsandbloods2Followtachycardiaalgorithmifappropriate-seniorshouldreallybeinvolvedinthis3Regularnursingobs(candotemponlyevery30minshalfhourifyouthinkhaveRFsforsepsis)4TreatsuspectedcauseoftenthisisactuallySYMPTOMCONTROLandyoumayfindthatsimple
stable tachycardias resolve once you have the ollowing under controlbull PAIN bull DEHYDRATION
bull AGITATION bull SEPSIS
bull ANXIETY bull VOMITING
IATROGENIC causes o tachycardiabull SALBUTAMOLoverusebull EYEDROPSegPHENYLEPHRINEbull THEOPHYLLINEtoxicitybull DIPYRIDAMOLE
MEDICAL MANAGEMENTbull Considerdigoxin 250mcg in
elderly patients or bisoprolol 25 mgunless otherwise contra indicated (low BP
Asthma) once cause has been identiied(senior discussion)
bullIsthepatientsymptomatic
bullCARDIAC HISTORY
bullPreviouscardiachistoryandRISKFACTORSfor
MIAFArrhythmias
bullPreviousECGs
bullFor arrhythmias IS THIS NEW Assume it is
unless proven otherwise
bullLookatKardexforanyanti-arrhythmic
medications or clues
bullHowmuchteaandcoffeehasthepatienthad
bullHas patient been on any drugs which put thematincreasedriskoftheaboveEgWarfarin
NSAIDs- bleed Should the patient have been onprophylacticLMWH-PE
Possible reasons or simple tachycardia
bull Painbull Anxietybull Sepsisbull Hypovolaemia ndash bleeddehydrationbull PEbull MIbull Medication side FX
EXPOSEor sources o sepsis
PULSEREGULARORIRREGULAR
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You will oten get called to the wards to prescribe drugs or common in-patient complaints
Always eye-ball a patient beore doing so- the nurses may have the diagnosis wrong
DonrsquotforgettocheckforALLERGIESPMHandRENALFUNCTION(ifindicated)LookatKARDEXor any obvious interactions
Most drugs you will prescribe on-call should be written in the PRN or lsquoonce onlyrsquo section i you
do not know the patient
ANALGESIA MEDICATION ROUTE DOSAGE MAXDAY
PARACETAMOL POIV 500mgndash1g QDS
IBUPROFEN PO 200-400mg TDS
DICLOFENACrsquoVoltarolrsquo POIM 50mg TDS
PR 100mg TDS
CO-CODAMOL
(8500OR30500) PO 1-2TABLETS QDS
CO-DYDRAMOL(10500) PO 1-2TABLETS QDS
CODEINEPHOSPHATE POIM 30-60mg QDS
BUSCOPAN POIV 10-20mg QDS
QUININE PO 200mg ON
TRAMADOL PO 50-100mg QDS
MORPHINE IVPO 5-10mg STAT
NB Opiates can cause nauseavomiting and constipation Always Prescribe a PRN antiemetic and simple laxative
ANTI-EMETICS METOCLOPRAMIDErsquoMaxalonrsquo POIMIV 10mg TDS
(dopamineantagonist-worksdirectlyonGIT)
CYCLIZINE POIV 50mg TDS
(antihistaminendashworkscentrally)
PROCHLORPERAZINElsquoStemetilrsquoPO 10- 20mg TDS
lsquoBuccastemrsquo BUCCAL 3-6mg BD
(dopamineantagonist-workscentrallyonchemoreceptortriggerone)
DOMPERIDONE PO 10-20mg QDS
(actscentrallyonchemoreceptortriggerone)
ONDANSETRON POIMIV 8mg TDS
(5HT3 antagonist)
GASTIC REFLUX GAVISCON PO 5-10ml TDS
RANITIDINE PO 150mg BD
OMEPRAzOLE PO 20mg OD
COMMONLY PRESCRIBED DRUGS and doses
Caution NSAIDs in
asthmaPUCRF
Pts with
renal colic
respond
well to PR
dicloenac
Quinineisusedor night-timeleg crampscommon inhospital ptsMake sure youexamine frst- itmay be a DVT
Buscopan is an anti-
spasmodic and works
on smooth muscle
Greatforcramping
abdo pain
You can try most o these
in various combinations i
previous attempts to control
symptoms have ailed
Metoclopramideshould notbe used postGIsurgeryfor
3 days It canalso causesextra-pyramidalreactions andoculogyric
crises Bewareo this thoughthe antidoteis procyclidine5-10mgIVIM
Ondansetron is very
expensive Its otenreserved or chemo
patients donrsquot use it as
rst-line
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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SOB SALBUTAMOL NEB 5mg STATPRN
IPRATROPIUM BROMIDE (Atrovent) NEB 500mcg STATPRN
PREDNISOLONE PO 30-40mg STATOD
(3-5days max)
HYDROCORTISONE IV 200mg STAT(i acute SOB or angiodema)
FUROSEMIDE POIV 40-80mg STAT
ORAMORPH PO 5mg
LAXATIVES
Stimulants SODIUMDOCUSATE PO 50-200mg TDS
BISOCODYL PO 5-10mg BD
SENNA PO TT (15mg) BDTDSOsmotic MOVICOL PO 1-2sachets BDTDS
LACTULOSE PO 15ml BD
I aecal loading GLYCERINESUPPOSITORY PR T STATPRN
PHOSPHATE ENEMA PR T STATPRN
ITCHRASH CHLORPHENAMINE PO 4mg TDS
(alsoknownasldquoPiritonrdquo)
AGITATION DIAzEPAM POSLOWIV 5-10mg
SLEEPLESSNESS ZOPICLONE PO 375-75mg
AGGRESSION HALOPERIDOL CheckBNFforindicationsanddoses
ALCOHOL
WITHDRAWAL CHLORDIAzEPOXIDE(reducingregimen)
Day1and220-30mgQDS
Day3and415mgQDS
Day510mgQDS
Day610mgBD
Day710mgNocte
SIMPLE UTI TRIMETHOPRIM PO 200mg BD
NITROFURANTOIN PO 50mg QDS
CEPHALEXIN PO 500mg BD
FOR ALL OTHER INFECTIONS REFER TO YOUR LOCAL ANTIBIOTIC POLICY-YOUWILLSOONLEARNMOSTOFTHEMOFFBYHEART
Salbutamol causes
tachycardia
Use oramorph with caution in COPD pts It works well in anxious patients to control their breathing
In-hospital patients are oten constipated oten due to decreased activity and medications Try tackling
constipation using dierent pharmacological approaches ie donrsquot Px movicol i already on lactulose
Write in lsquovariable dosersquo section o kardex near the back
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Wararin
Digoxin
PRESCRIBING OUT OF HOURS
You will oten get bleeped to prescribe wararin or patients you donrsquot know especially over the
weekendevenings i your colleagues havenrsquot done them
CHECK PATIENT IS NOT BLEEDING
Areyouprescribingmaintenanceorloadingdose
LOADING this is the regimen prescribed initially until INR stable and in target range Old school says10mg10mg5mgcheckINR(Day4)
MAINTENANCE usual dose once INR established to keep within target range Check yellow book or
regular prescriptions
bullOnceanINRhasbeenobtainedforoneofyourpatientsmakesureyouprescribethewarfarinfor
about3-4daysthenre-checkMarkopenbracketsonwarfarinchartstoindicatewhenyouwantthe
nextINRtobechecked(usuallybetween3-4daysintheinitialperiodormorefrequentlyifthereare
difculties establishing a maintenance dose)
bullINR is too high (lt4 or lt5 i target is 3-4) - DO NOT OMIT just reduce the dose (1mg) and re-
checkINRatleast48hrsafterasittakesbetween48-72hrsforyourchangetohaveaneect
bull I INR is gt4 (or gt5 i target is 3-4) and patient not actively bleeding prescribe Vitamin K 1mg IV
and OMIT the next dose o wararin
Reason or LT wararin Tx AF 2-3
RecurrentDVT 2-3
PE 2-3
RecurrentPE 3-4
Prostheticheartvalve 3-4
Check kardex or INTERACTIONS
Common onesbull ClarithromycinErythromycin
bull Rifampicin
I actively bleeding check with Senior or advice on urther action
You will occasionally get bleeped to review digoxin levels
Toxicity is very worrying and would normally require the use o lsquoDigibindrsquo which is basically
anantidote for digoxinODYouwillneed toget anECGand assessthepatient clinicallybefore
proceedinggetting senior help
Sub-therapeutic levels are common They are not so worrying but you should clinically assess
the patient in particular their CVS paying particular attention to their pulse as you will denitely get
asked about this i you ask or senior help
I digoxin levels are out o range make sure you check their K+ and keep a regular eye on it as this
needs to be stable or digoxin to be a sae and eective choice o therapy
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Gentamicin
Usually prescribed in severeneutropenic sepsis (OD regimen) = 5-7mgkgmax480mg
You may get bleeped to check the gentamicin levels o ward patients and subsequently prescribe
the next dose
Theblood levelneedstobe taken6-14hoursafter thestartof thefrst IVI You are basically
looking or the levels to be within therapeutic range I they are not you need to reer to the
Hartord Normogram This is a chart which indicates WHEN the next dose should be according
to how out o range the levels are You DO NOT change the DOSE just the TIMING o the next
one(either2436or48hrslater)Makesureifyouhavebeenaskedtotakethebloodyourself
you note exactly how many hours post IVI the blood has been taken on the blood card it may be
another o your peers who has to review the level
Toxicity may
cause
Deaness
tinnitus
Nystagmus
Vertigo
RenalFailure
Monitor UEs
DAILY
ForpatientswithINFECTIVE ENDOCARDITIS (TDS regimen) = 1mgkg per dose
Therst levelthatneeds toberecordedisafter the3rd4thdoseensuringatleast24hoursof
treatmentisgivenItshouldbetaken1hourpostIVIiethePEAKorPOSTlevelandbebetween
3-5mgL A trough or PRE Dose level is taken approx 1 hour beore any administered dose and
should be lt1mgL The reason or this is that they are on a TDS regimen so renal unction needs
to be closely monitored It is important that gentamicin levels do not rise to toxic amounts
which is more common in patients with renal impairment
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
32
1
06 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Time between start of infusion and sample draw (hours)
Nicolau DP Freeman CD Belliveau PP Nightingale CH Ross JW Quintiliani R Experience with
a once-daily aminoglycoside program administered to 2184 adult patients Antimicrob Agents
Chemo 1995293650-655
Hartford Once Daily Dosing Nomogram
(GentTobra 7mgkg
L e v e l ( m c g m l )
q48h
q36h
q24h
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General Hints and Tips or seeing patients out o hours
When answering your bleep fnd out
1 Reason or bleep
2Quickbackgroundinfo
3 FurtherrelevantclinicalinfoegOBSERVATIONS and compare these to how they normally runI itrsquos a patient with high EWS just inorm a senior to make them aware and ready or action
4WhattheywantyoutoDO(PURPOSE o call)
5 Ask or the ollowing things to be ready when you arrive
bullNotes
bullKardex
bullObschartnursingle
bullEquipmentegcannulasbloodscatheteretc
6GiveappropriateinstructionsiftheyneedtodoanythingacutelybeforeyouarriveForexamplei
reason or bleep is Haematemesis ask or IV access and bloods to be taken or i a patient has
spiked a temp o gt38˚C get the nurses or night practitioner to do cultures beore you arrive Itsaves a lot o time and afng around once you are on the ward
7 Decide where this lies in your list o priorities or whether it is a job nurse practitioners can do
to help you
NB Try not to have arguments with nurses on the phone some o them are just starting out like
you and may also be petried sometimes they need reassurance too
When you get there
Findthenursewhobleepedyou(orrequestedthebleep)andgetamoredetailedaccountof
whatrsquos going on
Eye-ball the patient beore delving into notes or looking on the computer ollowing the standard
ABCDE assessment It wonrsquot take you long to gure out i they are acutely unwell unstable or
not
Once you have done your initial assessment and any immediate management document what
you have done using a logical and systematic approach This way you wonrsquot orget anything You
will also look really slick and competent plus you might nd you paint yoursel a picture o whatrsquos
going on even i you were clueless initially
Sit down at a computer with the nursing le and medical notes and go straight or the clerking It
should give you a succinct list o PC and other co-morbidities to create a more complete clinical
pictureFlickthroughthewardnotesandndanythingyoucanreaditmaybeofsomeuseLook
at the last entry in particular as there may be a plan o what to do should the situation you have
been bleeped or arises
Check PACS and the lab system or any recent imaging or tests NB ALWAYS compare recent results
to previous ones Just go down the lists looking or cultures unusual blood tests INRs etc and
document what you nd Sometimes the best summaries o a patient are created when someone
manages them on-call Be thorough at the beginning but i you are hard pushed or time reer back to the help sheets- they are designed to make you SAFE not to make you a brilliant diagnostician
whocancowboytheirwaythroughFY1lsquoHousersquostyle
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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HaveagoodbrowsethroughtheKARDEXlookingatwhichmedsmayhavecontributedtothe
situation which may have prevented it i they had been given and which ones you might need
toinitiatetomakesurethepatientisSAFE
Once you have all this inormation create a PROBLEM list and rom this document yourIMPRESSION o the situation Write a PLAN and document whether you involved a senior and
their name and grade Also document the amount o time you were there sometimes you need
tostaywithapatienttoseeifyourtreatmentworkseguidsforlowBPmeanwhileyoucan
scribble down everything yoursquove done to save time
Whenever you are assessing a patient think to yoursel
lsquoWhat do I need to DO to make sure this patient is SAFErsquo I this patient deteriorates or
dies unexpectedly and you were the last doctor to see them you need to make sure your
documentation is adequate Your management appropriate or not will mean nothing i it
has not been written down in the eyes o the law
In summary
bullAnsweryourbleepinasystematicway-itwillhelpyouprioritiseandbecomemoreecient
bullDelegatecertaintaskstonursesdonrsquotbeafraidofaskingthemyouarepartofaTEAM
bullPrioritiseyourjobsanddonrsquotbeafraidtoo-loadsomeontoyourwardSHOYOUaretheone
whogetsbleepedrstsoyouwillbeaskedtodoEVERYTHING
bullWhenyougettoapatient
1 ABCDE approach ALWAYS
2Documentyourinitialassessmentandmanagement 3Reviewthenursingleforobschartuidbalancewarfarinchartsuidprescriptions
4Reviewmedicalnotesandclerkingthensummarise
5ReviewKARDEX
6 Problem list
7 Impression
8 ACTION PLAN (use tick boxes or investigations you have ordered)
9 Keep their details (sticker on handover sheet) and make sure you check on them
later or handover to day team
ALWAYS MAKE SURE YOU ARE SAFE IF IN ANY DOUBT WHATSOEVER YOU MUST INFORMA SENIOR
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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Disclaimer
Copyright
Production
Contacts
The fndings and conclusions in this document are those o the authors who are
responsible or its content All inormation is to be interpreted on an idividual basisin context with the clinical situation to which it reers The inormation is not a
replacement or local guidelines and protocols nor is it a document with any legal
standing No statement in this document can be construed as an ocial position o
the North Western Deanery or NHS Northwest
copyGillianJacksonampFrancesBennett2011
BookdesignedbyAndrewPowellMedicalIllustrationatRoyalBoltonHospitalRef48355
Franmbennettgmailcom
gljacksonhotmailcouk
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7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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Page 2 Introduction
Page 3 ABDOMINAL PAIN
Page 4 AGITATIONCONFUSION
Page 5 BLOOD IN CATHETER BAG - Example o documentation
Page 6 DECREASED GCS
Page 7 DYING PATIENT
Page 8 FALLSCOLLAPSE
Page 9 FLUID REVIEW amp INSULIN SLIDING SCALE
Page 10 HAEMATEMESISCOFFEE GROUND VOMITMALAENA
Page 11 HIGH EWS (General Assessment)
Page 12 HYPERKALAEMIA (stable patient)
Page 13 LOW URINE OUTPUT (catheterised patient)
Page 14 SHORTNESS OF BREATH
Page 15 TACHYCARDIAPALPITATIONS
Page 16 COMMONLY PRESCRIBED DRUGS
Page 18 PRESCRIBING OUT OF HOURS
Page 20 General Hints and Tips or seeing patients out o hours
1
Contents
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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Introduction
Dear all new FY1s
We know how daunting starting lie as a newly qualied junior doctor can be particularly
i you start your rst shit on-call or working nights During our oundation experience in
medicine we ound that medical school had prepared us well or emergency situations
with numerous courses like ILS AIMS and similar with the main emphasis being on ABCDE
and managing acute presentations
When you are asked to see patients on hospital wards this sort o training only gets you
so ar itrsquos a great structure to start with but oten the presentations are not that acute anda basic ABCDE assessment just isnrsquot enough
The aim o this teaching material is NOT TO TEACH you medicine you already know It
is there as a guide and prompt to help you out in situations you havenrsquot covered as a
student and to make sure you are a sae practitioner The material has already been trialled
in Pennine Acute Trust with positive and constructive eedback rom both experienced
clinicians and junior doctors so we think we have most eventualities covered
The individual case scenarios have been presented to you in a lay out which should help
with your documentation as well as assessment and management plan or the patient Thepresentation on blood in the catheter bag is set out as an example o good documentation
whereas the other examples are shortened versions with emphasis on the most important
aspects o each presenting complaint Make sure you donrsquot just read them mindlessly
you still always need to think about your course o action regarding ABCDE initially You
should also be able to come up with diferentials and take an appropriate history or most
scenarios which is why we have not included detailed prompts or this We have ocussed
on the areas which ourselves and our colleagues struggled with initially
Whenever you have an encounter with a patient it really is important that you document
what you have done in a systematic way This is to rstly protect yoursel rom a legalperspective should any harm come to the patient and secondly to help your colleagues
who are in charge o their care You will understand this soon enough or yoursel
We hope you nd this booklet useul and that it provides you with the majority o
inormation yoursquoll need when you are ATSPrsquod
I you have any urther eedback or us on the material or anything you would like to add
please eel ree to contact us with your suggestions
Gillian and Fran
A note rom the authors
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 5243
Initial Assessment
Examination
History
Investigations
Plan Hint
Medication Review
ATSP Re ABDOMINAL PAIN
A V P U
ABCDE
Is this patient acutely unwell
Are they post-op
ABDO EXAM
PR EXAM i appropriate (ie i there is history o haematemesismeleana i you suspect obstruction
or i you think the patient may be aecally loaded)
VASCULAR EXAM ndash eel the pulses
1 SOCRATES - CHECK BOWELS
Associated symptoms should include
urinary and gynae
3 PMHx including
bullalcoholconsumption
bullconstipationdiarrhoea
bullPreviousabdopelvicsurgery
bullBPH
REASON FOR ADMISSIONand most recent proceduresoperations
Consider
bullBloods-FBCUampEincCa2+LFTamylase
coag X-match i signs o bleed
bullAXRerectCXR
bullECG
bullDipstickurineMSUorCSU
bullStoolsample(Cdiffifonabx)
Discuss need or abdo USS with senior
Depends on working diagnosisimpression
bull KeepNBMuntildiagnosismade
bull IVaccess+-FLUIDS
bull Analgesiabull MonitorBPampurineOPCatheterise
bull ConsiderNGTifvomiting
bull Keepdetailsandcheckonthemlater
Most in-hospital abdo pain is not anemergency and this plan will be a bitexcessive or the majority o casesConstipation andor pre-existing chronic
pathology is the leading cause o abdo painin this group o patients unless they arepost-op Symptomatic treatment is mostoten suicient
Unless this is an ACUTE situation youshould ocus on symptom control whenout o hoursConsider holding bullNSAIDSifsuspectgastritisGORbullOPIATESifconstipatedConsider startingbullOMEPRAzOLEPRNGAVISCONbullAnalgesiandashPainladder(notNSAIDS)
Try BUSCOPAN(seeBNF)foranycramp
like colicky sounding painbullLaxativesorenemaifconstipatedOnly use an enema i patient is aecally loadedbullAntibioticsifsuspectUTI-checkprevious
MSUs
Foranon-acutesituationthinkaboutcommon
causes or in-hospital abdominal painbullConstipation - remember this may present as
overlow incontinence
bullUrinary retention
bullPre-existing pathology eg partial obstruction
CholecystitisPancreatitisGastritis(ulcerGORD
inective causes)
bullUTI (catheterised)
bullInection eg Cdi
If ACUTE ABDO ie perforation or bleedbull BP+feelthepulsebull IVAccessampbloodsbull ErectCXR+AXRbull SeniorHELP
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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Initial Assessment
Examination
History
Investigations
Plan
Medication Review
4
Is patient in PAINFluid balanceTEMPAMTGCSSEPTICLRTIUTI
ABCDE
BM
bullChestandAbdoExam
bullNEUROLOGICAL EXAM - Likely to be limited
bullExposureforsource o sepsis including venous access catheters woundssores
bullSignsofhead trauma especially i patient has allen
bullSmellyUrine
Isthispersonnormallylikethis
Anyhistoryofdementia
HowWhenhavetheychanged
Any precipitants eg medsalcohol
withdrawal
Consider (according to clinical picture)
bullBloodsFBCUampEsincCa2+LFTs
bullDipstick MSU- check previous ones
too
bullCultures (i temperature has spiked)
bullCXR
bullABG i patient unwell
bullCT head (senior decision)
Only use sedation i you think the patient is putting
themselves or others at risk of harm NOT if they are just
being disruptive
DO NOT SEDATE PATIENTS WHO HAVE FALLEN AND MAY
HAVE SUFFERED A HEAD INJURY
bullRegular(2-4hrly)nursingobsinwelllitroom
bullTreatsuspectedcause+-analgesiaifnecessary
bullRegular ward staf must review bloods try and elicit
cause or change in moodAMT
bullOnceserious cause exluded bullForsleeplessness - Zopiclone 375-75mg PO
bullForagitation - Diazepam 5mg PO
- Haloperidol check BNF for indications and doses
Notorious drugs that cause conusion
bullOPIATES especially TRAMADOL
bullBENZODIAZEPINES
bullGELOFUSINE
bullINSULIN (too much)
THINK ABOUTRISKFACTORS or
- Sepsis - Lungs skin UTI recent surgery
- Hypoxia - PE pneumonia respiratory depression
- Pain (including constipation urinary retention)
- CVATIA
- Hypoglycaemia
Treat the reversible causesbeoreprescribing any sedatives
Reducing Regimen o
CHLORDIAZEPOXIDE or
ALCOHOL WITHDRAWAL
Day 1 and 2 20-30mgQDS
Day 3 and 4 15mgQDS
Day 5 10mgQDS
Day 6 10mgBDDay 7 10mgNocte
ATSP Re AGITATIONCONFUSION
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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Examination
History
Investigations Medication Review
Investigations History
Name o DrMelanieCrowtherFY1Bleep1234
A V P U
Speaking ull sentences
RR 17
Sats 98 on air
Description
Chest clearGoodbilatAE
JVP Not raised
CRTlt2secs
Mucus membranesMoist well hydrated
+0HS
CalvesSot and non tenderNo oedema
Further relevant examinations
Inspection of catheter sitebull Noevidenceoftrauma
Appearance of urinebull 520mlinbagbull Bloodstainedbuttranslucentbull Noclots
BS normal Sot and non-tenderNo organomegalyNo ascites
Bladder not palpable
A
B
C
D
E
Patient Details NAME DOB Hosp No
EXAMPLE OF DOCUMENTATION
ATSP Re BLOOD IN CATHETER BAG
HR 86 reg
BP-lying13972
-standing13274
Fluidbalance
IN 1500ml12hr
OUT 1200ml12hr
Temp372
AMT1010
BM NA
Agitationmood no change
Any relevant PMHx eg TURP No
Past Hx o same thing None previously
When was catheter put in Catheter inserted
37 ago
Any record o diculties Doctor was called
to perorm as several nurses struggled to pass
tube
Why was pt catheterised Urinary retentionAny immediate distress or raised EWS No
I III
ABDOEXAM
prev now prev now
Hb 111 Na 138
WC 89 K 42
Plt 435 Cr 198
MCV 89 Ur 98
INR 11 CRP 57
Consider holding
Clexane and PO anticoags
MUST CHECK WITH SENIOR FIRST
Patients may be on anticoagulants
eg or AVR
1) Ensure IV access2) SendbloodsFBCUampECROSS MATCHCLOTTING3) Regularobs(2-4hourly)4) Strictuidbalancerecording (maintainurineopgt30mlshr)
5) Change catheter bag (to re-measurewith time)
6) Dipstick urine and send or CSU
SIGNED M Crowther GMC 7895432
Bloods
PlanMedication Review
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Initial Assessment
Examination
History
Investigations
Plan
Medication Review
ATSP Re DECREASED GCS
ABCDE AIRWAY amp OXYGENGCSPUPILSBM
ChestandAbdoExam(Quickfullassessment)
NEUROLOGICAL EXAM
bullReexesincplantars
bullPUPILS
COLLAPSESEIZURE - TRAUMA
DRUG TOXICITY
HYPOGLYCAEMIA
Look at medical notes yoursel
Commonly hypoglycaemia or opiate toxicity
but must rule out any serious acute events
Think about RISK FACTORS or
bullSepsis
bullStrokeorMI
bullLowBM
bullDrugtoxicity(opiatessedatives)
bull RenalFailure
Consider (according to clinical picture)
bullBloods
bullDipstickUrine
bullCXR
bullECG
bullABG
Treatsuspectedcause+-analgesiaifnecessary
bullOpiate ODNaloxonerdquoNarcanrdquo400mcgIVandrepeatuntilresponsive
In opioid toxicity reversal with naloxone produces instantaneous results once it has reached therapeutic levels
Remember it is very short acting and the patient may require a naloxone IVI depending on the amount and
natureoftheopiateODRefertotheBNForlocaltrustpolicyforthisanddiscusswithaseniorrst
bullLow blood sugars get senior helpifcausingsignicantlyreducedGCSNeedtoconsider10-25dextrose
IVIsIfGCS14+givelucoadeandcheckBMin30minsNursesshouldalreadyhavegivensomethingcalled
HYPOSTOP i patient is known diabetic beore calling you as it does not require a prescription
bullBenzodiazepinesunlikelywithin-hospitalpatientsbutthereversingagentisFLUMAzENILYoushould
never be using this on your own and most wards do not stock it anyway
Regular(2-4hrly)nursingobsinwelllitroom
IfyouareinANYDOUBTorsuspectanacuteeventhasoccurredyouMUSTseekSENIORHELP
IMMEDIATELY
Notorious drugs that cause sedation
bull OPIATES (OD)
bull BENZODIAZEPINES
6
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 9247
History
Initial Assessment and Examination
Ater Death
Medications or symptom control
ATSP Re DYING PATIENT
A V P U
A - isthisobstructedArethereexcesssecretions
B - isrespirationregularoragonal
C - ispatienttachycardicThis may be only sign o painD - isthepatientagitatedoruncomfortable
- ispatientvomitingorconausea
- isthepatienthavingseiures
E - isthepatientitchy
Arethefamilyawareofthesituation
Whataretheirinstructionsaboutbeingcontactedifpatientdeteriorateseginmiddleofthenight
HaspatientbeenassignedtoLCPanddocumentationallinorder
Go and see the body
Document Your name and bleep numberbull ldquoCalledtoconrmdeathNovitalsignsrdquoStatetime o death
bull Fixedanddilatedpupils
bull Norespiratoryeortfor3minutes
bull Nopulseorheartsounds
bull DOCUMENT WHETHER OR NOT PATIENT IS FITTED WITH PACEMAKER RADIOACTIVE IMPLANT
bull YoudoNOTneedtoputacauseofdeathifyoudonrsquotknowthepatientunlessalreadyclearly
documented in notesbull YouDONOTneedtowriteadeathcerticate
bull WhetherornotNoKinformed
bull RIP
bull Painbreathlessness MorphineNB DIAMORPHINE is commonly stated as drug o choice in prescribing guidancebut oten hospitals donrsquot stock it I this is the case you can still use this inormation butensure you MULTIPLY the dose o diamorphine by 15 or a morphine equivalent (EgStateddoseDiamorphine10mgSC24hrsthenmorphineequivalentwouldbe15mgSC24hrs)
bull NauseavomitingLevomepromaine
bull Secretions Glycopyroniumbull RestlessnessagitationMidaolam
bull Itchiness Chlorpheniramine(Piriton)
See ldquoICP or the Care o the Dying Prescribing Guidance V 40rdquo or your trust equivalent or detailsRemember Some patients at the end o lie do not require heavy sedation or maximum pain relietailor your prescription according to your assessment and listen to the nurse caring or themWrite these meds up as PRN or via a syringe driver i itrsquos necessary (ie nurses constantlyadministering)Do NOT put patients on the Care o the Dying Pathway (ie withdraw lie-prolongingmedications)ndash this is a consultantrsquosMDT decision
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 10248
Initial Assessment and Examination
History
Investigations
Plan
Medication Review
ATSP Re FALLSCOLLAPSE
ABCDE
GCS
BM
ForHead Trauma ensure you document
the ollowing
1 Mechanism o injury
2AnyLOCReducedGCSConfusion
3AnyvomitingorSeiuresymptoms
4HeadexaminationegBruising
LacerationBoggy swellings
Signsoftrauma
bullHeadandneck
bullHIPS
Neuroexam
Lying-StandingBP
RISK FACTORS or
bullMechanicalFalls
bullStroke
bullLowBM
bullDrugtoxicity(opiatessedatives)
bullArrhythmiasbullSeiure
bull Infection
bullAlwaystakeaFALLS HISTORY but remember
you are ocussing on making the patient SAFE
rather than diagnosing a cause or their all
Oten none are needed (always do a lying
and standing BP though)
Depend on history and exam ndingsConsider
bullECG
bullBloods
bullDipstick
bullCThead(senior must be inormed)
bullRegularnursing+-neuroobsifindicatedbullAddressunderlyingcauseifappropriate
Wounds Most can be glued or steristripped I concerned send patient to AampE
Consider withholding the ollowing
bull Antihypertensives
bull Sedatives until head trauma ruled out
bull Warfarin i patient is at risk o allsagain ie undetermined cause o alls
or unsteady on eetdementia Check
with senior rst patient may have articial
valve replacement
bull Inorm nursing staf o any changes
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 11249
Assessment or repeat prescription
History
Sliding scale or IV insulin
High BM
1 The REASONfortheiruids(NBMslidingscaleunwellsepticunsafeswallow)
2FLUIDstatusndashcheckforoverloaddehydrationInput-Outputchart
3 CHECK UampEpayingattentiontoK+requirementsDonrsquotjustrewriteuidswithoutchecking
mostrecentUampEsIfnobloodsforgt48hrsandonregularuids repeat uampersquos beore represcribing
Write a blood card or next appropriate monitoring so it doesnrsquot get missed4ChecktheKARDEX or PO electrolyte supplements and diuretics I patient is receiving diuretic
anduidssimultaneouslythencontactseniorforadvice
Duringon-callyouwillnormallybeaskedtore-writetheslidingscaleontheuidchartBMsare
monitored every hour by nursing staf and inusion rate is altered accordingly
In the inusion pump
bull50mlsNsaline+50unitsACTRAPIDinsulin
bullKClmayalsobeaddeddependingonthepatientrsquoslevelsIflt3add20mmolif3-5add10mmol
BloodGlucoseLevelmmolL Standardscale Augmentedscale
Units o insulinhour Units o insulinhour
lt4 0 0 4-7 1 2
71-11 2 4
111-17 4 8
171-22 6 12
gt22 8 16
Stopinfusionfor30minutesthencheckBMagainRestartslidingscaleatslowerrateof05mmolhour
Stopping the insulin inusion completely can be especially dangerous in patients with type 1 diabetes
A high BM is oten nothing to worry about during an oncall shit It is usually because the patientrsquosnormal blood sugar control regime has been disrupted due to acute illness changes to routine or acombinationMake sure you1 Check BM charts or previous readings and whether this is new or them or not2 Check urine or ketones3 Do ABG i patient looks unwell I this is the case they are likely to have a high EWS so manage
appropriately4 Document your ndings and action taken (if any)
Ifpatientisnotonaslidingscaleyoucanprescribe10unitsactrapid(evenifNIDDM)tobringtheBMdown but donrsquot start messing around with their normal blood glucose control it is not an emergencysituationandcanbedealtwithduringwardhoursbyspecialiedteamswhohavealotofexperienceinthese cases
Ensurepatientisnotuidrestrictedforanyreasonieheartfailureoedemaandascites
ATSP or FLUID REVIEW
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 122410
Initial Assessment
Examination
History
Investigations
Plan
Medication Review
ATSP Re HAEMATEMESISCOFFEE GROUND VOMITMALAENA
A V P U
ABCDE
Chest Exam
ABDO EXAM
bullAnysignsofperforationTender
bullPR EXAM ndashALWAYScheckforevidenceYOURSELFevenHaematemesisCGV
IV Access and bloods
Work out EWSBP lying and standing
IfpthashadsignicantupperGIbleed
1 A signicant posturaldrop(gt20mmHg)in BP is oten the rst sign2Theureawillusuallybecomeproportionally higher than creatinineoten with little other evidence o renalailure
bullRememberHbwonrsquotdropimmediately afteraGIbleed-thereforenormalHbisnt
reassuring
RISK FACTORS or GI BleedbullGastricirritantmedications
(NSAIDS)bullAlcoholALDbullLackofgastro-protective
medicationbullUlcersbull ReuxGORDbull Persistentvomitingbull Endoscopystentingproceduresbull Postabdosurgery
Mandatory bullBloods-FBCUampEincludingCa2+ LFTINRandclottingX-match send as URGENTConsider bullAXRerectCXR bullUrgentendoscopyifHbhastaken
massive drop rom previous or is verylow ie lt7 Seniors denitely need tobe inormed beore considering this
WITHOLD
bullAny anti-coagulants
bullNSAIDS
CONSIDER
bullAntiemetic
bullPPI(lansopraoleisindicatedfor
patients on aspirin and clopidogrel
omepraoleifnot)
bull KeepNBMuntilwardteamassessmentuntilyouaresatisedthepatientisstablebull IVaccess+-FLUIDSbull Regularnursingobs-recheckonehourlaterand2hourlythereafterbull FluidbalanceMonitorurineOPandmaintaintogt30mlhrbull Keepdetailsandcheckonthemlater
NB Patients are not normally transused blood products over night unless it is an emergency IVuidswillpreventhypovolaemiaanditsconsequencesIfyouthinkyourpatientlooksabitdryoris slightly tachycardic etc then stay on the sae side and run through some saline (unless otherwisecontraindicated)
ue Haematemesis or Malaena is a medical emergency and will oten be accompanied with a high EWSeat accordingly i this is the case In-hospital patients oten suer simple coee ground vomits without
any systemic disruption but must still be considered as a potenital emergency
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 132411
Medication Review
Initial Assessment Examination Possible CAUSES to consider
Investigations-depend on scoring parameters
Medication Review
Plan
History - ALWAYS look in the notes
Impression
ATSP Re HIGH EWS (General Assessment)NB always ask nurses or VALUES OF PARAMETERS and what they are COMPARED TO NORMAL
TrustguidelinesindicateforFY1sEWS3ndashAssessmanageandreassessactionsafter30minutes
EWSgt5ndashSeniormustbeinformedafterinitialassessmentndashattheveryleastjusttomakesuretheyareaware
RR
Sats
HR
BP
Fluid balance
Temp
AMT
BM
Agitationmood
GCS
CHEST-THOROUGH
clinical respiratory exam
is vital to guide urther
management
HS
JVP
Calves
Mucus membranes
CRT
bull PEbull HA Pneumoniabull Failure ndash heart lungsbull MI
bull Decompensated heart ailure
bull Acutedecompensated Renal failure
bull Dehydrationbull Sepsis or inection
bull Perorationbull AAA
bull Peritonitisbull DVT (look for one- a DVT wonrsquot cause high
EWS on its own)bull Source of sepsis (lines cellulitis catheter etc)
A
B
C
D
E
Considerbull CXRbull ABGbull Routinebloods+-CULTURESforsepticscreen
i temp spiked
bull X-matchifsuspectpatientisbleedingbull ECGbull UrineDipstick
ReviewKardexforanyIATROGENIC causes o above eg NSAIDSwararin bleedIsthepatientoversedatedSYMPTOM controlbull Isthepatientinpain- analgesiabull Isthepatientvomiting- antiemetic (IVIM)
bull IsthepatientdehydratedndashIV luidsbull IsthepatientsepticndashWhatisthesource
- Antibiotics (see trust guidance)Should the patient have been on
prophylacticLMWH-PE
Has the patient suered an acute
event
Has anything CHANGED and HOW
WHYhasthishappened
A high EWS can oten resolve with SYMPTOM control Eg bring the BP up and tachyhigh RR mayresolve1 Regular nursing obs2 Treatsuspectedcause3 Strictfluidbalance+-catheterisationifpatientisunwellenough4 Analgesiaandgeneralsymptomcontrol5 Reviewyourtreatmentaction-hasithadaneffectSenior review i worried
SEPTIC SCREEN
bull CXRbull UrineDipstick bull Cultures Blood Urine (MSU) Sputum
Stoolbull Swabs rom likely sources eg wound bedsore throat eye cannula catheterdrain site
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 142412
Initial Assessment
Investigations
Plan
Medication Review
Examination
History
ATSP Re HYPERKALAEMIA (stable patient)
A V P U
ABCDE ECG
CHEST and CVS
Hydration
Unwellorstable
Fluidbalance
- Is this acute
- Is it a chronic accumulation
- Does the patient have CRF
- CARDIAC history
- LOOK at FLUID Px charts
- Is patient diabetic
- Symptoms eg palpitationsdizziness
bull ECG
bull ABG - helpul i you suspect a spurious
result
bull BloodsndashRepeatsampleifunsureof
accuracy o hyperkalaemia eg haemolysis
Hyperkalaemia treatment
bull Iflt7andWITHOUTECGchanges
Insulin and dextrose IVI- reer to local trust policy or exact instructions I unable to ind then
10unitsactrapidin50mlof50dextroseover10mins
bull Ifgt65WITHECGchanges
Salbutamol 5mg neb
Insulin and dextroseIVIthenINFORMASENIORaspatientmaywellneed
Calcium gluconate10mlof10IVover5minforcardiacprotectionEnsurepatientison
cardiac monitoring Calcium resonium PO15mgQDSCausesconstipationsowriteupalaxativePRN
Hold medications as appropriate (see above)
REPEAT BLOODS post treatment
bull Diuretics-K+sparingorlosingbull ACEA2RBinbitorsegramipril
losartan
bull NSAIDS
bull IVFluids
bull PotassiumsupplementsIVPO
bull Nutritionaldrinks
ECG
ECGchangesinhyperkalaemia
bullArrythmias
bullProlongedPRintervalwithflattened
Pwaves
bullWideQRSwithslurrySTsegment
bullTalltentedTTraves
I patient is symptomaticunstable this is a medical EMERGENCY and needs a senior doctor involved
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 152413
Initial Assessment
Assessment o uid balance
Examination
Investigations
History
Plan
ATSP Re LOW URINE OUTPUT (catheterised patient)
ABCDE
CATHETER- IS IT BLOCKED
1Checktheuidchartandworkouttotalinputandoutput(usuallyover24hrsbutpatientis commonly post-op so calculate rom the time since they returned rom theatre i this is the case)2Remembertheurineoutputshouldbe05mlkghrDonrsquot orget to account or parenteral eeds stoma output and insensible losses
Fluid balance over 4 hours eg post opInput 500ml Output Urine 100ml Insensiblelosses 200ml Stoma 500mlTOTAL 500ml TOTAL 800ml
FLUID BALANCE=-300mliepatientisDRY
CHEST-isthepatientuidoverloadedABDO EXAM bullTenderUrinaryretentionNotepost-opileuscancauseurinaryretention bullStomasitendashisitinfectedLook or acute serious pathologies and try to correct these
bullAlwaysremembertolookatthenotes This problem is commonly seen in post op
surgical patientsbullCheckwhichoperationtheyrsquovehad and any important details on the op notes
beore you speak to senior docbullEnsurethatthepatientisnotuid restrictedegCCFascites
Consider
bullBloods-FBCandUampEstomonitorrenalfunction bullAXR bullDipstickurineMSUorCSU bullStoolsample(Cdiifonabx) bullSepticscreenDiscuss the need or imaging with senior i suspecting intra-abdominal sepsis
bullOftenallthatrsquosneededisauid challenge o 500ml saline particularly i the patient is dry (negative uidbalance)Getnursestorunitthroughstatandcheckopnomorethan1hrlaterIfpatientissimply
dehydrated their urine op should have picked up rom this CAUTION IN CCFCRF patients
bullCorrectunderlyingcauseoncediagnosedbullMonitorBPampurineOP(maintainurineopto05mgkghranddocumentthisinstruction)bullConsiderdiuretics(statdose40mgfurosemideIV) i you think the patient is uid overloaded (usually with positiveuidbalance)howeverusewithcautionandalwayscheckpreviousU+ErsquosConsultwithseniordoc
beore doing this you could easily exacerbate the problem
Think about RISK FACTORS orbullDehydrationLookforpotentialuidlosseseg
vomiting diarrhoea poor oral intake high stomaoutput
bullUrinaryobstructionegnatureofopco-morbiditiesbullInfectionSepsisbullDrugseganticholinergics
SEPTIC
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 162414
Make a very quick decision as to whether or not you are confdent in treating this patient on your own
Patients who are short o breath can deteriorate very quickly indeed Call or a Senior immediately i you are unsure
Medication Review
Examination
History
Investigations- dependingon scoring parameters
Plan
Medication Review
ATSP Re SHORTNESS OF BREATH
A V P U
ABCDE
OXYGEN (highowinitially)ABG
THOROUGH exam is vital to guide management
Hydration assessment
- Onset
- Duration
- Exacerbating or relieving actors
- Check clerking proorma or
co-morbidities
bullABGndashimmediatelythenrepeatbullCXRCheckmostrecentoneDonrsquot
be araid to repeat CXR i things havechanged clinically Order a portable ilm
i you eel the patient is too unstable to betransported - discuss this with the nurses bullECGbullCulturesBloodandsputumif
appropriate andor check previous orsensitivities
bullRepeatbloods
bull Staywithpatientuntilyouarehappytheyarestable
bull Regularnursingobs(2hourly)
bull KeepawatchfuleyeontheirbloodsCXRetc
CALL FOR SENIOR HELP IF YOU ARE UNSURETHESE PATIENTS CAN DETERIORATE VERY QUICKLY INDEED
Patients with anxiety exacerbatingtheir respiratory disease are otengiven Oramorph by the nursingsta Be wary o this as you dontwant to be causing respiratorydepression in eg COPD patientsAsk a senior i unsure
Is patient on thromboprophylaxisWhat can I givebull ThinkaboutyourchoicesforOxygen
Therapy depending on patientrsquos chronic diseasestatusandABGresult
bullWheezeSalbutamol5mgneb+- atrovent500mcgneb(canbegivenwith O2)bullLRTICAPHAP Antibiotics (check
protocol)bullPulm OedemaFurosemide40mgIV
JVP and ankles
Calves Thighs
Anaphylaxis
Pneumothorax
Comparesatstonormalcomparewithchronicdiseasestatus
Cardiacorrespiratorycause
Ask about ASSOCIATED FEATURES and RISK
FACTORS or
DVTPE
Overload eg recent transusionluid therapy
MI
Infection(hospitalacquired)
Anxiety AsthmaCOPD exacerbation
Recent surgery (atelectasis)
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 172415
Initial Assessment
Examination
History
Investigations - depending on scoring parameters and clinical judgement
Plan - very diferent or acutely unwell patients and those who are stable
Medication Review
ATSP Re TACHYCARDIAPALPITATIONS
A V P U
ABCDE ECG
TACHYARRYTHMIAS ARE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY If patient has developed a new tachyarrhythmia
on ECG (SVTFast AF) a senior needs to be involved Make sure you perform the following
Chest and Abdo Exam
Fluidbalance-ispatientdehydrated
Mandatory
bullECG
Consider
bullRoutinebloods+-CULTURESfor
septic screen i spiked temperature bullX-matchifsuspectpatientisbleeding
bullUrineDipstick
1IVaccess+-fluidsandbloods2Followtachycardiaalgorithmifappropriate-seniorshouldreallybeinvolvedinthis3Regularnursingobs(candotemponlyevery30minshalfhourifyouthinkhaveRFsforsepsis)4TreatsuspectedcauseoftenthisisactuallySYMPTOMCONTROLandyoumayfindthatsimple
stable tachycardias resolve once you have the ollowing under controlbull PAIN bull DEHYDRATION
bull AGITATION bull SEPSIS
bull ANXIETY bull VOMITING
IATROGENIC causes o tachycardiabull SALBUTAMOLoverusebull EYEDROPSegPHENYLEPHRINEbull THEOPHYLLINEtoxicitybull DIPYRIDAMOLE
MEDICAL MANAGEMENTbull Considerdigoxin 250mcg in
elderly patients or bisoprolol 25 mgunless otherwise contra indicated (low BP
Asthma) once cause has been identiied(senior discussion)
bullIsthepatientsymptomatic
bullCARDIAC HISTORY
bullPreviouscardiachistoryandRISKFACTORSfor
MIAFArrhythmias
bullPreviousECGs
bullFor arrhythmias IS THIS NEW Assume it is
unless proven otherwise
bullLookatKardexforanyanti-arrhythmic
medications or clues
bullHowmuchteaandcoffeehasthepatienthad
bullHas patient been on any drugs which put thematincreasedriskoftheaboveEgWarfarin
NSAIDs- bleed Should the patient have been onprophylacticLMWH-PE
Possible reasons or simple tachycardia
bull Painbull Anxietybull Sepsisbull Hypovolaemia ndash bleeddehydrationbull PEbull MIbull Medication side FX
EXPOSEor sources o sepsis
PULSEREGULARORIRREGULAR
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 182416
You will oten get called to the wards to prescribe drugs or common in-patient complaints
Always eye-ball a patient beore doing so- the nurses may have the diagnosis wrong
DonrsquotforgettocheckforALLERGIESPMHandRENALFUNCTION(ifindicated)LookatKARDEXor any obvious interactions
Most drugs you will prescribe on-call should be written in the PRN or lsquoonce onlyrsquo section i you
do not know the patient
ANALGESIA MEDICATION ROUTE DOSAGE MAXDAY
PARACETAMOL POIV 500mgndash1g QDS
IBUPROFEN PO 200-400mg TDS
DICLOFENACrsquoVoltarolrsquo POIM 50mg TDS
PR 100mg TDS
CO-CODAMOL
(8500OR30500) PO 1-2TABLETS QDS
CO-DYDRAMOL(10500) PO 1-2TABLETS QDS
CODEINEPHOSPHATE POIM 30-60mg QDS
BUSCOPAN POIV 10-20mg QDS
QUININE PO 200mg ON
TRAMADOL PO 50-100mg QDS
MORPHINE IVPO 5-10mg STAT
NB Opiates can cause nauseavomiting and constipation Always Prescribe a PRN antiemetic and simple laxative
ANTI-EMETICS METOCLOPRAMIDErsquoMaxalonrsquo POIMIV 10mg TDS
(dopamineantagonist-worksdirectlyonGIT)
CYCLIZINE POIV 50mg TDS
(antihistaminendashworkscentrally)
PROCHLORPERAZINElsquoStemetilrsquoPO 10- 20mg TDS
lsquoBuccastemrsquo BUCCAL 3-6mg BD
(dopamineantagonist-workscentrallyonchemoreceptortriggerone)
DOMPERIDONE PO 10-20mg QDS
(actscentrallyonchemoreceptortriggerone)
ONDANSETRON POIMIV 8mg TDS
(5HT3 antagonist)
GASTIC REFLUX GAVISCON PO 5-10ml TDS
RANITIDINE PO 150mg BD
OMEPRAzOLE PO 20mg OD
COMMONLY PRESCRIBED DRUGS and doses
Caution NSAIDs in
asthmaPUCRF
Pts with
renal colic
respond
well to PR
dicloenac
Quinineisusedor night-timeleg crampscommon inhospital ptsMake sure youexamine frst- itmay be a DVT
Buscopan is an anti-
spasmodic and works
on smooth muscle
Greatforcramping
abdo pain
You can try most o these
in various combinations i
previous attempts to control
symptoms have ailed
Metoclopramideshould notbe used postGIsurgeryfor
3 days It canalso causesextra-pyramidalreactions andoculogyric
crises Bewareo this thoughthe antidoteis procyclidine5-10mgIVIM
Ondansetron is very
expensive Its otenreserved or chemo
patients donrsquot use it as
rst-line
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 192417
SOB SALBUTAMOL NEB 5mg STATPRN
IPRATROPIUM BROMIDE (Atrovent) NEB 500mcg STATPRN
PREDNISOLONE PO 30-40mg STATOD
(3-5days max)
HYDROCORTISONE IV 200mg STAT(i acute SOB or angiodema)
FUROSEMIDE POIV 40-80mg STAT
ORAMORPH PO 5mg
LAXATIVES
Stimulants SODIUMDOCUSATE PO 50-200mg TDS
BISOCODYL PO 5-10mg BD
SENNA PO TT (15mg) BDTDSOsmotic MOVICOL PO 1-2sachets BDTDS
LACTULOSE PO 15ml BD
I aecal loading GLYCERINESUPPOSITORY PR T STATPRN
PHOSPHATE ENEMA PR T STATPRN
ITCHRASH CHLORPHENAMINE PO 4mg TDS
(alsoknownasldquoPiritonrdquo)
AGITATION DIAzEPAM POSLOWIV 5-10mg
SLEEPLESSNESS ZOPICLONE PO 375-75mg
AGGRESSION HALOPERIDOL CheckBNFforindicationsanddoses
ALCOHOL
WITHDRAWAL CHLORDIAzEPOXIDE(reducingregimen)
Day1and220-30mgQDS
Day3and415mgQDS
Day510mgQDS
Day610mgBD
Day710mgNocte
SIMPLE UTI TRIMETHOPRIM PO 200mg BD
NITROFURANTOIN PO 50mg QDS
CEPHALEXIN PO 500mg BD
FOR ALL OTHER INFECTIONS REFER TO YOUR LOCAL ANTIBIOTIC POLICY-YOUWILLSOONLEARNMOSTOFTHEMOFFBYHEART
Salbutamol causes
tachycardia
Use oramorph with caution in COPD pts It works well in anxious patients to control their breathing
In-hospital patients are oten constipated oten due to decreased activity and medications Try tackling
constipation using dierent pharmacological approaches ie donrsquot Px movicol i already on lactulose
Write in lsquovariable dosersquo section o kardex near the back
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 202418
Wararin
Digoxin
PRESCRIBING OUT OF HOURS
You will oten get bleeped to prescribe wararin or patients you donrsquot know especially over the
weekendevenings i your colleagues havenrsquot done them
CHECK PATIENT IS NOT BLEEDING
Areyouprescribingmaintenanceorloadingdose
LOADING this is the regimen prescribed initially until INR stable and in target range Old school says10mg10mg5mgcheckINR(Day4)
MAINTENANCE usual dose once INR established to keep within target range Check yellow book or
regular prescriptions
bullOnceanINRhasbeenobtainedforoneofyourpatientsmakesureyouprescribethewarfarinfor
about3-4daysthenre-checkMarkopenbracketsonwarfarinchartstoindicatewhenyouwantthe
nextINRtobechecked(usuallybetween3-4daysintheinitialperiodormorefrequentlyifthereare
difculties establishing a maintenance dose)
bullINR is too high (lt4 or lt5 i target is 3-4) - DO NOT OMIT just reduce the dose (1mg) and re-
checkINRatleast48hrsafterasittakesbetween48-72hrsforyourchangetohaveaneect
bull I INR is gt4 (or gt5 i target is 3-4) and patient not actively bleeding prescribe Vitamin K 1mg IV
and OMIT the next dose o wararin
Reason or LT wararin Tx AF 2-3
RecurrentDVT 2-3
PE 2-3
RecurrentPE 3-4
Prostheticheartvalve 3-4
Check kardex or INTERACTIONS
Common onesbull ClarithromycinErythromycin
bull Rifampicin
I actively bleeding check with Senior or advice on urther action
You will occasionally get bleeped to review digoxin levels
Toxicity is very worrying and would normally require the use o lsquoDigibindrsquo which is basically
anantidote for digoxinODYouwillneed toget anECGand assessthepatient clinicallybefore
proceedinggetting senior help
Sub-therapeutic levels are common They are not so worrying but you should clinically assess
the patient in particular their CVS paying particular attention to their pulse as you will denitely get
asked about this i you ask or senior help
I digoxin levels are out o range make sure you check their K+ and keep a regular eye on it as this
needs to be stable or digoxin to be a sae and eective choice o therapy
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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Gentamicin
Usually prescribed in severeneutropenic sepsis (OD regimen) = 5-7mgkgmax480mg
You may get bleeped to check the gentamicin levels o ward patients and subsequently prescribe
the next dose
Theblood levelneedstobe taken6-14hoursafter thestartof thefrst IVI You are basically
looking or the levels to be within therapeutic range I they are not you need to reer to the
Hartord Normogram This is a chart which indicates WHEN the next dose should be according
to how out o range the levels are You DO NOT change the DOSE just the TIMING o the next
one(either2436or48hrslater)Makesureifyouhavebeenaskedtotakethebloodyourself
you note exactly how many hours post IVI the blood has been taken on the blood card it may be
another o your peers who has to review the level
Toxicity may
cause
Deaness
tinnitus
Nystagmus
Vertigo
RenalFailure
Monitor UEs
DAILY
ForpatientswithINFECTIVE ENDOCARDITIS (TDS regimen) = 1mgkg per dose
Therst levelthatneeds toberecordedisafter the3rd4thdoseensuringatleast24hoursof
treatmentisgivenItshouldbetaken1hourpostIVIiethePEAKorPOSTlevelandbebetween
3-5mgL A trough or PRE Dose level is taken approx 1 hour beore any administered dose and
should be lt1mgL The reason or this is that they are on a TDS regimen so renal unction needs
to be closely monitored It is important that gentamicin levels do not rise to toxic amounts
which is more common in patients with renal impairment
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
32
1
06 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Time between start of infusion and sample draw (hours)
Nicolau DP Freeman CD Belliveau PP Nightingale CH Ross JW Quintiliani R Experience with
a once-daily aminoglycoside program administered to 2184 adult patients Antimicrob Agents
Chemo 1995293650-655
Hartford Once Daily Dosing Nomogram
(GentTobra 7mgkg
L e v e l ( m c g m l )
q48h
q36h
q24h
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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General Hints and Tips or seeing patients out o hours
When answering your bleep fnd out
1 Reason or bleep
2Quickbackgroundinfo
3 FurtherrelevantclinicalinfoegOBSERVATIONS and compare these to how they normally runI itrsquos a patient with high EWS just inorm a senior to make them aware and ready or action
4WhattheywantyoutoDO(PURPOSE o call)
5 Ask or the ollowing things to be ready when you arrive
bullNotes
bullKardex
bullObschartnursingle
bullEquipmentegcannulasbloodscatheteretc
6GiveappropriateinstructionsiftheyneedtodoanythingacutelybeforeyouarriveForexamplei
reason or bleep is Haematemesis ask or IV access and bloods to be taken or i a patient has
spiked a temp o gt38˚C get the nurses or night practitioner to do cultures beore you arrive Itsaves a lot o time and afng around once you are on the ward
7 Decide where this lies in your list o priorities or whether it is a job nurse practitioners can do
to help you
NB Try not to have arguments with nurses on the phone some o them are just starting out like
you and may also be petried sometimes they need reassurance too
When you get there
Findthenursewhobleepedyou(orrequestedthebleep)andgetamoredetailedaccountof
whatrsquos going on
Eye-ball the patient beore delving into notes or looking on the computer ollowing the standard
ABCDE assessment It wonrsquot take you long to gure out i they are acutely unwell unstable or
not
Once you have done your initial assessment and any immediate management document what
you have done using a logical and systematic approach This way you wonrsquot orget anything You
will also look really slick and competent plus you might nd you paint yoursel a picture o whatrsquos
going on even i you were clueless initially
Sit down at a computer with the nursing le and medical notes and go straight or the clerking It
should give you a succinct list o PC and other co-morbidities to create a more complete clinical
pictureFlickthroughthewardnotesandndanythingyoucanreaditmaybeofsomeuseLook
at the last entry in particular as there may be a plan o what to do should the situation you have
been bleeped or arises
Check PACS and the lab system or any recent imaging or tests NB ALWAYS compare recent results
to previous ones Just go down the lists looking or cultures unusual blood tests INRs etc and
document what you nd Sometimes the best summaries o a patient are created when someone
manages them on-call Be thorough at the beginning but i you are hard pushed or time reer back to the help sheets- they are designed to make you SAFE not to make you a brilliant diagnostician
whocancowboytheirwaythroughFY1lsquoHousersquostyle
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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HaveagoodbrowsethroughtheKARDEXlookingatwhichmedsmayhavecontributedtothe
situation which may have prevented it i they had been given and which ones you might need
toinitiatetomakesurethepatientisSAFE
Once you have all this inormation create a PROBLEM list and rom this document yourIMPRESSION o the situation Write a PLAN and document whether you involved a senior and
their name and grade Also document the amount o time you were there sometimes you need
tostaywithapatienttoseeifyourtreatmentworkseguidsforlowBPmeanwhileyoucan
scribble down everything yoursquove done to save time
Whenever you are assessing a patient think to yoursel
lsquoWhat do I need to DO to make sure this patient is SAFErsquo I this patient deteriorates or
dies unexpectedly and you were the last doctor to see them you need to make sure your
documentation is adequate Your management appropriate or not will mean nothing i it
has not been written down in the eyes o the law
In summary
bullAnsweryourbleepinasystematicway-itwillhelpyouprioritiseandbecomemoreecient
bullDelegatecertaintaskstonursesdonrsquotbeafraidofaskingthemyouarepartofaTEAM
bullPrioritiseyourjobsanddonrsquotbeafraidtoo-loadsomeontoyourwardSHOYOUaretheone
whogetsbleepedrstsoyouwillbeaskedtodoEVERYTHING
bullWhenyougettoapatient
1 ABCDE approach ALWAYS
2Documentyourinitialassessmentandmanagement 3Reviewthenursingleforobschartuidbalancewarfarinchartsuidprescriptions
4Reviewmedicalnotesandclerkingthensummarise
5ReviewKARDEX
6 Problem list
7 Impression
8 ACTION PLAN (use tick boxes or investigations you have ordered)
9 Keep their details (sticker on handover sheet) and make sure you check on them
later or handover to day team
ALWAYS MAKE SURE YOU ARE SAFE IF IN ANY DOUBT WHATSOEVER YOU MUST INFORMA SENIOR
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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Disclaimer
Copyright
Production
Contacts
The fndings and conclusions in this document are those o the authors who are
responsible or its content All inormation is to be interpreted on an idividual basisin context with the clinical situation to which it reers The inormation is not a
replacement or local guidelines and protocols nor is it a document with any legal
standing No statement in this document can be construed as an ocial position o
the North Western Deanery or NHS Northwest
copyGillianJacksonampFrancesBennett2011
BookdesignedbyAndrewPowellMedicalIllustrationatRoyalBoltonHospitalRef48355
Franmbennettgmailcom
gljacksonhotmailcouk
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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Page 2 Introduction
Page 3 ABDOMINAL PAIN
Page 4 AGITATIONCONFUSION
Page 5 BLOOD IN CATHETER BAG - Example o documentation
Page 6 DECREASED GCS
Page 7 DYING PATIENT
Page 8 FALLSCOLLAPSE
Page 9 FLUID REVIEW amp INSULIN SLIDING SCALE
Page 10 HAEMATEMESISCOFFEE GROUND VOMITMALAENA
Page 11 HIGH EWS (General Assessment)
Page 12 HYPERKALAEMIA (stable patient)
Page 13 LOW URINE OUTPUT (catheterised patient)
Page 14 SHORTNESS OF BREATH
Page 15 TACHYCARDIAPALPITATIONS
Page 16 COMMONLY PRESCRIBED DRUGS
Page 18 PRESCRIBING OUT OF HOURS
Page 20 General Hints and Tips or seeing patients out o hours
1
Contents
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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Introduction
Dear all new FY1s
We know how daunting starting lie as a newly qualied junior doctor can be particularly
i you start your rst shit on-call or working nights During our oundation experience in
medicine we ound that medical school had prepared us well or emergency situations
with numerous courses like ILS AIMS and similar with the main emphasis being on ABCDE
and managing acute presentations
When you are asked to see patients on hospital wards this sort o training only gets you
so ar itrsquos a great structure to start with but oten the presentations are not that acute anda basic ABCDE assessment just isnrsquot enough
The aim o this teaching material is NOT TO TEACH you medicine you already know It
is there as a guide and prompt to help you out in situations you havenrsquot covered as a
student and to make sure you are a sae practitioner The material has already been trialled
in Pennine Acute Trust with positive and constructive eedback rom both experienced
clinicians and junior doctors so we think we have most eventualities covered
The individual case scenarios have been presented to you in a lay out which should help
with your documentation as well as assessment and management plan or the patient Thepresentation on blood in the catheter bag is set out as an example o good documentation
whereas the other examples are shortened versions with emphasis on the most important
aspects o each presenting complaint Make sure you donrsquot just read them mindlessly
you still always need to think about your course o action regarding ABCDE initially You
should also be able to come up with diferentials and take an appropriate history or most
scenarios which is why we have not included detailed prompts or this We have ocussed
on the areas which ourselves and our colleagues struggled with initially
Whenever you have an encounter with a patient it really is important that you document
what you have done in a systematic way This is to rstly protect yoursel rom a legalperspective should any harm come to the patient and secondly to help your colleagues
who are in charge o their care You will understand this soon enough or yoursel
We hope you nd this booklet useul and that it provides you with the majority o
inormation yoursquoll need when you are ATSPrsquod
I you have any urther eedback or us on the material or anything you would like to add
please eel ree to contact us with your suggestions
Gillian and Fran
A note rom the authors
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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Initial Assessment
Examination
History
Investigations
Plan Hint
Medication Review
ATSP Re ABDOMINAL PAIN
A V P U
ABCDE
Is this patient acutely unwell
Are they post-op
ABDO EXAM
PR EXAM i appropriate (ie i there is history o haematemesismeleana i you suspect obstruction
or i you think the patient may be aecally loaded)
VASCULAR EXAM ndash eel the pulses
1 SOCRATES - CHECK BOWELS
Associated symptoms should include
urinary and gynae
3 PMHx including
bullalcoholconsumption
bullconstipationdiarrhoea
bullPreviousabdopelvicsurgery
bullBPH
REASON FOR ADMISSIONand most recent proceduresoperations
Consider
bullBloods-FBCUampEincCa2+LFTamylase
coag X-match i signs o bleed
bullAXRerectCXR
bullECG
bullDipstickurineMSUorCSU
bullStoolsample(Cdiffifonabx)
Discuss need or abdo USS with senior
Depends on working diagnosisimpression
bull KeepNBMuntildiagnosismade
bull IVaccess+-FLUIDS
bull Analgesiabull MonitorBPampurineOPCatheterise
bull ConsiderNGTifvomiting
bull Keepdetailsandcheckonthemlater
Most in-hospital abdo pain is not anemergency and this plan will be a bitexcessive or the majority o casesConstipation andor pre-existing chronic
pathology is the leading cause o abdo painin this group o patients unless they arepost-op Symptomatic treatment is mostoten suicient
Unless this is an ACUTE situation youshould ocus on symptom control whenout o hoursConsider holding bullNSAIDSifsuspectgastritisGORbullOPIATESifconstipatedConsider startingbullOMEPRAzOLEPRNGAVISCONbullAnalgesiandashPainladder(notNSAIDS)
Try BUSCOPAN(seeBNF)foranycramp
like colicky sounding painbullLaxativesorenemaifconstipatedOnly use an enema i patient is aecally loadedbullAntibioticsifsuspectUTI-checkprevious
MSUs
Foranon-acutesituationthinkaboutcommon
causes or in-hospital abdominal painbullConstipation - remember this may present as
overlow incontinence
bullUrinary retention
bullPre-existing pathology eg partial obstruction
CholecystitisPancreatitisGastritis(ulcerGORD
inective causes)
bullUTI (catheterised)
bullInection eg Cdi
If ACUTE ABDO ie perforation or bleedbull BP+feelthepulsebull IVAccessampbloodsbull ErectCXR+AXRbull SeniorHELP
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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Initial Assessment
Examination
History
Investigations
Plan
Medication Review
4
Is patient in PAINFluid balanceTEMPAMTGCSSEPTICLRTIUTI
ABCDE
BM
bullChestandAbdoExam
bullNEUROLOGICAL EXAM - Likely to be limited
bullExposureforsource o sepsis including venous access catheters woundssores
bullSignsofhead trauma especially i patient has allen
bullSmellyUrine
Isthispersonnormallylikethis
Anyhistoryofdementia
HowWhenhavetheychanged
Any precipitants eg medsalcohol
withdrawal
Consider (according to clinical picture)
bullBloodsFBCUampEsincCa2+LFTs
bullDipstick MSU- check previous ones
too
bullCultures (i temperature has spiked)
bullCXR
bullABG i patient unwell
bullCT head (senior decision)
Only use sedation i you think the patient is putting
themselves or others at risk of harm NOT if they are just
being disruptive
DO NOT SEDATE PATIENTS WHO HAVE FALLEN AND MAY
HAVE SUFFERED A HEAD INJURY
bullRegular(2-4hrly)nursingobsinwelllitroom
bullTreatsuspectedcause+-analgesiaifnecessary
bullRegular ward staf must review bloods try and elicit
cause or change in moodAMT
bullOnceserious cause exluded bullForsleeplessness - Zopiclone 375-75mg PO
bullForagitation - Diazepam 5mg PO
- Haloperidol check BNF for indications and doses
Notorious drugs that cause conusion
bullOPIATES especially TRAMADOL
bullBENZODIAZEPINES
bullGELOFUSINE
bullINSULIN (too much)
THINK ABOUTRISKFACTORS or
- Sepsis - Lungs skin UTI recent surgery
- Hypoxia - PE pneumonia respiratory depression
- Pain (including constipation urinary retention)
- CVATIA
- Hypoglycaemia
Treat the reversible causesbeoreprescribing any sedatives
Reducing Regimen o
CHLORDIAZEPOXIDE or
ALCOHOL WITHDRAWAL
Day 1 and 2 20-30mgQDS
Day 3 and 4 15mgQDS
Day 5 10mgQDS
Day 6 10mgBDDay 7 10mgNocte
ATSP Re AGITATIONCONFUSION
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Examination
History
Investigations Medication Review
Investigations History
Name o DrMelanieCrowtherFY1Bleep1234
A V P U
Speaking ull sentences
RR 17
Sats 98 on air
Description
Chest clearGoodbilatAE
JVP Not raised
CRTlt2secs
Mucus membranesMoist well hydrated
+0HS
CalvesSot and non tenderNo oedema
Further relevant examinations
Inspection of catheter sitebull Noevidenceoftrauma
Appearance of urinebull 520mlinbagbull Bloodstainedbuttranslucentbull Noclots
BS normal Sot and non-tenderNo organomegalyNo ascites
Bladder not palpable
A
B
C
D
E
Patient Details NAME DOB Hosp No
EXAMPLE OF DOCUMENTATION
ATSP Re BLOOD IN CATHETER BAG
HR 86 reg
BP-lying13972
-standing13274
Fluidbalance
IN 1500ml12hr
OUT 1200ml12hr
Temp372
AMT1010
BM NA
Agitationmood no change
Any relevant PMHx eg TURP No
Past Hx o same thing None previously
When was catheter put in Catheter inserted
37 ago
Any record o diculties Doctor was called
to perorm as several nurses struggled to pass
tube
Why was pt catheterised Urinary retentionAny immediate distress or raised EWS No
I III
ABDOEXAM
prev now prev now
Hb 111 Na 138
WC 89 K 42
Plt 435 Cr 198
MCV 89 Ur 98
INR 11 CRP 57
Consider holding
Clexane and PO anticoags
MUST CHECK WITH SENIOR FIRST
Patients may be on anticoagulants
eg or AVR
1) Ensure IV access2) SendbloodsFBCUampECROSS MATCHCLOTTING3) Regularobs(2-4hourly)4) Strictuidbalancerecording (maintainurineopgt30mlshr)
5) Change catheter bag (to re-measurewith time)
6) Dipstick urine and send or CSU
SIGNED M Crowther GMC 7895432
Bloods
PlanMedication Review
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Initial Assessment
Examination
History
Investigations
Plan
Medication Review
ATSP Re DECREASED GCS
ABCDE AIRWAY amp OXYGENGCSPUPILSBM
ChestandAbdoExam(Quickfullassessment)
NEUROLOGICAL EXAM
bullReexesincplantars
bullPUPILS
COLLAPSESEIZURE - TRAUMA
DRUG TOXICITY
HYPOGLYCAEMIA
Look at medical notes yoursel
Commonly hypoglycaemia or opiate toxicity
but must rule out any serious acute events
Think about RISK FACTORS or
bullSepsis
bullStrokeorMI
bullLowBM
bullDrugtoxicity(opiatessedatives)
bull RenalFailure
Consider (according to clinical picture)
bullBloods
bullDipstickUrine
bullCXR
bullECG
bullABG
Treatsuspectedcause+-analgesiaifnecessary
bullOpiate ODNaloxonerdquoNarcanrdquo400mcgIVandrepeatuntilresponsive
In opioid toxicity reversal with naloxone produces instantaneous results once it has reached therapeutic levels
Remember it is very short acting and the patient may require a naloxone IVI depending on the amount and
natureoftheopiateODRefertotheBNForlocaltrustpolicyforthisanddiscusswithaseniorrst
bullLow blood sugars get senior helpifcausingsignicantlyreducedGCSNeedtoconsider10-25dextrose
IVIsIfGCS14+givelucoadeandcheckBMin30minsNursesshouldalreadyhavegivensomethingcalled
HYPOSTOP i patient is known diabetic beore calling you as it does not require a prescription
bullBenzodiazepinesunlikelywithin-hospitalpatientsbutthereversingagentisFLUMAzENILYoushould
never be using this on your own and most wards do not stock it anyway
Regular(2-4hrly)nursingobsinwelllitroom
IfyouareinANYDOUBTorsuspectanacuteeventhasoccurredyouMUSTseekSENIORHELP
IMMEDIATELY
Notorious drugs that cause sedation
bull OPIATES (OD)
bull BENZODIAZEPINES
6
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History
Initial Assessment and Examination
Ater Death
Medications or symptom control
ATSP Re DYING PATIENT
A V P U
A - isthisobstructedArethereexcesssecretions
B - isrespirationregularoragonal
C - ispatienttachycardicThis may be only sign o painD - isthepatientagitatedoruncomfortable
- ispatientvomitingorconausea
- isthepatienthavingseiures
E - isthepatientitchy
Arethefamilyawareofthesituation
Whataretheirinstructionsaboutbeingcontactedifpatientdeteriorateseginmiddleofthenight
HaspatientbeenassignedtoLCPanddocumentationallinorder
Go and see the body
Document Your name and bleep numberbull ldquoCalledtoconrmdeathNovitalsignsrdquoStatetime o death
bull Fixedanddilatedpupils
bull Norespiratoryeortfor3minutes
bull Nopulseorheartsounds
bull DOCUMENT WHETHER OR NOT PATIENT IS FITTED WITH PACEMAKER RADIOACTIVE IMPLANT
bull YoudoNOTneedtoputacauseofdeathifyoudonrsquotknowthepatientunlessalreadyclearly
documented in notesbull YouDONOTneedtowriteadeathcerticate
bull WhetherornotNoKinformed
bull RIP
bull Painbreathlessness MorphineNB DIAMORPHINE is commonly stated as drug o choice in prescribing guidancebut oten hospitals donrsquot stock it I this is the case you can still use this inormation butensure you MULTIPLY the dose o diamorphine by 15 or a morphine equivalent (EgStateddoseDiamorphine10mgSC24hrsthenmorphineequivalentwouldbe15mgSC24hrs)
bull NauseavomitingLevomepromaine
bull Secretions Glycopyroniumbull RestlessnessagitationMidaolam
bull Itchiness Chlorpheniramine(Piriton)
See ldquoICP or the Care o the Dying Prescribing Guidance V 40rdquo or your trust equivalent or detailsRemember Some patients at the end o lie do not require heavy sedation or maximum pain relietailor your prescription according to your assessment and listen to the nurse caring or themWrite these meds up as PRN or via a syringe driver i itrsquos necessary (ie nurses constantlyadministering)Do NOT put patients on the Care o the Dying Pathway (ie withdraw lie-prolongingmedications)ndash this is a consultantrsquosMDT decision
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Initial Assessment and Examination
History
Investigations
Plan
Medication Review
ATSP Re FALLSCOLLAPSE
ABCDE
GCS
BM
ForHead Trauma ensure you document
the ollowing
1 Mechanism o injury
2AnyLOCReducedGCSConfusion
3AnyvomitingorSeiuresymptoms
4HeadexaminationegBruising
LacerationBoggy swellings
Signsoftrauma
bullHeadandneck
bullHIPS
Neuroexam
Lying-StandingBP
RISK FACTORS or
bullMechanicalFalls
bullStroke
bullLowBM
bullDrugtoxicity(opiatessedatives)
bullArrhythmiasbullSeiure
bull Infection
bullAlwaystakeaFALLS HISTORY but remember
you are ocussing on making the patient SAFE
rather than diagnosing a cause or their all
Oten none are needed (always do a lying
and standing BP though)
Depend on history and exam ndingsConsider
bullECG
bullBloods
bullDipstick
bullCThead(senior must be inormed)
bullRegularnursing+-neuroobsifindicatedbullAddressunderlyingcauseifappropriate
Wounds Most can be glued or steristripped I concerned send patient to AampE
Consider withholding the ollowing
bull Antihypertensives
bull Sedatives until head trauma ruled out
bull Warfarin i patient is at risk o allsagain ie undetermined cause o alls
or unsteady on eetdementia Check
with senior rst patient may have articial
valve replacement
bull Inorm nursing staf o any changes
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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Assessment or repeat prescription
History
Sliding scale or IV insulin
High BM
1 The REASONfortheiruids(NBMslidingscaleunwellsepticunsafeswallow)
2FLUIDstatusndashcheckforoverloaddehydrationInput-Outputchart
3 CHECK UampEpayingattentiontoK+requirementsDonrsquotjustrewriteuidswithoutchecking
mostrecentUampEsIfnobloodsforgt48hrsandonregularuids repeat uampersquos beore represcribing
Write a blood card or next appropriate monitoring so it doesnrsquot get missed4ChecktheKARDEX or PO electrolyte supplements and diuretics I patient is receiving diuretic
anduidssimultaneouslythencontactseniorforadvice
Duringon-callyouwillnormallybeaskedtore-writetheslidingscaleontheuidchartBMsare
monitored every hour by nursing staf and inusion rate is altered accordingly
In the inusion pump
bull50mlsNsaline+50unitsACTRAPIDinsulin
bullKClmayalsobeaddeddependingonthepatientrsquoslevelsIflt3add20mmolif3-5add10mmol
BloodGlucoseLevelmmolL Standardscale Augmentedscale
Units o insulinhour Units o insulinhour
lt4 0 0 4-7 1 2
71-11 2 4
111-17 4 8
171-22 6 12
gt22 8 16
Stopinfusionfor30minutesthencheckBMagainRestartslidingscaleatslowerrateof05mmolhour
Stopping the insulin inusion completely can be especially dangerous in patients with type 1 diabetes
A high BM is oten nothing to worry about during an oncall shit It is usually because the patientrsquosnormal blood sugar control regime has been disrupted due to acute illness changes to routine or acombinationMake sure you1 Check BM charts or previous readings and whether this is new or them or not2 Check urine or ketones3 Do ABG i patient looks unwell I this is the case they are likely to have a high EWS so manage
appropriately4 Document your ndings and action taken (if any)
Ifpatientisnotonaslidingscaleyoucanprescribe10unitsactrapid(evenifNIDDM)tobringtheBMdown but donrsquot start messing around with their normal blood glucose control it is not an emergencysituationandcanbedealtwithduringwardhoursbyspecialiedteamswhohavealotofexperienceinthese cases
Ensurepatientisnotuidrestrictedforanyreasonieheartfailureoedemaandascites
ATSP or FLUID REVIEW
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Initial Assessment
Examination
History
Investigations
Plan
Medication Review
ATSP Re HAEMATEMESISCOFFEE GROUND VOMITMALAENA
A V P U
ABCDE
Chest Exam
ABDO EXAM
bullAnysignsofperforationTender
bullPR EXAM ndashALWAYScheckforevidenceYOURSELFevenHaematemesisCGV
IV Access and bloods
Work out EWSBP lying and standing
IfpthashadsignicantupperGIbleed
1 A signicant posturaldrop(gt20mmHg)in BP is oten the rst sign2Theureawillusuallybecomeproportionally higher than creatinineoten with little other evidence o renalailure
bullRememberHbwonrsquotdropimmediately afteraGIbleed-thereforenormalHbisnt
reassuring
RISK FACTORS or GI BleedbullGastricirritantmedications
(NSAIDS)bullAlcoholALDbullLackofgastro-protective
medicationbullUlcersbull ReuxGORDbull Persistentvomitingbull Endoscopystentingproceduresbull Postabdosurgery
Mandatory bullBloods-FBCUampEincludingCa2+ LFTINRandclottingX-match send as URGENTConsider bullAXRerectCXR bullUrgentendoscopyifHbhastaken
massive drop rom previous or is verylow ie lt7 Seniors denitely need tobe inormed beore considering this
WITHOLD
bullAny anti-coagulants
bullNSAIDS
CONSIDER
bullAntiemetic
bullPPI(lansopraoleisindicatedfor
patients on aspirin and clopidogrel
omepraoleifnot)
bull KeepNBMuntilwardteamassessmentuntilyouaresatisedthepatientisstablebull IVaccess+-FLUIDSbull Regularnursingobs-recheckonehourlaterand2hourlythereafterbull FluidbalanceMonitorurineOPandmaintaintogt30mlhrbull Keepdetailsandcheckonthemlater
NB Patients are not normally transused blood products over night unless it is an emergency IVuidswillpreventhypovolaemiaanditsconsequencesIfyouthinkyourpatientlooksabitdryoris slightly tachycardic etc then stay on the sae side and run through some saline (unless otherwisecontraindicated)
ue Haematemesis or Malaena is a medical emergency and will oten be accompanied with a high EWSeat accordingly i this is the case In-hospital patients oten suer simple coee ground vomits without
any systemic disruption but must still be considered as a potenital emergency
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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Medication Review
Initial Assessment Examination Possible CAUSES to consider
Investigations-depend on scoring parameters
Medication Review
Plan
History - ALWAYS look in the notes
Impression
ATSP Re HIGH EWS (General Assessment)NB always ask nurses or VALUES OF PARAMETERS and what they are COMPARED TO NORMAL
TrustguidelinesindicateforFY1sEWS3ndashAssessmanageandreassessactionsafter30minutes
EWSgt5ndashSeniormustbeinformedafterinitialassessmentndashattheveryleastjusttomakesuretheyareaware
RR
Sats
HR
BP
Fluid balance
Temp
AMT
BM
Agitationmood
GCS
CHEST-THOROUGH
clinical respiratory exam
is vital to guide urther
management
HS
JVP
Calves
Mucus membranes
CRT
bull PEbull HA Pneumoniabull Failure ndash heart lungsbull MI
bull Decompensated heart ailure
bull Acutedecompensated Renal failure
bull Dehydrationbull Sepsis or inection
bull Perorationbull AAA
bull Peritonitisbull DVT (look for one- a DVT wonrsquot cause high
EWS on its own)bull Source of sepsis (lines cellulitis catheter etc)
A
B
C
D
E
Considerbull CXRbull ABGbull Routinebloods+-CULTURESforsepticscreen
i temp spiked
bull X-matchifsuspectpatientisbleedingbull ECGbull UrineDipstick
ReviewKardexforanyIATROGENIC causes o above eg NSAIDSwararin bleedIsthepatientoversedatedSYMPTOM controlbull Isthepatientinpain- analgesiabull Isthepatientvomiting- antiemetic (IVIM)
bull IsthepatientdehydratedndashIV luidsbull IsthepatientsepticndashWhatisthesource
- Antibiotics (see trust guidance)Should the patient have been on
prophylacticLMWH-PE
Has the patient suered an acute
event
Has anything CHANGED and HOW
WHYhasthishappened
A high EWS can oten resolve with SYMPTOM control Eg bring the BP up and tachyhigh RR mayresolve1 Regular nursing obs2 Treatsuspectedcause3 Strictfluidbalance+-catheterisationifpatientisunwellenough4 Analgesiaandgeneralsymptomcontrol5 Reviewyourtreatmentaction-hasithadaneffectSenior review i worried
SEPTIC SCREEN
bull CXRbull UrineDipstick bull Cultures Blood Urine (MSU) Sputum
Stoolbull Swabs rom likely sources eg wound bedsore throat eye cannula catheterdrain site
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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Initial Assessment
Investigations
Plan
Medication Review
Examination
History
ATSP Re HYPERKALAEMIA (stable patient)
A V P U
ABCDE ECG
CHEST and CVS
Hydration
Unwellorstable
Fluidbalance
- Is this acute
- Is it a chronic accumulation
- Does the patient have CRF
- CARDIAC history
- LOOK at FLUID Px charts
- Is patient diabetic
- Symptoms eg palpitationsdizziness
bull ECG
bull ABG - helpul i you suspect a spurious
result
bull BloodsndashRepeatsampleifunsureof
accuracy o hyperkalaemia eg haemolysis
Hyperkalaemia treatment
bull Iflt7andWITHOUTECGchanges
Insulin and dextrose IVI- reer to local trust policy or exact instructions I unable to ind then
10unitsactrapidin50mlof50dextroseover10mins
bull Ifgt65WITHECGchanges
Salbutamol 5mg neb
Insulin and dextroseIVIthenINFORMASENIORaspatientmaywellneed
Calcium gluconate10mlof10IVover5minforcardiacprotectionEnsurepatientison
cardiac monitoring Calcium resonium PO15mgQDSCausesconstipationsowriteupalaxativePRN
Hold medications as appropriate (see above)
REPEAT BLOODS post treatment
bull Diuretics-K+sparingorlosingbull ACEA2RBinbitorsegramipril
losartan
bull NSAIDS
bull IVFluids
bull PotassiumsupplementsIVPO
bull Nutritionaldrinks
ECG
ECGchangesinhyperkalaemia
bullArrythmias
bullProlongedPRintervalwithflattened
Pwaves
bullWideQRSwithslurrySTsegment
bullTalltentedTTraves
I patient is symptomaticunstable this is a medical EMERGENCY and needs a senior doctor involved
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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Initial Assessment
Assessment o uid balance
Examination
Investigations
History
Plan
ATSP Re LOW URINE OUTPUT (catheterised patient)
ABCDE
CATHETER- IS IT BLOCKED
1Checktheuidchartandworkouttotalinputandoutput(usuallyover24hrsbutpatientis commonly post-op so calculate rom the time since they returned rom theatre i this is the case)2Remembertheurineoutputshouldbe05mlkghrDonrsquot orget to account or parenteral eeds stoma output and insensible losses
Fluid balance over 4 hours eg post opInput 500ml Output Urine 100ml Insensiblelosses 200ml Stoma 500mlTOTAL 500ml TOTAL 800ml
FLUID BALANCE=-300mliepatientisDRY
CHEST-isthepatientuidoverloadedABDO EXAM bullTenderUrinaryretentionNotepost-opileuscancauseurinaryretention bullStomasitendashisitinfectedLook or acute serious pathologies and try to correct these
bullAlwaysremembertolookatthenotes This problem is commonly seen in post op
surgical patientsbullCheckwhichoperationtheyrsquovehad and any important details on the op notes
beore you speak to senior docbullEnsurethatthepatientisnotuid restrictedegCCFascites
Consider
bullBloods-FBCandUampEstomonitorrenalfunction bullAXR bullDipstickurineMSUorCSU bullStoolsample(Cdiifonabx) bullSepticscreenDiscuss the need or imaging with senior i suspecting intra-abdominal sepsis
bullOftenallthatrsquosneededisauid challenge o 500ml saline particularly i the patient is dry (negative uidbalance)Getnursestorunitthroughstatandcheckopnomorethan1hrlaterIfpatientissimply
dehydrated their urine op should have picked up rom this CAUTION IN CCFCRF patients
bullCorrectunderlyingcauseoncediagnosedbullMonitorBPampurineOP(maintainurineopto05mgkghranddocumentthisinstruction)bullConsiderdiuretics(statdose40mgfurosemideIV) i you think the patient is uid overloaded (usually with positiveuidbalance)howeverusewithcautionandalwayscheckpreviousU+ErsquosConsultwithseniordoc
beore doing this you could easily exacerbate the problem
Think about RISK FACTORS orbullDehydrationLookforpotentialuidlosseseg
vomiting diarrhoea poor oral intake high stomaoutput
bullUrinaryobstructionegnatureofopco-morbiditiesbullInfectionSepsisbullDrugseganticholinergics
SEPTIC
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Make a very quick decision as to whether or not you are confdent in treating this patient on your own
Patients who are short o breath can deteriorate very quickly indeed Call or a Senior immediately i you are unsure
Medication Review
Examination
History
Investigations- dependingon scoring parameters
Plan
Medication Review
ATSP Re SHORTNESS OF BREATH
A V P U
ABCDE
OXYGEN (highowinitially)ABG
THOROUGH exam is vital to guide management
Hydration assessment
- Onset
- Duration
- Exacerbating or relieving actors
- Check clerking proorma or
co-morbidities
bullABGndashimmediatelythenrepeatbullCXRCheckmostrecentoneDonrsquot
be araid to repeat CXR i things havechanged clinically Order a portable ilm
i you eel the patient is too unstable to betransported - discuss this with the nurses bullECGbullCulturesBloodandsputumif
appropriate andor check previous orsensitivities
bullRepeatbloods
bull Staywithpatientuntilyouarehappytheyarestable
bull Regularnursingobs(2hourly)
bull KeepawatchfuleyeontheirbloodsCXRetc
CALL FOR SENIOR HELP IF YOU ARE UNSURETHESE PATIENTS CAN DETERIORATE VERY QUICKLY INDEED
Patients with anxiety exacerbatingtheir respiratory disease are otengiven Oramorph by the nursingsta Be wary o this as you dontwant to be causing respiratorydepression in eg COPD patientsAsk a senior i unsure
Is patient on thromboprophylaxisWhat can I givebull ThinkaboutyourchoicesforOxygen
Therapy depending on patientrsquos chronic diseasestatusandABGresult
bullWheezeSalbutamol5mgneb+- atrovent500mcgneb(canbegivenwith O2)bullLRTICAPHAP Antibiotics (check
protocol)bullPulm OedemaFurosemide40mgIV
JVP and ankles
Calves Thighs
Anaphylaxis
Pneumothorax
Comparesatstonormalcomparewithchronicdiseasestatus
Cardiacorrespiratorycause
Ask about ASSOCIATED FEATURES and RISK
FACTORS or
DVTPE
Overload eg recent transusionluid therapy
MI
Infection(hospitalacquired)
Anxiety AsthmaCOPD exacerbation
Recent surgery (atelectasis)
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Initial Assessment
Examination
History
Investigations - depending on scoring parameters and clinical judgement
Plan - very diferent or acutely unwell patients and those who are stable
Medication Review
ATSP Re TACHYCARDIAPALPITATIONS
A V P U
ABCDE ECG
TACHYARRYTHMIAS ARE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY If patient has developed a new tachyarrhythmia
on ECG (SVTFast AF) a senior needs to be involved Make sure you perform the following
Chest and Abdo Exam
Fluidbalance-ispatientdehydrated
Mandatory
bullECG
Consider
bullRoutinebloods+-CULTURESfor
septic screen i spiked temperature bullX-matchifsuspectpatientisbleeding
bullUrineDipstick
1IVaccess+-fluidsandbloods2Followtachycardiaalgorithmifappropriate-seniorshouldreallybeinvolvedinthis3Regularnursingobs(candotemponlyevery30minshalfhourifyouthinkhaveRFsforsepsis)4TreatsuspectedcauseoftenthisisactuallySYMPTOMCONTROLandyoumayfindthatsimple
stable tachycardias resolve once you have the ollowing under controlbull PAIN bull DEHYDRATION
bull AGITATION bull SEPSIS
bull ANXIETY bull VOMITING
IATROGENIC causes o tachycardiabull SALBUTAMOLoverusebull EYEDROPSegPHENYLEPHRINEbull THEOPHYLLINEtoxicitybull DIPYRIDAMOLE
MEDICAL MANAGEMENTbull Considerdigoxin 250mcg in
elderly patients or bisoprolol 25 mgunless otherwise contra indicated (low BP
Asthma) once cause has been identiied(senior discussion)
bullIsthepatientsymptomatic
bullCARDIAC HISTORY
bullPreviouscardiachistoryandRISKFACTORSfor
MIAFArrhythmias
bullPreviousECGs
bullFor arrhythmias IS THIS NEW Assume it is
unless proven otherwise
bullLookatKardexforanyanti-arrhythmic
medications or clues
bullHowmuchteaandcoffeehasthepatienthad
bullHas patient been on any drugs which put thematincreasedriskoftheaboveEgWarfarin
NSAIDs- bleed Should the patient have been onprophylacticLMWH-PE
Possible reasons or simple tachycardia
bull Painbull Anxietybull Sepsisbull Hypovolaemia ndash bleeddehydrationbull PEbull MIbull Medication side FX
EXPOSEor sources o sepsis
PULSEREGULARORIRREGULAR
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You will oten get called to the wards to prescribe drugs or common in-patient complaints
Always eye-ball a patient beore doing so- the nurses may have the diagnosis wrong
DonrsquotforgettocheckforALLERGIESPMHandRENALFUNCTION(ifindicated)LookatKARDEXor any obvious interactions
Most drugs you will prescribe on-call should be written in the PRN or lsquoonce onlyrsquo section i you
do not know the patient
ANALGESIA MEDICATION ROUTE DOSAGE MAXDAY
PARACETAMOL POIV 500mgndash1g QDS
IBUPROFEN PO 200-400mg TDS
DICLOFENACrsquoVoltarolrsquo POIM 50mg TDS
PR 100mg TDS
CO-CODAMOL
(8500OR30500) PO 1-2TABLETS QDS
CO-DYDRAMOL(10500) PO 1-2TABLETS QDS
CODEINEPHOSPHATE POIM 30-60mg QDS
BUSCOPAN POIV 10-20mg QDS
QUININE PO 200mg ON
TRAMADOL PO 50-100mg QDS
MORPHINE IVPO 5-10mg STAT
NB Opiates can cause nauseavomiting and constipation Always Prescribe a PRN antiemetic and simple laxative
ANTI-EMETICS METOCLOPRAMIDErsquoMaxalonrsquo POIMIV 10mg TDS
(dopamineantagonist-worksdirectlyonGIT)
CYCLIZINE POIV 50mg TDS
(antihistaminendashworkscentrally)
PROCHLORPERAZINElsquoStemetilrsquoPO 10- 20mg TDS
lsquoBuccastemrsquo BUCCAL 3-6mg BD
(dopamineantagonist-workscentrallyonchemoreceptortriggerone)
DOMPERIDONE PO 10-20mg QDS
(actscentrallyonchemoreceptortriggerone)
ONDANSETRON POIMIV 8mg TDS
(5HT3 antagonist)
GASTIC REFLUX GAVISCON PO 5-10ml TDS
RANITIDINE PO 150mg BD
OMEPRAzOLE PO 20mg OD
COMMONLY PRESCRIBED DRUGS and doses
Caution NSAIDs in
asthmaPUCRF
Pts with
renal colic
respond
well to PR
dicloenac
Quinineisusedor night-timeleg crampscommon inhospital ptsMake sure youexamine frst- itmay be a DVT
Buscopan is an anti-
spasmodic and works
on smooth muscle
Greatforcramping
abdo pain
You can try most o these
in various combinations i
previous attempts to control
symptoms have ailed
Metoclopramideshould notbe used postGIsurgeryfor
3 days It canalso causesextra-pyramidalreactions andoculogyric
crises Bewareo this thoughthe antidoteis procyclidine5-10mgIVIM
Ondansetron is very
expensive Its otenreserved or chemo
patients donrsquot use it as
rst-line
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SOB SALBUTAMOL NEB 5mg STATPRN
IPRATROPIUM BROMIDE (Atrovent) NEB 500mcg STATPRN
PREDNISOLONE PO 30-40mg STATOD
(3-5days max)
HYDROCORTISONE IV 200mg STAT(i acute SOB or angiodema)
FUROSEMIDE POIV 40-80mg STAT
ORAMORPH PO 5mg
LAXATIVES
Stimulants SODIUMDOCUSATE PO 50-200mg TDS
BISOCODYL PO 5-10mg BD
SENNA PO TT (15mg) BDTDSOsmotic MOVICOL PO 1-2sachets BDTDS
LACTULOSE PO 15ml BD
I aecal loading GLYCERINESUPPOSITORY PR T STATPRN
PHOSPHATE ENEMA PR T STATPRN
ITCHRASH CHLORPHENAMINE PO 4mg TDS
(alsoknownasldquoPiritonrdquo)
AGITATION DIAzEPAM POSLOWIV 5-10mg
SLEEPLESSNESS ZOPICLONE PO 375-75mg
AGGRESSION HALOPERIDOL CheckBNFforindicationsanddoses
ALCOHOL
WITHDRAWAL CHLORDIAzEPOXIDE(reducingregimen)
Day1and220-30mgQDS
Day3and415mgQDS
Day510mgQDS
Day610mgBD
Day710mgNocte
SIMPLE UTI TRIMETHOPRIM PO 200mg BD
NITROFURANTOIN PO 50mg QDS
CEPHALEXIN PO 500mg BD
FOR ALL OTHER INFECTIONS REFER TO YOUR LOCAL ANTIBIOTIC POLICY-YOUWILLSOONLEARNMOSTOFTHEMOFFBYHEART
Salbutamol causes
tachycardia
Use oramorph with caution in COPD pts It works well in anxious patients to control their breathing
In-hospital patients are oten constipated oten due to decreased activity and medications Try tackling
constipation using dierent pharmacological approaches ie donrsquot Px movicol i already on lactulose
Write in lsquovariable dosersquo section o kardex near the back
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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Wararin
Digoxin
PRESCRIBING OUT OF HOURS
You will oten get bleeped to prescribe wararin or patients you donrsquot know especially over the
weekendevenings i your colleagues havenrsquot done them
CHECK PATIENT IS NOT BLEEDING
Areyouprescribingmaintenanceorloadingdose
LOADING this is the regimen prescribed initially until INR stable and in target range Old school says10mg10mg5mgcheckINR(Day4)
MAINTENANCE usual dose once INR established to keep within target range Check yellow book or
regular prescriptions
bullOnceanINRhasbeenobtainedforoneofyourpatientsmakesureyouprescribethewarfarinfor
about3-4daysthenre-checkMarkopenbracketsonwarfarinchartstoindicatewhenyouwantthe
nextINRtobechecked(usuallybetween3-4daysintheinitialperiodormorefrequentlyifthereare
difculties establishing a maintenance dose)
bullINR is too high (lt4 or lt5 i target is 3-4) - DO NOT OMIT just reduce the dose (1mg) and re-
checkINRatleast48hrsafterasittakesbetween48-72hrsforyourchangetohaveaneect
bull I INR is gt4 (or gt5 i target is 3-4) and patient not actively bleeding prescribe Vitamin K 1mg IV
and OMIT the next dose o wararin
Reason or LT wararin Tx AF 2-3
RecurrentDVT 2-3
PE 2-3
RecurrentPE 3-4
Prostheticheartvalve 3-4
Check kardex or INTERACTIONS
Common onesbull ClarithromycinErythromycin
bull Rifampicin
I actively bleeding check with Senior or advice on urther action
You will occasionally get bleeped to review digoxin levels
Toxicity is very worrying and would normally require the use o lsquoDigibindrsquo which is basically
anantidote for digoxinODYouwillneed toget anECGand assessthepatient clinicallybefore
proceedinggetting senior help
Sub-therapeutic levels are common They are not so worrying but you should clinically assess
the patient in particular their CVS paying particular attention to their pulse as you will denitely get
asked about this i you ask or senior help
I digoxin levels are out o range make sure you check their K+ and keep a regular eye on it as this
needs to be stable or digoxin to be a sae and eective choice o therapy
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Gentamicin
Usually prescribed in severeneutropenic sepsis (OD regimen) = 5-7mgkgmax480mg
You may get bleeped to check the gentamicin levels o ward patients and subsequently prescribe
the next dose
Theblood levelneedstobe taken6-14hoursafter thestartof thefrst IVI You are basically
looking or the levels to be within therapeutic range I they are not you need to reer to the
Hartord Normogram This is a chart which indicates WHEN the next dose should be according
to how out o range the levels are You DO NOT change the DOSE just the TIMING o the next
one(either2436or48hrslater)Makesureifyouhavebeenaskedtotakethebloodyourself
you note exactly how many hours post IVI the blood has been taken on the blood card it may be
another o your peers who has to review the level
Toxicity may
cause
Deaness
tinnitus
Nystagmus
Vertigo
RenalFailure
Monitor UEs
DAILY
ForpatientswithINFECTIVE ENDOCARDITIS (TDS regimen) = 1mgkg per dose
Therst levelthatneeds toberecordedisafter the3rd4thdoseensuringatleast24hoursof
treatmentisgivenItshouldbetaken1hourpostIVIiethePEAKorPOSTlevelandbebetween
3-5mgL A trough or PRE Dose level is taken approx 1 hour beore any administered dose and
should be lt1mgL The reason or this is that they are on a TDS regimen so renal unction needs
to be closely monitored It is important that gentamicin levels do not rise to toxic amounts
which is more common in patients with renal impairment
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
32
1
06 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Time between start of infusion and sample draw (hours)
Nicolau DP Freeman CD Belliveau PP Nightingale CH Ross JW Quintiliani R Experience with
a once-daily aminoglycoside program administered to 2184 adult patients Antimicrob Agents
Chemo 1995293650-655
Hartford Once Daily Dosing Nomogram
(GentTobra 7mgkg
L e v e l ( m c g m l )
q48h
q36h
q24h
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General Hints and Tips or seeing patients out o hours
When answering your bleep fnd out
1 Reason or bleep
2Quickbackgroundinfo
3 FurtherrelevantclinicalinfoegOBSERVATIONS and compare these to how they normally runI itrsquos a patient with high EWS just inorm a senior to make them aware and ready or action
4WhattheywantyoutoDO(PURPOSE o call)
5 Ask or the ollowing things to be ready when you arrive
bullNotes
bullKardex
bullObschartnursingle
bullEquipmentegcannulasbloodscatheteretc
6GiveappropriateinstructionsiftheyneedtodoanythingacutelybeforeyouarriveForexamplei
reason or bleep is Haematemesis ask or IV access and bloods to be taken or i a patient has
spiked a temp o gt38˚C get the nurses or night practitioner to do cultures beore you arrive Itsaves a lot o time and afng around once you are on the ward
7 Decide where this lies in your list o priorities or whether it is a job nurse practitioners can do
to help you
NB Try not to have arguments with nurses on the phone some o them are just starting out like
you and may also be petried sometimes they need reassurance too
When you get there
Findthenursewhobleepedyou(orrequestedthebleep)andgetamoredetailedaccountof
whatrsquos going on
Eye-ball the patient beore delving into notes or looking on the computer ollowing the standard
ABCDE assessment It wonrsquot take you long to gure out i they are acutely unwell unstable or
not
Once you have done your initial assessment and any immediate management document what
you have done using a logical and systematic approach This way you wonrsquot orget anything You
will also look really slick and competent plus you might nd you paint yoursel a picture o whatrsquos
going on even i you were clueless initially
Sit down at a computer with the nursing le and medical notes and go straight or the clerking It
should give you a succinct list o PC and other co-morbidities to create a more complete clinical
pictureFlickthroughthewardnotesandndanythingyoucanreaditmaybeofsomeuseLook
at the last entry in particular as there may be a plan o what to do should the situation you have
been bleeped or arises
Check PACS and the lab system or any recent imaging or tests NB ALWAYS compare recent results
to previous ones Just go down the lists looking or cultures unusual blood tests INRs etc and
document what you nd Sometimes the best summaries o a patient are created when someone
manages them on-call Be thorough at the beginning but i you are hard pushed or time reer back to the help sheets- they are designed to make you SAFE not to make you a brilliant diagnostician
whocancowboytheirwaythroughFY1lsquoHousersquostyle
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HaveagoodbrowsethroughtheKARDEXlookingatwhichmedsmayhavecontributedtothe
situation which may have prevented it i they had been given and which ones you might need
toinitiatetomakesurethepatientisSAFE
Once you have all this inormation create a PROBLEM list and rom this document yourIMPRESSION o the situation Write a PLAN and document whether you involved a senior and
their name and grade Also document the amount o time you were there sometimes you need
tostaywithapatienttoseeifyourtreatmentworkseguidsforlowBPmeanwhileyoucan
scribble down everything yoursquove done to save time
Whenever you are assessing a patient think to yoursel
lsquoWhat do I need to DO to make sure this patient is SAFErsquo I this patient deteriorates or
dies unexpectedly and you were the last doctor to see them you need to make sure your
documentation is adequate Your management appropriate or not will mean nothing i it
has not been written down in the eyes o the law
In summary
bullAnsweryourbleepinasystematicway-itwillhelpyouprioritiseandbecomemoreecient
bullDelegatecertaintaskstonursesdonrsquotbeafraidofaskingthemyouarepartofaTEAM
bullPrioritiseyourjobsanddonrsquotbeafraidtoo-loadsomeontoyourwardSHOYOUaretheone
whogetsbleepedrstsoyouwillbeaskedtodoEVERYTHING
bullWhenyougettoapatient
1 ABCDE approach ALWAYS
2Documentyourinitialassessmentandmanagement 3Reviewthenursingleforobschartuidbalancewarfarinchartsuidprescriptions
4Reviewmedicalnotesandclerkingthensummarise
5ReviewKARDEX
6 Problem list
7 Impression
8 ACTION PLAN (use tick boxes or investigations you have ordered)
9 Keep their details (sticker on handover sheet) and make sure you check on them
later or handover to day team
ALWAYS MAKE SURE YOU ARE SAFE IF IN ANY DOUBT WHATSOEVER YOU MUST INFORMA SENIOR
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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Disclaimer
Copyright
Production
Contacts
The fndings and conclusions in this document are those o the authors who are
responsible or its content All inormation is to be interpreted on an idividual basisin context with the clinical situation to which it reers The inormation is not a
replacement or local guidelines and protocols nor is it a document with any legal
standing No statement in this document can be construed as an ocial position o
the North Western Deanery or NHS Northwest
copyGillianJacksonampFrancesBennett2011
BookdesignedbyAndrewPowellMedicalIllustrationatRoyalBoltonHospitalRef48355
Franmbennettgmailcom
gljacksonhotmailcouk
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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Introduction
Dear all new FY1s
We know how daunting starting lie as a newly qualied junior doctor can be particularly
i you start your rst shit on-call or working nights During our oundation experience in
medicine we ound that medical school had prepared us well or emergency situations
with numerous courses like ILS AIMS and similar with the main emphasis being on ABCDE
and managing acute presentations
When you are asked to see patients on hospital wards this sort o training only gets you
so ar itrsquos a great structure to start with but oten the presentations are not that acute anda basic ABCDE assessment just isnrsquot enough
The aim o this teaching material is NOT TO TEACH you medicine you already know It
is there as a guide and prompt to help you out in situations you havenrsquot covered as a
student and to make sure you are a sae practitioner The material has already been trialled
in Pennine Acute Trust with positive and constructive eedback rom both experienced
clinicians and junior doctors so we think we have most eventualities covered
The individual case scenarios have been presented to you in a lay out which should help
with your documentation as well as assessment and management plan or the patient Thepresentation on blood in the catheter bag is set out as an example o good documentation
whereas the other examples are shortened versions with emphasis on the most important
aspects o each presenting complaint Make sure you donrsquot just read them mindlessly
you still always need to think about your course o action regarding ABCDE initially You
should also be able to come up with diferentials and take an appropriate history or most
scenarios which is why we have not included detailed prompts or this We have ocussed
on the areas which ourselves and our colleagues struggled with initially
Whenever you have an encounter with a patient it really is important that you document
what you have done in a systematic way This is to rstly protect yoursel rom a legalperspective should any harm come to the patient and secondly to help your colleagues
who are in charge o their care You will understand this soon enough or yoursel
We hope you nd this booklet useul and that it provides you with the majority o
inormation yoursquoll need when you are ATSPrsquod
I you have any urther eedback or us on the material or anything you would like to add
please eel ree to contact us with your suggestions
Gillian and Fran
A note rom the authors
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 5243
Initial Assessment
Examination
History
Investigations
Plan Hint
Medication Review
ATSP Re ABDOMINAL PAIN
A V P U
ABCDE
Is this patient acutely unwell
Are they post-op
ABDO EXAM
PR EXAM i appropriate (ie i there is history o haematemesismeleana i you suspect obstruction
or i you think the patient may be aecally loaded)
VASCULAR EXAM ndash eel the pulses
1 SOCRATES - CHECK BOWELS
Associated symptoms should include
urinary and gynae
3 PMHx including
bullalcoholconsumption
bullconstipationdiarrhoea
bullPreviousabdopelvicsurgery
bullBPH
REASON FOR ADMISSIONand most recent proceduresoperations
Consider
bullBloods-FBCUampEincCa2+LFTamylase
coag X-match i signs o bleed
bullAXRerectCXR
bullECG
bullDipstickurineMSUorCSU
bullStoolsample(Cdiffifonabx)
Discuss need or abdo USS with senior
Depends on working diagnosisimpression
bull KeepNBMuntildiagnosismade
bull IVaccess+-FLUIDS
bull Analgesiabull MonitorBPampurineOPCatheterise
bull ConsiderNGTifvomiting
bull Keepdetailsandcheckonthemlater
Most in-hospital abdo pain is not anemergency and this plan will be a bitexcessive or the majority o casesConstipation andor pre-existing chronic
pathology is the leading cause o abdo painin this group o patients unless they arepost-op Symptomatic treatment is mostoten suicient
Unless this is an ACUTE situation youshould ocus on symptom control whenout o hoursConsider holding bullNSAIDSifsuspectgastritisGORbullOPIATESifconstipatedConsider startingbullOMEPRAzOLEPRNGAVISCONbullAnalgesiandashPainladder(notNSAIDS)
Try BUSCOPAN(seeBNF)foranycramp
like colicky sounding painbullLaxativesorenemaifconstipatedOnly use an enema i patient is aecally loadedbullAntibioticsifsuspectUTI-checkprevious
MSUs
Foranon-acutesituationthinkaboutcommon
causes or in-hospital abdominal painbullConstipation - remember this may present as
overlow incontinence
bullUrinary retention
bullPre-existing pathology eg partial obstruction
CholecystitisPancreatitisGastritis(ulcerGORD
inective causes)
bullUTI (catheterised)
bullInection eg Cdi
If ACUTE ABDO ie perforation or bleedbull BP+feelthepulsebull IVAccessampbloodsbull ErectCXR+AXRbull SeniorHELP
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 624
Initial Assessment
Examination
History
Investigations
Plan
Medication Review
4
Is patient in PAINFluid balanceTEMPAMTGCSSEPTICLRTIUTI
ABCDE
BM
bullChestandAbdoExam
bullNEUROLOGICAL EXAM - Likely to be limited
bullExposureforsource o sepsis including venous access catheters woundssores
bullSignsofhead trauma especially i patient has allen
bullSmellyUrine
Isthispersonnormallylikethis
Anyhistoryofdementia
HowWhenhavetheychanged
Any precipitants eg medsalcohol
withdrawal
Consider (according to clinical picture)
bullBloodsFBCUampEsincCa2+LFTs
bullDipstick MSU- check previous ones
too
bullCultures (i temperature has spiked)
bullCXR
bullABG i patient unwell
bullCT head (senior decision)
Only use sedation i you think the patient is putting
themselves or others at risk of harm NOT if they are just
being disruptive
DO NOT SEDATE PATIENTS WHO HAVE FALLEN AND MAY
HAVE SUFFERED A HEAD INJURY
bullRegular(2-4hrly)nursingobsinwelllitroom
bullTreatsuspectedcause+-analgesiaifnecessary
bullRegular ward staf must review bloods try and elicit
cause or change in moodAMT
bullOnceserious cause exluded bullForsleeplessness - Zopiclone 375-75mg PO
bullForagitation - Diazepam 5mg PO
- Haloperidol check BNF for indications and doses
Notorious drugs that cause conusion
bullOPIATES especially TRAMADOL
bullBENZODIAZEPINES
bullGELOFUSINE
bullINSULIN (too much)
THINK ABOUTRISKFACTORS or
- Sepsis - Lungs skin UTI recent surgery
- Hypoxia - PE pneumonia respiratory depression
- Pain (including constipation urinary retention)
- CVATIA
- Hypoglycaemia
Treat the reversible causesbeoreprescribing any sedatives
Reducing Regimen o
CHLORDIAZEPOXIDE or
ALCOHOL WITHDRAWAL
Day 1 and 2 20-30mgQDS
Day 3 and 4 15mgQDS
Day 5 10mgQDS
Day 6 10mgBDDay 7 10mgNocte
ATSP Re AGITATIONCONFUSION
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 7245
Examination
History
Investigations Medication Review
Investigations History
Name o DrMelanieCrowtherFY1Bleep1234
A V P U
Speaking ull sentences
RR 17
Sats 98 on air
Description
Chest clearGoodbilatAE
JVP Not raised
CRTlt2secs
Mucus membranesMoist well hydrated
+0HS
CalvesSot and non tenderNo oedema
Further relevant examinations
Inspection of catheter sitebull Noevidenceoftrauma
Appearance of urinebull 520mlinbagbull Bloodstainedbuttranslucentbull Noclots
BS normal Sot and non-tenderNo organomegalyNo ascites
Bladder not palpable
A
B
C
D
E
Patient Details NAME DOB Hosp No
EXAMPLE OF DOCUMENTATION
ATSP Re BLOOD IN CATHETER BAG
HR 86 reg
BP-lying13972
-standing13274
Fluidbalance
IN 1500ml12hr
OUT 1200ml12hr
Temp372
AMT1010
BM NA
Agitationmood no change
Any relevant PMHx eg TURP No
Past Hx o same thing None previously
When was catheter put in Catheter inserted
37 ago
Any record o diculties Doctor was called
to perorm as several nurses struggled to pass
tube
Why was pt catheterised Urinary retentionAny immediate distress or raised EWS No
I III
ABDOEXAM
prev now prev now
Hb 111 Na 138
WC 89 K 42
Plt 435 Cr 198
MCV 89 Ur 98
INR 11 CRP 57
Consider holding
Clexane and PO anticoags
MUST CHECK WITH SENIOR FIRST
Patients may be on anticoagulants
eg or AVR
1) Ensure IV access2) SendbloodsFBCUampECROSS MATCHCLOTTING3) Regularobs(2-4hourly)4) Strictuidbalancerecording (maintainurineopgt30mlshr)
5) Change catheter bag (to re-measurewith time)
6) Dipstick urine and send or CSU
SIGNED M Crowther GMC 7895432
Bloods
PlanMedication Review
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 824
Initial Assessment
Examination
History
Investigations
Plan
Medication Review
ATSP Re DECREASED GCS
ABCDE AIRWAY amp OXYGENGCSPUPILSBM
ChestandAbdoExam(Quickfullassessment)
NEUROLOGICAL EXAM
bullReexesincplantars
bullPUPILS
COLLAPSESEIZURE - TRAUMA
DRUG TOXICITY
HYPOGLYCAEMIA
Look at medical notes yoursel
Commonly hypoglycaemia or opiate toxicity
but must rule out any serious acute events
Think about RISK FACTORS or
bullSepsis
bullStrokeorMI
bullLowBM
bullDrugtoxicity(opiatessedatives)
bull RenalFailure
Consider (according to clinical picture)
bullBloods
bullDipstickUrine
bullCXR
bullECG
bullABG
Treatsuspectedcause+-analgesiaifnecessary
bullOpiate ODNaloxonerdquoNarcanrdquo400mcgIVandrepeatuntilresponsive
In opioid toxicity reversal with naloxone produces instantaneous results once it has reached therapeutic levels
Remember it is very short acting and the patient may require a naloxone IVI depending on the amount and
natureoftheopiateODRefertotheBNForlocaltrustpolicyforthisanddiscusswithaseniorrst
bullLow blood sugars get senior helpifcausingsignicantlyreducedGCSNeedtoconsider10-25dextrose
IVIsIfGCS14+givelucoadeandcheckBMin30minsNursesshouldalreadyhavegivensomethingcalled
HYPOSTOP i patient is known diabetic beore calling you as it does not require a prescription
bullBenzodiazepinesunlikelywithin-hospitalpatientsbutthereversingagentisFLUMAzENILYoushould
never be using this on your own and most wards do not stock it anyway
Regular(2-4hrly)nursingobsinwelllitroom
IfyouareinANYDOUBTorsuspectanacuteeventhasoccurredyouMUSTseekSENIORHELP
IMMEDIATELY
Notorious drugs that cause sedation
bull OPIATES (OD)
bull BENZODIAZEPINES
6
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 9247
History
Initial Assessment and Examination
Ater Death
Medications or symptom control
ATSP Re DYING PATIENT
A V P U
A - isthisobstructedArethereexcesssecretions
B - isrespirationregularoragonal
C - ispatienttachycardicThis may be only sign o painD - isthepatientagitatedoruncomfortable
- ispatientvomitingorconausea
- isthepatienthavingseiures
E - isthepatientitchy
Arethefamilyawareofthesituation
Whataretheirinstructionsaboutbeingcontactedifpatientdeteriorateseginmiddleofthenight
HaspatientbeenassignedtoLCPanddocumentationallinorder
Go and see the body
Document Your name and bleep numberbull ldquoCalledtoconrmdeathNovitalsignsrdquoStatetime o death
bull Fixedanddilatedpupils
bull Norespiratoryeortfor3minutes
bull Nopulseorheartsounds
bull DOCUMENT WHETHER OR NOT PATIENT IS FITTED WITH PACEMAKER RADIOACTIVE IMPLANT
bull YoudoNOTneedtoputacauseofdeathifyoudonrsquotknowthepatientunlessalreadyclearly
documented in notesbull YouDONOTneedtowriteadeathcerticate
bull WhetherornotNoKinformed
bull RIP
bull Painbreathlessness MorphineNB DIAMORPHINE is commonly stated as drug o choice in prescribing guidancebut oten hospitals donrsquot stock it I this is the case you can still use this inormation butensure you MULTIPLY the dose o diamorphine by 15 or a morphine equivalent (EgStateddoseDiamorphine10mgSC24hrsthenmorphineequivalentwouldbe15mgSC24hrs)
bull NauseavomitingLevomepromaine
bull Secretions Glycopyroniumbull RestlessnessagitationMidaolam
bull Itchiness Chlorpheniramine(Piriton)
See ldquoICP or the Care o the Dying Prescribing Guidance V 40rdquo or your trust equivalent or detailsRemember Some patients at the end o lie do not require heavy sedation or maximum pain relietailor your prescription according to your assessment and listen to the nurse caring or themWrite these meds up as PRN or via a syringe driver i itrsquos necessary (ie nurses constantlyadministering)Do NOT put patients on the Care o the Dying Pathway (ie withdraw lie-prolongingmedications)ndash this is a consultantrsquosMDT decision
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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Initial Assessment and Examination
History
Investigations
Plan
Medication Review
ATSP Re FALLSCOLLAPSE
ABCDE
GCS
BM
ForHead Trauma ensure you document
the ollowing
1 Mechanism o injury
2AnyLOCReducedGCSConfusion
3AnyvomitingorSeiuresymptoms
4HeadexaminationegBruising
LacerationBoggy swellings
Signsoftrauma
bullHeadandneck
bullHIPS
Neuroexam
Lying-StandingBP
RISK FACTORS or
bullMechanicalFalls
bullStroke
bullLowBM
bullDrugtoxicity(opiatessedatives)
bullArrhythmiasbullSeiure
bull Infection
bullAlwaystakeaFALLS HISTORY but remember
you are ocussing on making the patient SAFE
rather than diagnosing a cause or their all
Oten none are needed (always do a lying
and standing BP though)
Depend on history and exam ndingsConsider
bullECG
bullBloods
bullDipstick
bullCThead(senior must be inormed)
bullRegularnursing+-neuroobsifindicatedbullAddressunderlyingcauseifappropriate
Wounds Most can be glued or steristripped I concerned send patient to AampE
Consider withholding the ollowing
bull Antihypertensives
bull Sedatives until head trauma ruled out
bull Warfarin i patient is at risk o allsagain ie undetermined cause o alls
or unsteady on eetdementia Check
with senior rst patient may have articial
valve replacement
bull Inorm nursing staf o any changes
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 11249
Assessment or repeat prescription
History
Sliding scale or IV insulin
High BM
1 The REASONfortheiruids(NBMslidingscaleunwellsepticunsafeswallow)
2FLUIDstatusndashcheckforoverloaddehydrationInput-Outputchart
3 CHECK UampEpayingattentiontoK+requirementsDonrsquotjustrewriteuidswithoutchecking
mostrecentUampEsIfnobloodsforgt48hrsandonregularuids repeat uampersquos beore represcribing
Write a blood card or next appropriate monitoring so it doesnrsquot get missed4ChecktheKARDEX or PO electrolyte supplements and diuretics I patient is receiving diuretic
anduidssimultaneouslythencontactseniorforadvice
Duringon-callyouwillnormallybeaskedtore-writetheslidingscaleontheuidchartBMsare
monitored every hour by nursing staf and inusion rate is altered accordingly
In the inusion pump
bull50mlsNsaline+50unitsACTRAPIDinsulin
bullKClmayalsobeaddeddependingonthepatientrsquoslevelsIflt3add20mmolif3-5add10mmol
BloodGlucoseLevelmmolL Standardscale Augmentedscale
Units o insulinhour Units o insulinhour
lt4 0 0 4-7 1 2
71-11 2 4
111-17 4 8
171-22 6 12
gt22 8 16
Stopinfusionfor30minutesthencheckBMagainRestartslidingscaleatslowerrateof05mmolhour
Stopping the insulin inusion completely can be especially dangerous in patients with type 1 diabetes
A high BM is oten nothing to worry about during an oncall shit It is usually because the patientrsquosnormal blood sugar control regime has been disrupted due to acute illness changes to routine or acombinationMake sure you1 Check BM charts or previous readings and whether this is new or them or not2 Check urine or ketones3 Do ABG i patient looks unwell I this is the case they are likely to have a high EWS so manage
appropriately4 Document your ndings and action taken (if any)
Ifpatientisnotonaslidingscaleyoucanprescribe10unitsactrapid(evenifNIDDM)tobringtheBMdown but donrsquot start messing around with their normal blood glucose control it is not an emergencysituationandcanbedealtwithduringwardhoursbyspecialiedteamswhohavealotofexperienceinthese cases
Ensurepatientisnotuidrestrictedforanyreasonieheartfailureoedemaandascites
ATSP or FLUID REVIEW
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 122410
Initial Assessment
Examination
History
Investigations
Plan
Medication Review
ATSP Re HAEMATEMESISCOFFEE GROUND VOMITMALAENA
A V P U
ABCDE
Chest Exam
ABDO EXAM
bullAnysignsofperforationTender
bullPR EXAM ndashALWAYScheckforevidenceYOURSELFevenHaematemesisCGV
IV Access and bloods
Work out EWSBP lying and standing
IfpthashadsignicantupperGIbleed
1 A signicant posturaldrop(gt20mmHg)in BP is oten the rst sign2Theureawillusuallybecomeproportionally higher than creatinineoten with little other evidence o renalailure
bullRememberHbwonrsquotdropimmediately afteraGIbleed-thereforenormalHbisnt
reassuring
RISK FACTORS or GI BleedbullGastricirritantmedications
(NSAIDS)bullAlcoholALDbullLackofgastro-protective
medicationbullUlcersbull ReuxGORDbull Persistentvomitingbull Endoscopystentingproceduresbull Postabdosurgery
Mandatory bullBloods-FBCUampEincludingCa2+ LFTINRandclottingX-match send as URGENTConsider bullAXRerectCXR bullUrgentendoscopyifHbhastaken
massive drop rom previous or is verylow ie lt7 Seniors denitely need tobe inormed beore considering this
WITHOLD
bullAny anti-coagulants
bullNSAIDS
CONSIDER
bullAntiemetic
bullPPI(lansopraoleisindicatedfor
patients on aspirin and clopidogrel
omepraoleifnot)
bull KeepNBMuntilwardteamassessmentuntilyouaresatisedthepatientisstablebull IVaccess+-FLUIDSbull Regularnursingobs-recheckonehourlaterand2hourlythereafterbull FluidbalanceMonitorurineOPandmaintaintogt30mlhrbull Keepdetailsandcheckonthemlater
NB Patients are not normally transused blood products over night unless it is an emergency IVuidswillpreventhypovolaemiaanditsconsequencesIfyouthinkyourpatientlooksabitdryoris slightly tachycardic etc then stay on the sae side and run through some saline (unless otherwisecontraindicated)
ue Haematemesis or Malaena is a medical emergency and will oten be accompanied with a high EWSeat accordingly i this is the case In-hospital patients oten suer simple coee ground vomits without
any systemic disruption but must still be considered as a potenital emergency
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 132411
Medication Review
Initial Assessment Examination Possible CAUSES to consider
Investigations-depend on scoring parameters
Medication Review
Plan
History - ALWAYS look in the notes
Impression
ATSP Re HIGH EWS (General Assessment)NB always ask nurses or VALUES OF PARAMETERS and what they are COMPARED TO NORMAL
TrustguidelinesindicateforFY1sEWS3ndashAssessmanageandreassessactionsafter30minutes
EWSgt5ndashSeniormustbeinformedafterinitialassessmentndashattheveryleastjusttomakesuretheyareaware
RR
Sats
HR
BP
Fluid balance
Temp
AMT
BM
Agitationmood
GCS
CHEST-THOROUGH
clinical respiratory exam
is vital to guide urther
management
HS
JVP
Calves
Mucus membranes
CRT
bull PEbull HA Pneumoniabull Failure ndash heart lungsbull MI
bull Decompensated heart ailure
bull Acutedecompensated Renal failure
bull Dehydrationbull Sepsis or inection
bull Perorationbull AAA
bull Peritonitisbull DVT (look for one- a DVT wonrsquot cause high
EWS on its own)bull Source of sepsis (lines cellulitis catheter etc)
A
B
C
D
E
Considerbull CXRbull ABGbull Routinebloods+-CULTURESforsepticscreen
i temp spiked
bull X-matchifsuspectpatientisbleedingbull ECGbull UrineDipstick
ReviewKardexforanyIATROGENIC causes o above eg NSAIDSwararin bleedIsthepatientoversedatedSYMPTOM controlbull Isthepatientinpain- analgesiabull Isthepatientvomiting- antiemetic (IVIM)
bull IsthepatientdehydratedndashIV luidsbull IsthepatientsepticndashWhatisthesource
- Antibiotics (see trust guidance)Should the patient have been on
prophylacticLMWH-PE
Has the patient suered an acute
event
Has anything CHANGED and HOW
WHYhasthishappened
A high EWS can oten resolve with SYMPTOM control Eg bring the BP up and tachyhigh RR mayresolve1 Regular nursing obs2 Treatsuspectedcause3 Strictfluidbalance+-catheterisationifpatientisunwellenough4 Analgesiaandgeneralsymptomcontrol5 Reviewyourtreatmentaction-hasithadaneffectSenior review i worried
SEPTIC SCREEN
bull CXRbull UrineDipstick bull Cultures Blood Urine (MSU) Sputum
Stoolbull Swabs rom likely sources eg wound bedsore throat eye cannula catheterdrain site
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 142412
Initial Assessment
Investigations
Plan
Medication Review
Examination
History
ATSP Re HYPERKALAEMIA (stable patient)
A V P U
ABCDE ECG
CHEST and CVS
Hydration
Unwellorstable
Fluidbalance
- Is this acute
- Is it a chronic accumulation
- Does the patient have CRF
- CARDIAC history
- LOOK at FLUID Px charts
- Is patient diabetic
- Symptoms eg palpitationsdizziness
bull ECG
bull ABG - helpul i you suspect a spurious
result
bull BloodsndashRepeatsampleifunsureof
accuracy o hyperkalaemia eg haemolysis
Hyperkalaemia treatment
bull Iflt7andWITHOUTECGchanges
Insulin and dextrose IVI- reer to local trust policy or exact instructions I unable to ind then
10unitsactrapidin50mlof50dextroseover10mins
bull Ifgt65WITHECGchanges
Salbutamol 5mg neb
Insulin and dextroseIVIthenINFORMASENIORaspatientmaywellneed
Calcium gluconate10mlof10IVover5minforcardiacprotectionEnsurepatientison
cardiac monitoring Calcium resonium PO15mgQDSCausesconstipationsowriteupalaxativePRN
Hold medications as appropriate (see above)
REPEAT BLOODS post treatment
bull Diuretics-K+sparingorlosingbull ACEA2RBinbitorsegramipril
losartan
bull NSAIDS
bull IVFluids
bull PotassiumsupplementsIVPO
bull Nutritionaldrinks
ECG
ECGchangesinhyperkalaemia
bullArrythmias
bullProlongedPRintervalwithflattened
Pwaves
bullWideQRSwithslurrySTsegment
bullTalltentedTTraves
I patient is symptomaticunstable this is a medical EMERGENCY and needs a senior doctor involved
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 152413
Initial Assessment
Assessment o uid balance
Examination
Investigations
History
Plan
ATSP Re LOW URINE OUTPUT (catheterised patient)
ABCDE
CATHETER- IS IT BLOCKED
1Checktheuidchartandworkouttotalinputandoutput(usuallyover24hrsbutpatientis commonly post-op so calculate rom the time since they returned rom theatre i this is the case)2Remembertheurineoutputshouldbe05mlkghrDonrsquot orget to account or parenteral eeds stoma output and insensible losses
Fluid balance over 4 hours eg post opInput 500ml Output Urine 100ml Insensiblelosses 200ml Stoma 500mlTOTAL 500ml TOTAL 800ml
FLUID BALANCE=-300mliepatientisDRY
CHEST-isthepatientuidoverloadedABDO EXAM bullTenderUrinaryretentionNotepost-opileuscancauseurinaryretention bullStomasitendashisitinfectedLook or acute serious pathologies and try to correct these
bullAlwaysremembertolookatthenotes This problem is commonly seen in post op
surgical patientsbullCheckwhichoperationtheyrsquovehad and any important details on the op notes
beore you speak to senior docbullEnsurethatthepatientisnotuid restrictedegCCFascites
Consider
bullBloods-FBCandUampEstomonitorrenalfunction bullAXR bullDipstickurineMSUorCSU bullStoolsample(Cdiifonabx) bullSepticscreenDiscuss the need or imaging with senior i suspecting intra-abdominal sepsis
bullOftenallthatrsquosneededisauid challenge o 500ml saline particularly i the patient is dry (negative uidbalance)Getnursestorunitthroughstatandcheckopnomorethan1hrlaterIfpatientissimply
dehydrated their urine op should have picked up rom this CAUTION IN CCFCRF patients
bullCorrectunderlyingcauseoncediagnosedbullMonitorBPampurineOP(maintainurineopto05mgkghranddocumentthisinstruction)bullConsiderdiuretics(statdose40mgfurosemideIV) i you think the patient is uid overloaded (usually with positiveuidbalance)howeverusewithcautionandalwayscheckpreviousU+ErsquosConsultwithseniordoc
beore doing this you could easily exacerbate the problem
Think about RISK FACTORS orbullDehydrationLookforpotentialuidlosseseg
vomiting diarrhoea poor oral intake high stomaoutput
bullUrinaryobstructionegnatureofopco-morbiditiesbullInfectionSepsisbullDrugseganticholinergics
SEPTIC
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 162414
Make a very quick decision as to whether or not you are confdent in treating this patient on your own
Patients who are short o breath can deteriorate very quickly indeed Call or a Senior immediately i you are unsure
Medication Review
Examination
History
Investigations- dependingon scoring parameters
Plan
Medication Review
ATSP Re SHORTNESS OF BREATH
A V P U
ABCDE
OXYGEN (highowinitially)ABG
THOROUGH exam is vital to guide management
Hydration assessment
- Onset
- Duration
- Exacerbating or relieving actors
- Check clerking proorma or
co-morbidities
bullABGndashimmediatelythenrepeatbullCXRCheckmostrecentoneDonrsquot
be araid to repeat CXR i things havechanged clinically Order a portable ilm
i you eel the patient is too unstable to betransported - discuss this with the nurses bullECGbullCulturesBloodandsputumif
appropriate andor check previous orsensitivities
bullRepeatbloods
bull Staywithpatientuntilyouarehappytheyarestable
bull Regularnursingobs(2hourly)
bull KeepawatchfuleyeontheirbloodsCXRetc
CALL FOR SENIOR HELP IF YOU ARE UNSURETHESE PATIENTS CAN DETERIORATE VERY QUICKLY INDEED
Patients with anxiety exacerbatingtheir respiratory disease are otengiven Oramorph by the nursingsta Be wary o this as you dontwant to be causing respiratorydepression in eg COPD patientsAsk a senior i unsure
Is patient on thromboprophylaxisWhat can I givebull ThinkaboutyourchoicesforOxygen
Therapy depending on patientrsquos chronic diseasestatusandABGresult
bullWheezeSalbutamol5mgneb+- atrovent500mcgneb(canbegivenwith O2)bullLRTICAPHAP Antibiotics (check
protocol)bullPulm OedemaFurosemide40mgIV
JVP and ankles
Calves Thighs
Anaphylaxis
Pneumothorax
Comparesatstonormalcomparewithchronicdiseasestatus
Cardiacorrespiratorycause
Ask about ASSOCIATED FEATURES and RISK
FACTORS or
DVTPE
Overload eg recent transusionluid therapy
MI
Infection(hospitalacquired)
Anxiety AsthmaCOPD exacerbation
Recent surgery (atelectasis)
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 172415
Initial Assessment
Examination
History
Investigations - depending on scoring parameters and clinical judgement
Plan - very diferent or acutely unwell patients and those who are stable
Medication Review
ATSP Re TACHYCARDIAPALPITATIONS
A V P U
ABCDE ECG
TACHYARRYTHMIAS ARE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY If patient has developed a new tachyarrhythmia
on ECG (SVTFast AF) a senior needs to be involved Make sure you perform the following
Chest and Abdo Exam
Fluidbalance-ispatientdehydrated
Mandatory
bullECG
Consider
bullRoutinebloods+-CULTURESfor
septic screen i spiked temperature bullX-matchifsuspectpatientisbleeding
bullUrineDipstick
1IVaccess+-fluidsandbloods2Followtachycardiaalgorithmifappropriate-seniorshouldreallybeinvolvedinthis3Regularnursingobs(candotemponlyevery30minshalfhourifyouthinkhaveRFsforsepsis)4TreatsuspectedcauseoftenthisisactuallySYMPTOMCONTROLandyoumayfindthatsimple
stable tachycardias resolve once you have the ollowing under controlbull PAIN bull DEHYDRATION
bull AGITATION bull SEPSIS
bull ANXIETY bull VOMITING
IATROGENIC causes o tachycardiabull SALBUTAMOLoverusebull EYEDROPSegPHENYLEPHRINEbull THEOPHYLLINEtoxicitybull DIPYRIDAMOLE
MEDICAL MANAGEMENTbull Considerdigoxin 250mcg in
elderly patients or bisoprolol 25 mgunless otherwise contra indicated (low BP
Asthma) once cause has been identiied(senior discussion)
bullIsthepatientsymptomatic
bullCARDIAC HISTORY
bullPreviouscardiachistoryandRISKFACTORSfor
MIAFArrhythmias
bullPreviousECGs
bullFor arrhythmias IS THIS NEW Assume it is
unless proven otherwise
bullLookatKardexforanyanti-arrhythmic
medications or clues
bullHowmuchteaandcoffeehasthepatienthad
bullHas patient been on any drugs which put thematincreasedriskoftheaboveEgWarfarin
NSAIDs- bleed Should the patient have been onprophylacticLMWH-PE
Possible reasons or simple tachycardia
bull Painbull Anxietybull Sepsisbull Hypovolaemia ndash bleeddehydrationbull PEbull MIbull Medication side FX
EXPOSEor sources o sepsis
PULSEREGULARORIRREGULAR
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 182416
You will oten get called to the wards to prescribe drugs or common in-patient complaints
Always eye-ball a patient beore doing so- the nurses may have the diagnosis wrong
DonrsquotforgettocheckforALLERGIESPMHandRENALFUNCTION(ifindicated)LookatKARDEXor any obvious interactions
Most drugs you will prescribe on-call should be written in the PRN or lsquoonce onlyrsquo section i you
do not know the patient
ANALGESIA MEDICATION ROUTE DOSAGE MAXDAY
PARACETAMOL POIV 500mgndash1g QDS
IBUPROFEN PO 200-400mg TDS
DICLOFENACrsquoVoltarolrsquo POIM 50mg TDS
PR 100mg TDS
CO-CODAMOL
(8500OR30500) PO 1-2TABLETS QDS
CO-DYDRAMOL(10500) PO 1-2TABLETS QDS
CODEINEPHOSPHATE POIM 30-60mg QDS
BUSCOPAN POIV 10-20mg QDS
QUININE PO 200mg ON
TRAMADOL PO 50-100mg QDS
MORPHINE IVPO 5-10mg STAT
NB Opiates can cause nauseavomiting and constipation Always Prescribe a PRN antiemetic and simple laxative
ANTI-EMETICS METOCLOPRAMIDErsquoMaxalonrsquo POIMIV 10mg TDS
(dopamineantagonist-worksdirectlyonGIT)
CYCLIZINE POIV 50mg TDS
(antihistaminendashworkscentrally)
PROCHLORPERAZINElsquoStemetilrsquoPO 10- 20mg TDS
lsquoBuccastemrsquo BUCCAL 3-6mg BD
(dopamineantagonist-workscentrallyonchemoreceptortriggerone)
DOMPERIDONE PO 10-20mg QDS
(actscentrallyonchemoreceptortriggerone)
ONDANSETRON POIMIV 8mg TDS
(5HT3 antagonist)
GASTIC REFLUX GAVISCON PO 5-10ml TDS
RANITIDINE PO 150mg BD
OMEPRAzOLE PO 20mg OD
COMMONLY PRESCRIBED DRUGS and doses
Caution NSAIDs in
asthmaPUCRF
Pts with
renal colic
respond
well to PR
dicloenac
Quinineisusedor night-timeleg crampscommon inhospital ptsMake sure youexamine frst- itmay be a DVT
Buscopan is an anti-
spasmodic and works
on smooth muscle
Greatforcramping
abdo pain
You can try most o these
in various combinations i
previous attempts to control
symptoms have ailed
Metoclopramideshould notbe used postGIsurgeryfor
3 days It canalso causesextra-pyramidalreactions andoculogyric
crises Bewareo this thoughthe antidoteis procyclidine5-10mgIVIM
Ondansetron is very
expensive Its otenreserved or chemo
patients donrsquot use it as
rst-line
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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SOB SALBUTAMOL NEB 5mg STATPRN
IPRATROPIUM BROMIDE (Atrovent) NEB 500mcg STATPRN
PREDNISOLONE PO 30-40mg STATOD
(3-5days max)
HYDROCORTISONE IV 200mg STAT(i acute SOB or angiodema)
FUROSEMIDE POIV 40-80mg STAT
ORAMORPH PO 5mg
LAXATIVES
Stimulants SODIUMDOCUSATE PO 50-200mg TDS
BISOCODYL PO 5-10mg BD
SENNA PO TT (15mg) BDTDSOsmotic MOVICOL PO 1-2sachets BDTDS
LACTULOSE PO 15ml BD
I aecal loading GLYCERINESUPPOSITORY PR T STATPRN
PHOSPHATE ENEMA PR T STATPRN
ITCHRASH CHLORPHENAMINE PO 4mg TDS
(alsoknownasldquoPiritonrdquo)
AGITATION DIAzEPAM POSLOWIV 5-10mg
SLEEPLESSNESS ZOPICLONE PO 375-75mg
AGGRESSION HALOPERIDOL CheckBNFforindicationsanddoses
ALCOHOL
WITHDRAWAL CHLORDIAzEPOXIDE(reducingregimen)
Day1and220-30mgQDS
Day3and415mgQDS
Day510mgQDS
Day610mgBD
Day710mgNocte
SIMPLE UTI TRIMETHOPRIM PO 200mg BD
NITROFURANTOIN PO 50mg QDS
CEPHALEXIN PO 500mg BD
FOR ALL OTHER INFECTIONS REFER TO YOUR LOCAL ANTIBIOTIC POLICY-YOUWILLSOONLEARNMOSTOFTHEMOFFBYHEART
Salbutamol causes
tachycardia
Use oramorph with caution in COPD pts It works well in anxious patients to control their breathing
In-hospital patients are oten constipated oten due to decreased activity and medications Try tackling
constipation using dierent pharmacological approaches ie donrsquot Px movicol i already on lactulose
Write in lsquovariable dosersquo section o kardex near the back
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 202418
Wararin
Digoxin
PRESCRIBING OUT OF HOURS
You will oten get bleeped to prescribe wararin or patients you donrsquot know especially over the
weekendevenings i your colleagues havenrsquot done them
CHECK PATIENT IS NOT BLEEDING
Areyouprescribingmaintenanceorloadingdose
LOADING this is the regimen prescribed initially until INR stable and in target range Old school says10mg10mg5mgcheckINR(Day4)
MAINTENANCE usual dose once INR established to keep within target range Check yellow book or
regular prescriptions
bullOnceanINRhasbeenobtainedforoneofyourpatientsmakesureyouprescribethewarfarinfor
about3-4daysthenre-checkMarkopenbracketsonwarfarinchartstoindicatewhenyouwantthe
nextINRtobechecked(usuallybetween3-4daysintheinitialperiodormorefrequentlyifthereare
difculties establishing a maintenance dose)
bullINR is too high (lt4 or lt5 i target is 3-4) - DO NOT OMIT just reduce the dose (1mg) and re-
checkINRatleast48hrsafterasittakesbetween48-72hrsforyourchangetohaveaneect
bull I INR is gt4 (or gt5 i target is 3-4) and patient not actively bleeding prescribe Vitamin K 1mg IV
and OMIT the next dose o wararin
Reason or LT wararin Tx AF 2-3
RecurrentDVT 2-3
PE 2-3
RecurrentPE 3-4
Prostheticheartvalve 3-4
Check kardex or INTERACTIONS
Common onesbull ClarithromycinErythromycin
bull Rifampicin
I actively bleeding check with Senior or advice on urther action
You will occasionally get bleeped to review digoxin levels
Toxicity is very worrying and would normally require the use o lsquoDigibindrsquo which is basically
anantidote for digoxinODYouwillneed toget anECGand assessthepatient clinicallybefore
proceedinggetting senior help
Sub-therapeutic levels are common They are not so worrying but you should clinically assess
the patient in particular their CVS paying particular attention to their pulse as you will denitely get
asked about this i you ask or senior help
I digoxin levels are out o range make sure you check their K+ and keep a regular eye on it as this
needs to be stable or digoxin to be a sae and eective choice o therapy
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 212419
Gentamicin
Usually prescribed in severeneutropenic sepsis (OD regimen) = 5-7mgkgmax480mg
You may get bleeped to check the gentamicin levels o ward patients and subsequently prescribe
the next dose
Theblood levelneedstobe taken6-14hoursafter thestartof thefrst IVI You are basically
looking or the levels to be within therapeutic range I they are not you need to reer to the
Hartord Normogram This is a chart which indicates WHEN the next dose should be according
to how out o range the levels are You DO NOT change the DOSE just the TIMING o the next
one(either2436or48hrslater)Makesureifyouhavebeenaskedtotakethebloodyourself
you note exactly how many hours post IVI the blood has been taken on the blood card it may be
another o your peers who has to review the level
Toxicity may
cause
Deaness
tinnitus
Nystagmus
Vertigo
RenalFailure
Monitor UEs
DAILY
ForpatientswithINFECTIVE ENDOCARDITIS (TDS regimen) = 1mgkg per dose
Therst levelthatneeds toberecordedisafter the3rd4thdoseensuringatleast24hoursof
treatmentisgivenItshouldbetaken1hourpostIVIiethePEAKorPOSTlevelandbebetween
3-5mgL A trough or PRE Dose level is taken approx 1 hour beore any administered dose and
should be lt1mgL The reason or this is that they are on a TDS regimen so renal unction needs
to be closely monitored It is important that gentamicin levels do not rise to toxic amounts
which is more common in patients with renal impairment
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
32
1
06 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Time between start of infusion and sample draw (hours)
Nicolau DP Freeman CD Belliveau PP Nightingale CH Ross JW Quintiliani R Experience with
a once-daily aminoglycoside program administered to 2184 adult patients Antimicrob Agents
Chemo 1995293650-655
Hartford Once Daily Dosing Nomogram
(GentTobra 7mgkg
L e v e l ( m c g m l )
q48h
q36h
q24h
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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General Hints and Tips or seeing patients out o hours
When answering your bleep fnd out
1 Reason or bleep
2Quickbackgroundinfo
3 FurtherrelevantclinicalinfoegOBSERVATIONS and compare these to how they normally runI itrsquos a patient with high EWS just inorm a senior to make them aware and ready or action
4WhattheywantyoutoDO(PURPOSE o call)
5 Ask or the ollowing things to be ready when you arrive
bullNotes
bullKardex
bullObschartnursingle
bullEquipmentegcannulasbloodscatheteretc
6GiveappropriateinstructionsiftheyneedtodoanythingacutelybeforeyouarriveForexamplei
reason or bleep is Haematemesis ask or IV access and bloods to be taken or i a patient has
spiked a temp o gt38˚C get the nurses or night practitioner to do cultures beore you arrive Itsaves a lot o time and afng around once you are on the ward
7 Decide where this lies in your list o priorities or whether it is a job nurse practitioners can do
to help you
NB Try not to have arguments with nurses on the phone some o them are just starting out like
you and may also be petried sometimes they need reassurance too
When you get there
Findthenursewhobleepedyou(orrequestedthebleep)andgetamoredetailedaccountof
whatrsquos going on
Eye-ball the patient beore delving into notes or looking on the computer ollowing the standard
ABCDE assessment It wonrsquot take you long to gure out i they are acutely unwell unstable or
not
Once you have done your initial assessment and any immediate management document what
you have done using a logical and systematic approach This way you wonrsquot orget anything You
will also look really slick and competent plus you might nd you paint yoursel a picture o whatrsquos
going on even i you were clueless initially
Sit down at a computer with the nursing le and medical notes and go straight or the clerking It
should give you a succinct list o PC and other co-morbidities to create a more complete clinical
pictureFlickthroughthewardnotesandndanythingyoucanreaditmaybeofsomeuseLook
at the last entry in particular as there may be a plan o what to do should the situation you have
been bleeped or arises
Check PACS and the lab system or any recent imaging or tests NB ALWAYS compare recent results
to previous ones Just go down the lists looking or cultures unusual blood tests INRs etc and
document what you nd Sometimes the best summaries o a patient are created when someone
manages them on-call Be thorough at the beginning but i you are hard pushed or time reer back to the help sheets- they are designed to make you SAFE not to make you a brilliant diagnostician
whocancowboytheirwaythroughFY1lsquoHousersquostyle
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 232421
HaveagoodbrowsethroughtheKARDEXlookingatwhichmedsmayhavecontributedtothe
situation which may have prevented it i they had been given and which ones you might need
toinitiatetomakesurethepatientisSAFE
Once you have all this inormation create a PROBLEM list and rom this document yourIMPRESSION o the situation Write a PLAN and document whether you involved a senior and
their name and grade Also document the amount o time you were there sometimes you need
tostaywithapatienttoseeifyourtreatmentworkseguidsforlowBPmeanwhileyoucan
scribble down everything yoursquove done to save time
Whenever you are assessing a patient think to yoursel
lsquoWhat do I need to DO to make sure this patient is SAFErsquo I this patient deteriorates or
dies unexpectedly and you were the last doctor to see them you need to make sure your
documentation is adequate Your management appropriate or not will mean nothing i it
has not been written down in the eyes o the law
In summary
bullAnsweryourbleepinasystematicway-itwillhelpyouprioritiseandbecomemoreecient
bullDelegatecertaintaskstonursesdonrsquotbeafraidofaskingthemyouarepartofaTEAM
bullPrioritiseyourjobsanddonrsquotbeafraidtoo-loadsomeontoyourwardSHOYOUaretheone
whogetsbleepedrstsoyouwillbeaskedtodoEVERYTHING
bullWhenyougettoapatient
1 ABCDE approach ALWAYS
2Documentyourinitialassessmentandmanagement 3Reviewthenursingleforobschartuidbalancewarfarinchartsuidprescriptions
4Reviewmedicalnotesandclerkingthensummarise
5ReviewKARDEX
6 Problem list
7 Impression
8 ACTION PLAN (use tick boxes or investigations you have ordered)
9 Keep their details (sticker on handover sheet) and make sure you check on them
later or handover to day team
ALWAYS MAKE SURE YOU ARE SAFE IF IN ANY DOUBT WHATSOEVER YOU MUST INFORMA SENIOR
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 2424
Disclaimer
Copyright
Production
Contacts
The fndings and conclusions in this document are those o the authors who are
responsible or its content All inormation is to be interpreted on an idividual basisin context with the clinical situation to which it reers The inormation is not a
replacement or local guidelines and protocols nor is it a document with any legal
standing No statement in this document can be construed as an ocial position o
the North Western Deanery or NHS Northwest
copyGillianJacksonampFrancesBennett2011
BookdesignedbyAndrewPowellMedicalIllustrationatRoyalBoltonHospitalRef48355
Franmbennettgmailcom
gljacksonhotmailcouk
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 5243
Initial Assessment
Examination
History
Investigations
Plan Hint
Medication Review
ATSP Re ABDOMINAL PAIN
A V P U
ABCDE
Is this patient acutely unwell
Are they post-op
ABDO EXAM
PR EXAM i appropriate (ie i there is history o haematemesismeleana i you suspect obstruction
or i you think the patient may be aecally loaded)
VASCULAR EXAM ndash eel the pulses
1 SOCRATES - CHECK BOWELS
Associated symptoms should include
urinary and gynae
3 PMHx including
bullalcoholconsumption
bullconstipationdiarrhoea
bullPreviousabdopelvicsurgery
bullBPH
REASON FOR ADMISSIONand most recent proceduresoperations
Consider
bullBloods-FBCUampEincCa2+LFTamylase
coag X-match i signs o bleed
bullAXRerectCXR
bullECG
bullDipstickurineMSUorCSU
bullStoolsample(Cdiffifonabx)
Discuss need or abdo USS with senior
Depends on working diagnosisimpression
bull KeepNBMuntildiagnosismade
bull IVaccess+-FLUIDS
bull Analgesiabull MonitorBPampurineOPCatheterise
bull ConsiderNGTifvomiting
bull Keepdetailsandcheckonthemlater
Most in-hospital abdo pain is not anemergency and this plan will be a bitexcessive or the majority o casesConstipation andor pre-existing chronic
pathology is the leading cause o abdo painin this group o patients unless they arepost-op Symptomatic treatment is mostoten suicient
Unless this is an ACUTE situation youshould ocus on symptom control whenout o hoursConsider holding bullNSAIDSifsuspectgastritisGORbullOPIATESifconstipatedConsider startingbullOMEPRAzOLEPRNGAVISCONbullAnalgesiandashPainladder(notNSAIDS)
Try BUSCOPAN(seeBNF)foranycramp
like colicky sounding painbullLaxativesorenemaifconstipatedOnly use an enema i patient is aecally loadedbullAntibioticsifsuspectUTI-checkprevious
MSUs
Foranon-acutesituationthinkaboutcommon
causes or in-hospital abdominal painbullConstipation - remember this may present as
overlow incontinence
bullUrinary retention
bullPre-existing pathology eg partial obstruction
CholecystitisPancreatitisGastritis(ulcerGORD
inective causes)
bullUTI (catheterised)
bullInection eg Cdi
If ACUTE ABDO ie perforation or bleedbull BP+feelthepulsebull IVAccessampbloodsbull ErectCXR+AXRbull SeniorHELP
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 624
Initial Assessment
Examination
History
Investigations
Plan
Medication Review
4
Is patient in PAINFluid balanceTEMPAMTGCSSEPTICLRTIUTI
ABCDE
BM
bullChestandAbdoExam
bullNEUROLOGICAL EXAM - Likely to be limited
bullExposureforsource o sepsis including venous access catheters woundssores
bullSignsofhead trauma especially i patient has allen
bullSmellyUrine
Isthispersonnormallylikethis
Anyhistoryofdementia
HowWhenhavetheychanged
Any precipitants eg medsalcohol
withdrawal
Consider (according to clinical picture)
bullBloodsFBCUampEsincCa2+LFTs
bullDipstick MSU- check previous ones
too
bullCultures (i temperature has spiked)
bullCXR
bullABG i patient unwell
bullCT head (senior decision)
Only use sedation i you think the patient is putting
themselves or others at risk of harm NOT if they are just
being disruptive
DO NOT SEDATE PATIENTS WHO HAVE FALLEN AND MAY
HAVE SUFFERED A HEAD INJURY
bullRegular(2-4hrly)nursingobsinwelllitroom
bullTreatsuspectedcause+-analgesiaifnecessary
bullRegular ward staf must review bloods try and elicit
cause or change in moodAMT
bullOnceserious cause exluded bullForsleeplessness - Zopiclone 375-75mg PO
bullForagitation - Diazepam 5mg PO
- Haloperidol check BNF for indications and doses
Notorious drugs that cause conusion
bullOPIATES especially TRAMADOL
bullBENZODIAZEPINES
bullGELOFUSINE
bullINSULIN (too much)
THINK ABOUTRISKFACTORS or
- Sepsis - Lungs skin UTI recent surgery
- Hypoxia - PE pneumonia respiratory depression
- Pain (including constipation urinary retention)
- CVATIA
- Hypoglycaemia
Treat the reversible causesbeoreprescribing any sedatives
Reducing Regimen o
CHLORDIAZEPOXIDE or
ALCOHOL WITHDRAWAL
Day 1 and 2 20-30mgQDS
Day 3 and 4 15mgQDS
Day 5 10mgQDS
Day 6 10mgBDDay 7 10mgNocte
ATSP Re AGITATIONCONFUSION
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 7245
Examination
History
Investigations Medication Review
Investigations History
Name o DrMelanieCrowtherFY1Bleep1234
A V P U
Speaking ull sentences
RR 17
Sats 98 on air
Description
Chest clearGoodbilatAE
JVP Not raised
CRTlt2secs
Mucus membranesMoist well hydrated
+0HS
CalvesSot and non tenderNo oedema
Further relevant examinations
Inspection of catheter sitebull Noevidenceoftrauma
Appearance of urinebull 520mlinbagbull Bloodstainedbuttranslucentbull Noclots
BS normal Sot and non-tenderNo organomegalyNo ascites
Bladder not palpable
A
B
C
D
E
Patient Details NAME DOB Hosp No
EXAMPLE OF DOCUMENTATION
ATSP Re BLOOD IN CATHETER BAG
HR 86 reg
BP-lying13972
-standing13274
Fluidbalance
IN 1500ml12hr
OUT 1200ml12hr
Temp372
AMT1010
BM NA
Agitationmood no change
Any relevant PMHx eg TURP No
Past Hx o same thing None previously
When was catheter put in Catheter inserted
37 ago
Any record o diculties Doctor was called
to perorm as several nurses struggled to pass
tube
Why was pt catheterised Urinary retentionAny immediate distress or raised EWS No
I III
ABDOEXAM
prev now prev now
Hb 111 Na 138
WC 89 K 42
Plt 435 Cr 198
MCV 89 Ur 98
INR 11 CRP 57
Consider holding
Clexane and PO anticoags
MUST CHECK WITH SENIOR FIRST
Patients may be on anticoagulants
eg or AVR
1) Ensure IV access2) SendbloodsFBCUampECROSS MATCHCLOTTING3) Regularobs(2-4hourly)4) Strictuidbalancerecording (maintainurineopgt30mlshr)
5) Change catheter bag (to re-measurewith time)
6) Dipstick urine and send or CSU
SIGNED M Crowther GMC 7895432
Bloods
PlanMedication Review
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 824
Initial Assessment
Examination
History
Investigations
Plan
Medication Review
ATSP Re DECREASED GCS
ABCDE AIRWAY amp OXYGENGCSPUPILSBM
ChestandAbdoExam(Quickfullassessment)
NEUROLOGICAL EXAM
bullReexesincplantars
bullPUPILS
COLLAPSESEIZURE - TRAUMA
DRUG TOXICITY
HYPOGLYCAEMIA
Look at medical notes yoursel
Commonly hypoglycaemia or opiate toxicity
but must rule out any serious acute events
Think about RISK FACTORS or
bullSepsis
bullStrokeorMI
bullLowBM
bullDrugtoxicity(opiatessedatives)
bull RenalFailure
Consider (according to clinical picture)
bullBloods
bullDipstickUrine
bullCXR
bullECG
bullABG
Treatsuspectedcause+-analgesiaifnecessary
bullOpiate ODNaloxonerdquoNarcanrdquo400mcgIVandrepeatuntilresponsive
In opioid toxicity reversal with naloxone produces instantaneous results once it has reached therapeutic levels
Remember it is very short acting and the patient may require a naloxone IVI depending on the amount and
natureoftheopiateODRefertotheBNForlocaltrustpolicyforthisanddiscusswithaseniorrst
bullLow blood sugars get senior helpifcausingsignicantlyreducedGCSNeedtoconsider10-25dextrose
IVIsIfGCS14+givelucoadeandcheckBMin30minsNursesshouldalreadyhavegivensomethingcalled
HYPOSTOP i patient is known diabetic beore calling you as it does not require a prescription
bullBenzodiazepinesunlikelywithin-hospitalpatientsbutthereversingagentisFLUMAzENILYoushould
never be using this on your own and most wards do not stock it anyway
Regular(2-4hrly)nursingobsinwelllitroom
IfyouareinANYDOUBTorsuspectanacuteeventhasoccurredyouMUSTseekSENIORHELP
IMMEDIATELY
Notorious drugs that cause sedation
bull OPIATES (OD)
bull BENZODIAZEPINES
6
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 9247
History
Initial Assessment and Examination
Ater Death
Medications or symptom control
ATSP Re DYING PATIENT
A V P U
A - isthisobstructedArethereexcesssecretions
B - isrespirationregularoragonal
C - ispatienttachycardicThis may be only sign o painD - isthepatientagitatedoruncomfortable
- ispatientvomitingorconausea
- isthepatienthavingseiures
E - isthepatientitchy
Arethefamilyawareofthesituation
Whataretheirinstructionsaboutbeingcontactedifpatientdeteriorateseginmiddleofthenight
HaspatientbeenassignedtoLCPanddocumentationallinorder
Go and see the body
Document Your name and bleep numberbull ldquoCalledtoconrmdeathNovitalsignsrdquoStatetime o death
bull Fixedanddilatedpupils
bull Norespiratoryeortfor3minutes
bull Nopulseorheartsounds
bull DOCUMENT WHETHER OR NOT PATIENT IS FITTED WITH PACEMAKER RADIOACTIVE IMPLANT
bull YoudoNOTneedtoputacauseofdeathifyoudonrsquotknowthepatientunlessalreadyclearly
documented in notesbull YouDONOTneedtowriteadeathcerticate
bull WhetherornotNoKinformed
bull RIP
bull Painbreathlessness MorphineNB DIAMORPHINE is commonly stated as drug o choice in prescribing guidancebut oten hospitals donrsquot stock it I this is the case you can still use this inormation butensure you MULTIPLY the dose o diamorphine by 15 or a morphine equivalent (EgStateddoseDiamorphine10mgSC24hrsthenmorphineequivalentwouldbe15mgSC24hrs)
bull NauseavomitingLevomepromaine
bull Secretions Glycopyroniumbull RestlessnessagitationMidaolam
bull Itchiness Chlorpheniramine(Piriton)
See ldquoICP or the Care o the Dying Prescribing Guidance V 40rdquo or your trust equivalent or detailsRemember Some patients at the end o lie do not require heavy sedation or maximum pain relietailor your prescription according to your assessment and listen to the nurse caring or themWrite these meds up as PRN or via a syringe driver i itrsquos necessary (ie nurses constantlyadministering)Do NOT put patients on the Care o the Dying Pathway (ie withdraw lie-prolongingmedications)ndash this is a consultantrsquosMDT decision
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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Initial Assessment and Examination
History
Investigations
Plan
Medication Review
ATSP Re FALLSCOLLAPSE
ABCDE
GCS
BM
ForHead Trauma ensure you document
the ollowing
1 Mechanism o injury
2AnyLOCReducedGCSConfusion
3AnyvomitingorSeiuresymptoms
4HeadexaminationegBruising
LacerationBoggy swellings
Signsoftrauma
bullHeadandneck
bullHIPS
Neuroexam
Lying-StandingBP
RISK FACTORS or
bullMechanicalFalls
bullStroke
bullLowBM
bullDrugtoxicity(opiatessedatives)
bullArrhythmiasbullSeiure
bull Infection
bullAlwaystakeaFALLS HISTORY but remember
you are ocussing on making the patient SAFE
rather than diagnosing a cause or their all
Oten none are needed (always do a lying
and standing BP though)
Depend on history and exam ndingsConsider
bullECG
bullBloods
bullDipstick
bullCThead(senior must be inormed)
bullRegularnursing+-neuroobsifindicatedbullAddressunderlyingcauseifappropriate
Wounds Most can be glued or steristripped I concerned send patient to AampE
Consider withholding the ollowing
bull Antihypertensives
bull Sedatives until head trauma ruled out
bull Warfarin i patient is at risk o allsagain ie undetermined cause o alls
or unsteady on eetdementia Check
with senior rst patient may have articial
valve replacement
bull Inorm nursing staf o any changes
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 11249
Assessment or repeat prescription
History
Sliding scale or IV insulin
High BM
1 The REASONfortheiruids(NBMslidingscaleunwellsepticunsafeswallow)
2FLUIDstatusndashcheckforoverloaddehydrationInput-Outputchart
3 CHECK UampEpayingattentiontoK+requirementsDonrsquotjustrewriteuidswithoutchecking
mostrecentUampEsIfnobloodsforgt48hrsandonregularuids repeat uampersquos beore represcribing
Write a blood card or next appropriate monitoring so it doesnrsquot get missed4ChecktheKARDEX or PO electrolyte supplements and diuretics I patient is receiving diuretic
anduidssimultaneouslythencontactseniorforadvice
Duringon-callyouwillnormallybeaskedtore-writetheslidingscaleontheuidchartBMsare
monitored every hour by nursing staf and inusion rate is altered accordingly
In the inusion pump
bull50mlsNsaline+50unitsACTRAPIDinsulin
bullKClmayalsobeaddeddependingonthepatientrsquoslevelsIflt3add20mmolif3-5add10mmol
BloodGlucoseLevelmmolL Standardscale Augmentedscale
Units o insulinhour Units o insulinhour
lt4 0 0 4-7 1 2
71-11 2 4
111-17 4 8
171-22 6 12
gt22 8 16
Stopinfusionfor30minutesthencheckBMagainRestartslidingscaleatslowerrateof05mmolhour
Stopping the insulin inusion completely can be especially dangerous in patients with type 1 diabetes
A high BM is oten nothing to worry about during an oncall shit It is usually because the patientrsquosnormal blood sugar control regime has been disrupted due to acute illness changes to routine or acombinationMake sure you1 Check BM charts or previous readings and whether this is new or them or not2 Check urine or ketones3 Do ABG i patient looks unwell I this is the case they are likely to have a high EWS so manage
appropriately4 Document your ndings and action taken (if any)
Ifpatientisnotonaslidingscaleyoucanprescribe10unitsactrapid(evenifNIDDM)tobringtheBMdown but donrsquot start messing around with their normal blood glucose control it is not an emergencysituationandcanbedealtwithduringwardhoursbyspecialiedteamswhohavealotofexperienceinthese cases
Ensurepatientisnotuidrestrictedforanyreasonieheartfailureoedemaandascites
ATSP or FLUID REVIEW
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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Initial Assessment
Examination
History
Investigations
Plan
Medication Review
ATSP Re HAEMATEMESISCOFFEE GROUND VOMITMALAENA
A V P U
ABCDE
Chest Exam
ABDO EXAM
bullAnysignsofperforationTender
bullPR EXAM ndashALWAYScheckforevidenceYOURSELFevenHaematemesisCGV
IV Access and bloods
Work out EWSBP lying and standing
IfpthashadsignicantupperGIbleed
1 A signicant posturaldrop(gt20mmHg)in BP is oten the rst sign2Theureawillusuallybecomeproportionally higher than creatinineoten with little other evidence o renalailure
bullRememberHbwonrsquotdropimmediately afteraGIbleed-thereforenormalHbisnt
reassuring
RISK FACTORS or GI BleedbullGastricirritantmedications
(NSAIDS)bullAlcoholALDbullLackofgastro-protective
medicationbullUlcersbull ReuxGORDbull Persistentvomitingbull Endoscopystentingproceduresbull Postabdosurgery
Mandatory bullBloods-FBCUampEincludingCa2+ LFTINRandclottingX-match send as URGENTConsider bullAXRerectCXR bullUrgentendoscopyifHbhastaken
massive drop rom previous or is verylow ie lt7 Seniors denitely need tobe inormed beore considering this
WITHOLD
bullAny anti-coagulants
bullNSAIDS
CONSIDER
bullAntiemetic
bullPPI(lansopraoleisindicatedfor
patients on aspirin and clopidogrel
omepraoleifnot)
bull KeepNBMuntilwardteamassessmentuntilyouaresatisedthepatientisstablebull IVaccess+-FLUIDSbull Regularnursingobs-recheckonehourlaterand2hourlythereafterbull FluidbalanceMonitorurineOPandmaintaintogt30mlhrbull Keepdetailsandcheckonthemlater
NB Patients are not normally transused blood products over night unless it is an emergency IVuidswillpreventhypovolaemiaanditsconsequencesIfyouthinkyourpatientlooksabitdryoris slightly tachycardic etc then stay on the sae side and run through some saline (unless otherwisecontraindicated)
ue Haematemesis or Malaena is a medical emergency and will oten be accompanied with a high EWSeat accordingly i this is the case In-hospital patients oten suer simple coee ground vomits without
any systemic disruption but must still be considered as a potenital emergency
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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Medication Review
Initial Assessment Examination Possible CAUSES to consider
Investigations-depend on scoring parameters
Medication Review
Plan
History - ALWAYS look in the notes
Impression
ATSP Re HIGH EWS (General Assessment)NB always ask nurses or VALUES OF PARAMETERS and what they are COMPARED TO NORMAL
TrustguidelinesindicateforFY1sEWS3ndashAssessmanageandreassessactionsafter30minutes
EWSgt5ndashSeniormustbeinformedafterinitialassessmentndashattheveryleastjusttomakesuretheyareaware
RR
Sats
HR
BP
Fluid balance
Temp
AMT
BM
Agitationmood
GCS
CHEST-THOROUGH
clinical respiratory exam
is vital to guide urther
management
HS
JVP
Calves
Mucus membranes
CRT
bull PEbull HA Pneumoniabull Failure ndash heart lungsbull MI
bull Decompensated heart ailure
bull Acutedecompensated Renal failure
bull Dehydrationbull Sepsis or inection
bull Perorationbull AAA
bull Peritonitisbull DVT (look for one- a DVT wonrsquot cause high
EWS on its own)bull Source of sepsis (lines cellulitis catheter etc)
A
B
C
D
E
Considerbull CXRbull ABGbull Routinebloods+-CULTURESforsepticscreen
i temp spiked
bull X-matchifsuspectpatientisbleedingbull ECGbull UrineDipstick
ReviewKardexforanyIATROGENIC causes o above eg NSAIDSwararin bleedIsthepatientoversedatedSYMPTOM controlbull Isthepatientinpain- analgesiabull Isthepatientvomiting- antiemetic (IVIM)
bull IsthepatientdehydratedndashIV luidsbull IsthepatientsepticndashWhatisthesource
- Antibiotics (see trust guidance)Should the patient have been on
prophylacticLMWH-PE
Has the patient suered an acute
event
Has anything CHANGED and HOW
WHYhasthishappened
A high EWS can oten resolve with SYMPTOM control Eg bring the BP up and tachyhigh RR mayresolve1 Regular nursing obs2 Treatsuspectedcause3 Strictfluidbalance+-catheterisationifpatientisunwellenough4 Analgesiaandgeneralsymptomcontrol5 Reviewyourtreatmentaction-hasithadaneffectSenior review i worried
SEPTIC SCREEN
bull CXRbull UrineDipstick bull Cultures Blood Urine (MSU) Sputum
Stoolbull Swabs rom likely sources eg wound bedsore throat eye cannula catheterdrain site
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 142412
Initial Assessment
Investigations
Plan
Medication Review
Examination
History
ATSP Re HYPERKALAEMIA (stable patient)
A V P U
ABCDE ECG
CHEST and CVS
Hydration
Unwellorstable
Fluidbalance
- Is this acute
- Is it a chronic accumulation
- Does the patient have CRF
- CARDIAC history
- LOOK at FLUID Px charts
- Is patient diabetic
- Symptoms eg palpitationsdizziness
bull ECG
bull ABG - helpul i you suspect a spurious
result
bull BloodsndashRepeatsampleifunsureof
accuracy o hyperkalaemia eg haemolysis
Hyperkalaemia treatment
bull Iflt7andWITHOUTECGchanges
Insulin and dextrose IVI- reer to local trust policy or exact instructions I unable to ind then
10unitsactrapidin50mlof50dextroseover10mins
bull Ifgt65WITHECGchanges
Salbutamol 5mg neb
Insulin and dextroseIVIthenINFORMASENIORaspatientmaywellneed
Calcium gluconate10mlof10IVover5minforcardiacprotectionEnsurepatientison
cardiac monitoring Calcium resonium PO15mgQDSCausesconstipationsowriteupalaxativePRN
Hold medications as appropriate (see above)
REPEAT BLOODS post treatment
bull Diuretics-K+sparingorlosingbull ACEA2RBinbitorsegramipril
losartan
bull NSAIDS
bull IVFluids
bull PotassiumsupplementsIVPO
bull Nutritionaldrinks
ECG
ECGchangesinhyperkalaemia
bullArrythmias
bullProlongedPRintervalwithflattened
Pwaves
bullWideQRSwithslurrySTsegment
bullTalltentedTTraves
I patient is symptomaticunstable this is a medical EMERGENCY and needs a senior doctor involved
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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Initial Assessment
Assessment o uid balance
Examination
Investigations
History
Plan
ATSP Re LOW URINE OUTPUT (catheterised patient)
ABCDE
CATHETER- IS IT BLOCKED
1Checktheuidchartandworkouttotalinputandoutput(usuallyover24hrsbutpatientis commonly post-op so calculate rom the time since they returned rom theatre i this is the case)2Remembertheurineoutputshouldbe05mlkghrDonrsquot orget to account or parenteral eeds stoma output and insensible losses
Fluid balance over 4 hours eg post opInput 500ml Output Urine 100ml Insensiblelosses 200ml Stoma 500mlTOTAL 500ml TOTAL 800ml
FLUID BALANCE=-300mliepatientisDRY
CHEST-isthepatientuidoverloadedABDO EXAM bullTenderUrinaryretentionNotepost-opileuscancauseurinaryretention bullStomasitendashisitinfectedLook or acute serious pathologies and try to correct these
bullAlwaysremembertolookatthenotes This problem is commonly seen in post op
surgical patientsbullCheckwhichoperationtheyrsquovehad and any important details on the op notes
beore you speak to senior docbullEnsurethatthepatientisnotuid restrictedegCCFascites
Consider
bullBloods-FBCandUampEstomonitorrenalfunction bullAXR bullDipstickurineMSUorCSU bullStoolsample(Cdiifonabx) bullSepticscreenDiscuss the need or imaging with senior i suspecting intra-abdominal sepsis
bullOftenallthatrsquosneededisauid challenge o 500ml saline particularly i the patient is dry (negative uidbalance)Getnursestorunitthroughstatandcheckopnomorethan1hrlaterIfpatientissimply
dehydrated their urine op should have picked up rom this CAUTION IN CCFCRF patients
bullCorrectunderlyingcauseoncediagnosedbullMonitorBPampurineOP(maintainurineopto05mgkghranddocumentthisinstruction)bullConsiderdiuretics(statdose40mgfurosemideIV) i you think the patient is uid overloaded (usually with positiveuidbalance)howeverusewithcautionandalwayscheckpreviousU+ErsquosConsultwithseniordoc
beore doing this you could easily exacerbate the problem
Think about RISK FACTORS orbullDehydrationLookforpotentialuidlosseseg
vomiting diarrhoea poor oral intake high stomaoutput
bullUrinaryobstructionegnatureofopco-morbiditiesbullInfectionSepsisbullDrugseganticholinergics
SEPTIC
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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Make a very quick decision as to whether or not you are confdent in treating this patient on your own
Patients who are short o breath can deteriorate very quickly indeed Call or a Senior immediately i you are unsure
Medication Review
Examination
History
Investigations- dependingon scoring parameters
Plan
Medication Review
ATSP Re SHORTNESS OF BREATH
A V P U
ABCDE
OXYGEN (highowinitially)ABG
THOROUGH exam is vital to guide management
Hydration assessment
- Onset
- Duration
- Exacerbating or relieving actors
- Check clerking proorma or
co-morbidities
bullABGndashimmediatelythenrepeatbullCXRCheckmostrecentoneDonrsquot
be araid to repeat CXR i things havechanged clinically Order a portable ilm
i you eel the patient is too unstable to betransported - discuss this with the nurses bullECGbullCulturesBloodandsputumif
appropriate andor check previous orsensitivities
bullRepeatbloods
bull Staywithpatientuntilyouarehappytheyarestable
bull Regularnursingobs(2hourly)
bull KeepawatchfuleyeontheirbloodsCXRetc
CALL FOR SENIOR HELP IF YOU ARE UNSURETHESE PATIENTS CAN DETERIORATE VERY QUICKLY INDEED
Patients with anxiety exacerbatingtheir respiratory disease are otengiven Oramorph by the nursingsta Be wary o this as you dontwant to be causing respiratorydepression in eg COPD patientsAsk a senior i unsure
Is patient on thromboprophylaxisWhat can I givebull ThinkaboutyourchoicesforOxygen
Therapy depending on patientrsquos chronic diseasestatusandABGresult
bullWheezeSalbutamol5mgneb+- atrovent500mcgneb(canbegivenwith O2)bullLRTICAPHAP Antibiotics (check
protocol)bullPulm OedemaFurosemide40mgIV
JVP and ankles
Calves Thighs
Anaphylaxis
Pneumothorax
Comparesatstonormalcomparewithchronicdiseasestatus
Cardiacorrespiratorycause
Ask about ASSOCIATED FEATURES and RISK
FACTORS or
DVTPE
Overload eg recent transusionluid therapy
MI
Infection(hospitalacquired)
Anxiety AsthmaCOPD exacerbation
Recent surgery (atelectasis)
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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Initial Assessment
Examination
History
Investigations - depending on scoring parameters and clinical judgement
Plan - very diferent or acutely unwell patients and those who are stable
Medication Review
ATSP Re TACHYCARDIAPALPITATIONS
A V P U
ABCDE ECG
TACHYARRYTHMIAS ARE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY If patient has developed a new tachyarrhythmia
on ECG (SVTFast AF) a senior needs to be involved Make sure you perform the following
Chest and Abdo Exam
Fluidbalance-ispatientdehydrated
Mandatory
bullECG
Consider
bullRoutinebloods+-CULTURESfor
septic screen i spiked temperature bullX-matchifsuspectpatientisbleeding
bullUrineDipstick
1IVaccess+-fluidsandbloods2Followtachycardiaalgorithmifappropriate-seniorshouldreallybeinvolvedinthis3Regularnursingobs(candotemponlyevery30minshalfhourifyouthinkhaveRFsforsepsis)4TreatsuspectedcauseoftenthisisactuallySYMPTOMCONTROLandyoumayfindthatsimple
stable tachycardias resolve once you have the ollowing under controlbull PAIN bull DEHYDRATION
bull AGITATION bull SEPSIS
bull ANXIETY bull VOMITING
IATROGENIC causes o tachycardiabull SALBUTAMOLoverusebull EYEDROPSegPHENYLEPHRINEbull THEOPHYLLINEtoxicitybull DIPYRIDAMOLE
MEDICAL MANAGEMENTbull Considerdigoxin 250mcg in
elderly patients or bisoprolol 25 mgunless otherwise contra indicated (low BP
Asthma) once cause has been identiied(senior discussion)
bullIsthepatientsymptomatic
bullCARDIAC HISTORY
bullPreviouscardiachistoryandRISKFACTORSfor
MIAFArrhythmias
bullPreviousECGs
bullFor arrhythmias IS THIS NEW Assume it is
unless proven otherwise
bullLookatKardexforanyanti-arrhythmic
medications or clues
bullHowmuchteaandcoffeehasthepatienthad
bullHas patient been on any drugs which put thematincreasedriskoftheaboveEgWarfarin
NSAIDs- bleed Should the patient have been onprophylacticLMWH-PE
Possible reasons or simple tachycardia
bull Painbull Anxietybull Sepsisbull Hypovolaemia ndash bleeddehydrationbull PEbull MIbull Medication side FX
EXPOSEor sources o sepsis
PULSEREGULARORIRREGULAR
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You will oten get called to the wards to prescribe drugs or common in-patient complaints
Always eye-ball a patient beore doing so- the nurses may have the diagnosis wrong
DonrsquotforgettocheckforALLERGIESPMHandRENALFUNCTION(ifindicated)LookatKARDEXor any obvious interactions
Most drugs you will prescribe on-call should be written in the PRN or lsquoonce onlyrsquo section i you
do not know the patient
ANALGESIA MEDICATION ROUTE DOSAGE MAXDAY
PARACETAMOL POIV 500mgndash1g QDS
IBUPROFEN PO 200-400mg TDS
DICLOFENACrsquoVoltarolrsquo POIM 50mg TDS
PR 100mg TDS
CO-CODAMOL
(8500OR30500) PO 1-2TABLETS QDS
CO-DYDRAMOL(10500) PO 1-2TABLETS QDS
CODEINEPHOSPHATE POIM 30-60mg QDS
BUSCOPAN POIV 10-20mg QDS
QUININE PO 200mg ON
TRAMADOL PO 50-100mg QDS
MORPHINE IVPO 5-10mg STAT
NB Opiates can cause nauseavomiting and constipation Always Prescribe a PRN antiemetic and simple laxative
ANTI-EMETICS METOCLOPRAMIDErsquoMaxalonrsquo POIMIV 10mg TDS
(dopamineantagonist-worksdirectlyonGIT)
CYCLIZINE POIV 50mg TDS
(antihistaminendashworkscentrally)
PROCHLORPERAZINElsquoStemetilrsquoPO 10- 20mg TDS
lsquoBuccastemrsquo BUCCAL 3-6mg BD
(dopamineantagonist-workscentrallyonchemoreceptortriggerone)
DOMPERIDONE PO 10-20mg QDS
(actscentrallyonchemoreceptortriggerone)
ONDANSETRON POIMIV 8mg TDS
(5HT3 antagonist)
GASTIC REFLUX GAVISCON PO 5-10ml TDS
RANITIDINE PO 150mg BD
OMEPRAzOLE PO 20mg OD
COMMONLY PRESCRIBED DRUGS and doses
Caution NSAIDs in
asthmaPUCRF
Pts with
renal colic
respond
well to PR
dicloenac
Quinineisusedor night-timeleg crampscommon inhospital ptsMake sure youexamine frst- itmay be a DVT
Buscopan is an anti-
spasmodic and works
on smooth muscle
Greatforcramping
abdo pain
You can try most o these
in various combinations i
previous attempts to control
symptoms have ailed
Metoclopramideshould notbe used postGIsurgeryfor
3 days It canalso causesextra-pyramidalreactions andoculogyric
crises Bewareo this thoughthe antidoteis procyclidine5-10mgIVIM
Ondansetron is very
expensive Its otenreserved or chemo
patients donrsquot use it as
rst-line
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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SOB SALBUTAMOL NEB 5mg STATPRN
IPRATROPIUM BROMIDE (Atrovent) NEB 500mcg STATPRN
PREDNISOLONE PO 30-40mg STATOD
(3-5days max)
HYDROCORTISONE IV 200mg STAT(i acute SOB or angiodema)
FUROSEMIDE POIV 40-80mg STAT
ORAMORPH PO 5mg
LAXATIVES
Stimulants SODIUMDOCUSATE PO 50-200mg TDS
BISOCODYL PO 5-10mg BD
SENNA PO TT (15mg) BDTDSOsmotic MOVICOL PO 1-2sachets BDTDS
LACTULOSE PO 15ml BD
I aecal loading GLYCERINESUPPOSITORY PR T STATPRN
PHOSPHATE ENEMA PR T STATPRN
ITCHRASH CHLORPHENAMINE PO 4mg TDS
(alsoknownasldquoPiritonrdquo)
AGITATION DIAzEPAM POSLOWIV 5-10mg
SLEEPLESSNESS ZOPICLONE PO 375-75mg
AGGRESSION HALOPERIDOL CheckBNFforindicationsanddoses
ALCOHOL
WITHDRAWAL CHLORDIAzEPOXIDE(reducingregimen)
Day1and220-30mgQDS
Day3and415mgQDS
Day510mgQDS
Day610mgBD
Day710mgNocte
SIMPLE UTI TRIMETHOPRIM PO 200mg BD
NITROFURANTOIN PO 50mg QDS
CEPHALEXIN PO 500mg BD
FOR ALL OTHER INFECTIONS REFER TO YOUR LOCAL ANTIBIOTIC POLICY-YOUWILLSOONLEARNMOSTOFTHEMOFFBYHEART
Salbutamol causes
tachycardia
Use oramorph with caution in COPD pts It works well in anxious patients to control their breathing
In-hospital patients are oten constipated oten due to decreased activity and medications Try tackling
constipation using dierent pharmacological approaches ie donrsquot Px movicol i already on lactulose
Write in lsquovariable dosersquo section o kardex near the back
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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Wararin
Digoxin
PRESCRIBING OUT OF HOURS
You will oten get bleeped to prescribe wararin or patients you donrsquot know especially over the
weekendevenings i your colleagues havenrsquot done them
CHECK PATIENT IS NOT BLEEDING
Areyouprescribingmaintenanceorloadingdose
LOADING this is the regimen prescribed initially until INR stable and in target range Old school says10mg10mg5mgcheckINR(Day4)
MAINTENANCE usual dose once INR established to keep within target range Check yellow book or
regular prescriptions
bullOnceanINRhasbeenobtainedforoneofyourpatientsmakesureyouprescribethewarfarinfor
about3-4daysthenre-checkMarkopenbracketsonwarfarinchartstoindicatewhenyouwantthe
nextINRtobechecked(usuallybetween3-4daysintheinitialperiodormorefrequentlyifthereare
difculties establishing a maintenance dose)
bullINR is too high (lt4 or lt5 i target is 3-4) - DO NOT OMIT just reduce the dose (1mg) and re-
checkINRatleast48hrsafterasittakesbetween48-72hrsforyourchangetohaveaneect
bull I INR is gt4 (or gt5 i target is 3-4) and patient not actively bleeding prescribe Vitamin K 1mg IV
and OMIT the next dose o wararin
Reason or LT wararin Tx AF 2-3
RecurrentDVT 2-3
PE 2-3
RecurrentPE 3-4
Prostheticheartvalve 3-4
Check kardex or INTERACTIONS
Common onesbull ClarithromycinErythromycin
bull Rifampicin
I actively bleeding check with Senior or advice on urther action
You will occasionally get bleeped to review digoxin levels
Toxicity is very worrying and would normally require the use o lsquoDigibindrsquo which is basically
anantidote for digoxinODYouwillneed toget anECGand assessthepatient clinicallybefore
proceedinggetting senior help
Sub-therapeutic levels are common They are not so worrying but you should clinically assess
the patient in particular their CVS paying particular attention to their pulse as you will denitely get
asked about this i you ask or senior help
I digoxin levels are out o range make sure you check their K+ and keep a regular eye on it as this
needs to be stable or digoxin to be a sae and eective choice o therapy
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Gentamicin
Usually prescribed in severeneutropenic sepsis (OD regimen) = 5-7mgkgmax480mg
You may get bleeped to check the gentamicin levels o ward patients and subsequently prescribe
the next dose
Theblood levelneedstobe taken6-14hoursafter thestartof thefrst IVI You are basically
looking or the levels to be within therapeutic range I they are not you need to reer to the
Hartord Normogram This is a chart which indicates WHEN the next dose should be according
to how out o range the levels are You DO NOT change the DOSE just the TIMING o the next
one(either2436or48hrslater)Makesureifyouhavebeenaskedtotakethebloodyourself
you note exactly how many hours post IVI the blood has been taken on the blood card it may be
another o your peers who has to review the level
Toxicity may
cause
Deaness
tinnitus
Nystagmus
Vertigo
RenalFailure
Monitor UEs
DAILY
ForpatientswithINFECTIVE ENDOCARDITIS (TDS regimen) = 1mgkg per dose
Therst levelthatneeds toberecordedisafter the3rd4thdoseensuringatleast24hoursof
treatmentisgivenItshouldbetaken1hourpostIVIiethePEAKorPOSTlevelandbebetween
3-5mgL A trough or PRE Dose level is taken approx 1 hour beore any administered dose and
should be lt1mgL The reason or this is that they are on a TDS regimen so renal unction needs
to be closely monitored It is important that gentamicin levels do not rise to toxic amounts
which is more common in patients with renal impairment
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
32
1
06 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Time between start of infusion and sample draw (hours)
Nicolau DP Freeman CD Belliveau PP Nightingale CH Ross JW Quintiliani R Experience with
a once-daily aminoglycoside program administered to 2184 adult patients Antimicrob Agents
Chemo 1995293650-655
Hartford Once Daily Dosing Nomogram
(GentTobra 7mgkg
L e v e l ( m c g m l )
q48h
q36h
q24h
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General Hints and Tips or seeing patients out o hours
When answering your bleep fnd out
1 Reason or bleep
2Quickbackgroundinfo
3 FurtherrelevantclinicalinfoegOBSERVATIONS and compare these to how they normally runI itrsquos a patient with high EWS just inorm a senior to make them aware and ready or action
4WhattheywantyoutoDO(PURPOSE o call)
5 Ask or the ollowing things to be ready when you arrive
bullNotes
bullKardex
bullObschartnursingle
bullEquipmentegcannulasbloodscatheteretc
6GiveappropriateinstructionsiftheyneedtodoanythingacutelybeforeyouarriveForexamplei
reason or bleep is Haematemesis ask or IV access and bloods to be taken or i a patient has
spiked a temp o gt38˚C get the nurses or night practitioner to do cultures beore you arrive Itsaves a lot o time and afng around once you are on the ward
7 Decide where this lies in your list o priorities or whether it is a job nurse practitioners can do
to help you
NB Try not to have arguments with nurses on the phone some o them are just starting out like
you and may also be petried sometimes they need reassurance too
When you get there
Findthenursewhobleepedyou(orrequestedthebleep)andgetamoredetailedaccountof
whatrsquos going on
Eye-ball the patient beore delving into notes or looking on the computer ollowing the standard
ABCDE assessment It wonrsquot take you long to gure out i they are acutely unwell unstable or
not
Once you have done your initial assessment and any immediate management document what
you have done using a logical and systematic approach This way you wonrsquot orget anything You
will also look really slick and competent plus you might nd you paint yoursel a picture o whatrsquos
going on even i you were clueless initially
Sit down at a computer with the nursing le and medical notes and go straight or the clerking It
should give you a succinct list o PC and other co-morbidities to create a more complete clinical
pictureFlickthroughthewardnotesandndanythingyoucanreaditmaybeofsomeuseLook
at the last entry in particular as there may be a plan o what to do should the situation you have
been bleeped or arises
Check PACS and the lab system or any recent imaging or tests NB ALWAYS compare recent results
to previous ones Just go down the lists looking or cultures unusual blood tests INRs etc and
document what you nd Sometimes the best summaries o a patient are created when someone
manages them on-call Be thorough at the beginning but i you are hard pushed or time reer back to the help sheets- they are designed to make you SAFE not to make you a brilliant diagnostician
whocancowboytheirwaythroughFY1lsquoHousersquostyle
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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HaveagoodbrowsethroughtheKARDEXlookingatwhichmedsmayhavecontributedtothe
situation which may have prevented it i they had been given and which ones you might need
toinitiatetomakesurethepatientisSAFE
Once you have all this inormation create a PROBLEM list and rom this document yourIMPRESSION o the situation Write a PLAN and document whether you involved a senior and
their name and grade Also document the amount o time you were there sometimes you need
tostaywithapatienttoseeifyourtreatmentworkseguidsforlowBPmeanwhileyoucan
scribble down everything yoursquove done to save time
Whenever you are assessing a patient think to yoursel
lsquoWhat do I need to DO to make sure this patient is SAFErsquo I this patient deteriorates or
dies unexpectedly and you were the last doctor to see them you need to make sure your
documentation is adequate Your management appropriate or not will mean nothing i it
has not been written down in the eyes o the law
In summary
bullAnsweryourbleepinasystematicway-itwillhelpyouprioritiseandbecomemoreecient
bullDelegatecertaintaskstonursesdonrsquotbeafraidofaskingthemyouarepartofaTEAM
bullPrioritiseyourjobsanddonrsquotbeafraidtoo-loadsomeontoyourwardSHOYOUaretheone
whogetsbleepedrstsoyouwillbeaskedtodoEVERYTHING
bullWhenyougettoapatient
1 ABCDE approach ALWAYS
2Documentyourinitialassessmentandmanagement 3Reviewthenursingleforobschartuidbalancewarfarinchartsuidprescriptions
4Reviewmedicalnotesandclerkingthensummarise
5ReviewKARDEX
6 Problem list
7 Impression
8 ACTION PLAN (use tick boxes or investigations you have ordered)
9 Keep their details (sticker on handover sheet) and make sure you check on them
later or handover to day team
ALWAYS MAKE SURE YOU ARE SAFE IF IN ANY DOUBT WHATSOEVER YOU MUST INFORMA SENIOR
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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Disclaimer
Copyright
Production
Contacts
The fndings and conclusions in this document are those o the authors who are
responsible or its content All inormation is to be interpreted on an idividual basisin context with the clinical situation to which it reers The inormation is not a
replacement or local guidelines and protocols nor is it a document with any legal
standing No statement in this document can be construed as an ocial position o
the North Western Deanery or NHS Northwest
copyGillianJacksonampFrancesBennett2011
BookdesignedbyAndrewPowellMedicalIllustrationatRoyalBoltonHospitalRef48355
Franmbennettgmailcom
gljacksonhotmailcouk
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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Initial Assessment
Examination
History
Investigations
Plan
Medication Review
4
Is patient in PAINFluid balanceTEMPAMTGCSSEPTICLRTIUTI
ABCDE
BM
bullChestandAbdoExam
bullNEUROLOGICAL EXAM - Likely to be limited
bullExposureforsource o sepsis including venous access catheters woundssores
bullSignsofhead trauma especially i patient has allen
bullSmellyUrine
Isthispersonnormallylikethis
Anyhistoryofdementia
HowWhenhavetheychanged
Any precipitants eg medsalcohol
withdrawal
Consider (according to clinical picture)
bullBloodsFBCUampEsincCa2+LFTs
bullDipstick MSU- check previous ones
too
bullCultures (i temperature has spiked)
bullCXR
bullABG i patient unwell
bullCT head (senior decision)
Only use sedation i you think the patient is putting
themselves or others at risk of harm NOT if they are just
being disruptive
DO NOT SEDATE PATIENTS WHO HAVE FALLEN AND MAY
HAVE SUFFERED A HEAD INJURY
bullRegular(2-4hrly)nursingobsinwelllitroom
bullTreatsuspectedcause+-analgesiaifnecessary
bullRegular ward staf must review bloods try and elicit
cause or change in moodAMT
bullOnceserious cause exluded bullForsleeplessness - Zopiclone 375-75mg PO
bullForagitation - Diazepam 5mg PO
- Haloperidol check BNF for indications and doses
Notorious drugs that cause conusion
bullOPIATES especially TRAMADOL
bullBENZODIAZEPINES
bullGELOFUSINE
bullINSULIN (too much)
THINK ABOUTRISKFACTORS or
- Sepsis - Lungs skin UTI recent surgery
- Hypoxia - PE pneumonia respiratory depression
- Pain (including constipation urinary retention)
- CVATIA
- Hypoglycaemia
Treat the reversible causesbeoreprescribing any sedatives
Reducing Regimen o
CHLORDIAZEPOXIDE or
ALCOHOL WITHDRAWAL
Day 1 and 2 20-30mgQDS
Day 3 and 4 15mgQDS
Day 5 10mgQDS
Day 6 10mgBDDay 7 10mgNocte
ATSP Re AGITATIONCONFUSION
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 7245
Examination
History
Investigations Medication Review
Investigations History
Name o DrMelanieCrowtherFY1Bleep1234
A V P U
Speaking ull sentences
RR 17
Sats 98 on air
Description
Chest clearGoodbilatAE
JVP Not raised
CRTlt2secs
Mucus membranesMoist well hydrated
+0HS
CalvesSot and non tenderNo oedema
Further relevant examinations
Inspection of catheter sitebull Noevidenceoftrauma
Appearance of urinebull 520mlinbagbull Bloodstainedbuttranslucentbull Noclots
BS normal Sot and non-tenderNo organomegalyNo ascites
Bladder not palpable
A
B
C
D
E
Patient Details NAME DOB Hosp No
EXAMPLE OF DOCUMENTATION
ATSP Re BLOOD IN CATHETER BAG
HR 86 reg
BP-lying13972
-standing13274
Fluidbalance
IN 1500ml12hr
OUT 1200ml12hr
Temp372
AMT1010
BM NA
Agitationmood no change
Any relevant PMHx eg TURP No
Past Hx o same thing None previously
When was catheter put in Catheter inserted
37 ago
Any record o diculties Doctor was called
to perorm as several nurses struggled to pass
tube
Why was pt catheterised Urinary retentionAny immediate distress or raised EWS No
I III
ABDOEXAM
prev now prev now
Hb 111 Na 138
WC 89 K 42
Plt 435 Cr 198
MCV 89 Ur 98
INR 11 CRP 57
Consider holding
Clexane and PO anticoags
MUST CHECK WITH SENIOR FIRST
Patients may be on anticoagulants
eg or AVR
1) Ensure IV access2) SendbloodsFBCUampECROSS MATCHCLOTTING3) Regularobs(2-4hourly)4) Strictuidbalancerecording (maintainurineopgt30mlshr)
5) Change catheter bag (to re-measurewith time)
6) Dipstick urine and send or CSU
SIGNED M Crowther GMC 7895432
Bloods
PlanMedication Review
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 824
Initial Assessment
Examination
History
Investigations
Plan
Medication Review
ATSP Re DECREASED GCS
ABCDE AIRWAY amp OXYGENGCSPUPILSBM
ChestandAbdoExam(Quickfullassessment)
NEUROLOGICAL EXAM
bullReexesincplantars
bullPUPILS
COLLAPSESEIZURE - TRAUMA
DRUG TOXICITY
HYPOGLYCAEMIA
Look at medical notes yoursel
Commonly hypoglycaemia or opiate toxicity
but must rule out any serious acute events
Think about RISK FACTORS or
bullSepsis
bullStrokeorMI
bullLowBM
bullDrugtoxicity(opiatessedatives)
bull RenalFailure
Consider (according to clinical picture)
bullBloods
bullDipstickUrine
bullCXR
bullECG
bullABG
Treatsuspectedcause+-analgesiaifnecessary
bullOpiate ODNaloxonerdquoNarcanrdquo400mcgIVandrepeatuntilresponsive
In opioid toxicity reversal with naloxone produces instantaneous results once it has reached therapeutic levels
Remember it is very short acting and the patient may require a naloxone IVI depending on the amount and
natureoftheopiateODRefertotheBNForlocaltrustpolicyforthisanddiscusswithaseniorrst
bullLow blood sugars get senior helpifcausingsignicantlyreducedGCSNeedtoconsider10-25dextrose
IVIsIfGCS14+givelucoadeandcheckBMin30minsNursesshouldalreadyhavegivensomethingcalled
HYPOSTOP i patient is known diabetic beore calling you as it does not require a prescription
bullBenzodiazepinesunlikelywithin-hospitalpatientsbutthereversingagentisFLUMAzENILYoushould
never be using this on your own and most wards do not stock it anyway
Regular(2-4hrly)nursingobsinwelllitroom
IfyouareinANYDOUBTorsuspectanacuteeventhasoccurredyouMUSTseekSENIORHELP
IMMEDIATELY
Notorious drugs that cause sedation
bull OPIATES (OD)
bull BENZODIAZEPINES
6
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 9247
History
Initial Assessment and Examination
Ater Death
Medications or symptom control
ATSP Re DYING PATIENT
A V P U
A - isthisobstructedArethereexcesssecretions
B - isrespirationregularoragonal
C - ispatienttachycardicThis may be only sign o painD - isthepatientagitatedoruncomfortable
- ispatientvomitingorconausea
- isthepatienthavingseiures
E - isthepatientitchy
Arethefamilyawareofthesituation
Whataretheirinstructionsaboutbeingcontactedifpatientdeteriorateseginmiddleofthenight
HaspatientbeenassignedtoLCPanddocumentationallinorder
Go and see the body
Document Your name and bleep numberbull ldquoCalledtoconrmdeathNovitalsignsrdquoStatetime o death
bull Fixedanddilatedpupils
bull Norespiratoryeortfor3minutes
bull Nopulseorheartsounds
bull DOCUMENT WHETHER OR NOT PATIENT IS FITTED WITH PACEMAKER RADIOACTIVE IMPLANT
bull YoudoNOTneedtoputacauseofdeathifyoudonrsquotknowthepatientunlessalreadyclearly
documented in notesbull YouDONOTneedtowriteadeathcerticate
bull WhetherornotNoKinformed
bull RIP
bull Painbreathlessness MorphineNB DIAMORPHINE is commonly stated as drug o choice in prescribing guidancebut oten hospitals donrsquot stock it I this is the case you can still use this inormation butensure you MULTIPLY the dose o diamorphine by 15 or a morphine equivalent (EgStateddoseDiamorphine10mgSC24hrsthenmorphineequivalentwouldbe15mgSC24hrs)
bull NauseavomitingLevomepromaine
bull Secretions Glycopyroniumbull RestlessnessagitationMidaolam
bull Itchiness Chlorpheniramine(Piriton)
See ldquoICP or the Care o the Dying Prescribing Guidance V 40rdquo or your trust equivalent or detailsRemember Some patients at the end o lie do not require heavy sedation or maximum pain relietailor your prescription according to your assessment and listen to the nurse caring or themWrite these meds up as PRN or via a syringe driver i itrsquos necessary (ie nurses constantlyadministering)Do NOT put patients on the Care o the Dying Pathway (ie withdraw lie-prolongingmedications)ndash this is a consultantrsquosMDT decision
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 10248
Initial Assessment and Examination
History
Investigations
Plan
Medication Review
ATSP Re FALLSCOLLAPSE
ABCDE
GCS
BM
ForHead Trauma ensure you document
the ollowing
1 Mechanism o injury
2AnyLOCReducedGCSConfusion
3AnyvomitingorSeiuresymptoms
4HeadexaminationegBruising
LacerationBoggy swellings
Signsoftrauma
bullHeadandneck
bullHIPS
Neuroexam
Lying-StandingBP
RISK FACTORS or
bullMechanicalFalls
bullStroke
bullLowBM
bullDrugtoxicity(opiatessedatives)
bullArrhythmiasbullSeiure
bull Infection
bullAlwaystakeaFALLS HISTORY but remember
you are ocussing on making the patient SAFE
rather than diagnosing a cause or their all
Oten none are needed (always do a lying
and standing BP though)
Depend on history and exam ndingsConsider
bullECG
bullBloods
bullDipstick
bullCThead(senior must be inormed)
bullRegularnursing+-neuroobsifindicatedbullAddressunderlyingcauseifappropriate
Wounds Most can be glued or steristripped I concerned send patient to AampE
Consider withholding the ollowing
bull Antihypertensives
bull Sedatives until head trauma ruled out
bull Warfarin i patient is at risk o allsagain ie undetermined cause o alls
or unsteady on eetdementia Check
with senior rst patient may have articial
valve replacement
bull Inorm nursing staf o any changes
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 11249
Assessment or repeat prescription
History
Sliding scale or IV insulin
High BM
1 The REASONfortheiruids(NBMslidingscaleunwellsepticunsafeswallow)
2FLUIDstatusndashcheckforoverloaddehydrationInput-Outputchart
3 CHECK UampEpayingattentiontoK+requirementsDonrsquotjustrewriteuidswithoutchecking
mostrecentUampEsIfnobloodsforgt48hrsandonregularuids repeat uampersquos beore represcribing
Write a blood card or next appropriate monitoring so it doesnrsquot get missed4ChecktheKARDEX or PO electrolyte supplements and diuretics I patient is receiving diuretic
anduidssimultaneouslythencontactseniorforadvice
Duringon-callyouwillnormallybeaskedtore-writetheslidingscaleontheuidchartBMsare
monitored every hour by nursing staf and inusion rate is altered accordingly
In the inusion pump
bull50mlsNsaline+50unitsACTRAPIDinsulin
bullKClmayalsobeaddeddependingonthepatientrsquoslevelsIflt3add20mmolif3-5add10mmol
BloodGlucoseLevelmmolL Standardscale Augmentedscale
Units o insulinhour Units o insulinhour
lt4 0 0 4-7 1 2
71-11 2 4
111-17 4 8
171-22 6 12
gt22 8 16
Stopinfusionfor30minutesthencheckBMagainRestartslidingscaleatslowerrateof05mmolhour
Stopping the insulin inusion completely can be especially dangerous in patients with type 1 diabetes
A high BM is oten nothing to worry about during an oncall shit It is usually because the patientrsquosnormal blood sugar control regime has been disrupted due to acute illness changes to routine or acombinationMake sure you1 Check BM charts or previous readings and whether this is new or them or not2 Check urine or ketones3 Do ABG i patient looks unwell I this is the case they are likely to have a high EWS so manage
appropriately4 Document your ndings and action taken (if any)
Ifpatientisnotonaslidingscaleyoucanprescribe10unitsactrapid(evenifNIDDM)tobringtheBMdown but donrsquot start messing around with their normal blood glucose control it is not an emergencysituationandcanbedealtwithduringwardhoursbyspecialiedteamswhohavealotofexperienceinthese cases
Ensurepatientisnotuidrestrictedforanyreasonieheartfailureoedemaandascites
ATSP or FLUID REVIEW
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 122410
Initial Assessment
Examination
History
Investigations
Plan
Medication Review
ATSP Re HAEMATEMESISCOFFEE GROUND VOMITMALAENA
A V P U
ABCDE
Chest Exam
ABDO EXAM
bullAnysignsofperforationTender
bullPR EXAM ndashALWAYScheckforevidenceYOURSELFevenHaematemesisCGV
IV Access and bloods
Work out EWSBP lying and standing
IfpthashadsignicantupperGIbleed
1 A signicant posturaldrop(gt20mmHg)in BP is oten the rst sign2Theureawillusuallybecomeproportionally higher than creatinineoten with little other evidence o renalailure
bullRememberHbwonrsquotdropimmediately afteraGIbleed-thereforenormalHbisnt
reassuring
RISK FACTORS or GI BleedbullGastricirritantmedications
(NSAIDS)bullAlcoholALDbullLackofgastro-protective
medicationbullUlcersbull ReuxGORDbull Persistentvomitingbull Endoscopystentingproceduresbull Postabdosurgery
Mandatory bullBloods-FBCUampEincludingCa2+ LFTINRandclottingX-match send as URGENTConsider bullAXRerectCXR bullUrgentendoscopyifHbhastaken
massive drop rom previous or is verylow ie lt7 Seniors denitely need tobe inormed beore considering this
WITHOLD
bullAny anti-coagulants
bullNSAIDS
CONSIDER
bullAntiemetic
bullPPI(lansopraoleisindicatedfor
patients on aspirin and clopidogrel
omepraoleifnot)
bull KeepNBMuntilwardteamassessmentuntilyouaresatisedthepatientisstablebull IVaccess+-FLUIDSbull Regularnursingobs-recheckonehourlaterand2hourlythereafterbull FluidbalanceMonitorurineOPandmaintaintogt30mlhrbull Keepdetailsandcheckonthemlater
NB Patients are not normally transused blood products over night unless it is an emergency IVuidswillpreventhypovolaemiaanditsconsequencesIfyouthinkyourpatientlooksabitdryoris slightly tachycardic etc then stay on the sae side and run through some saline (unless otherwisecontraindicated)
ue Haematemesis or Malaena is a medical emergency and will oten be accompanied with a high EWSeat accordingly i this is the case In-hospital patients oten suer simple coee ground vomits without
any systemic disruption but must still be considered as a potenital emergency
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 132411
Medication Review
Initial Assessment Examination Possible CAUSES to consider
Investigations-depend on scoring parameters
Medication Review
Plan
History - ALWAYS look in the notes
Impression
ATSP Re HIGH EWS (General Assessment)NB always ask nurses or VALUES OF PARAMETERS and what they are COMPARED TO NORMAL
TrustguidelinesindicateforFY1sEWS3ndashAssessmanageandreassessactionsafter30minutes
EWSgt5ndashSeniormustbeinformedafterinitialassessmentndashattheveryleastjusttomakesuretheyareaware
RR
Sats
HR
BP
Fluid balance
Temp
AMT
BM
Agitationmood
GCS
CHEST-THOROUGH
clinical respiratory exam
is vital to guide urther
management
HS
JVP
Calves
Mucus membranes
CRT
bull PEbull HA Pneumoniabull Failure ndash heart lungsbull MI
bull Decompensated heart ailure
bull Acutedecompensated Renal failure
bull Dehydrationbull Sepsis or inection
bull Perorationbull AAA
bull Peritonitisbull DVT (look for one- a DVT wonrsquot cause high
EWS on its own)bull Source of sepsis (lines cellulitis catheter etc)
A
B
C
D
E
Considerbull CXRbull ABGbull Routinebloods+-CULTURESforsepticscreen
i temp spiked
bull X-matchifsuspectpatientisbleedingbull ECGbull UrineDipstick
ReviewKardexforanyIATROGENIC causes o above eg NSAIDSwararin bleedIsthepatientoversedatedSYMPTOM controlbull Isthepatientinpain- analgesiabull Isthepatientvomiting- antiemetic (IVIM)
bull IsthepatientdehydratedndashIV luidsbull IsthepatientsepticndashWhatisthesource
- Antibiotics (see trust guidance)Should the patient have been on
prophylacticLMWH-PE
Has the patient suered an acute
event
Has anything CHANGED and HOW
WHYhasthishappened
A high EWS can oten resolve with SYMPTOM control Eg bring the BP up and tachyhigh RR mayresolve1 Regular nursing obs2 Treatsuspectedcause3 Strictfluidbalance+-catheterisationifpatientisunwellenough4 Analgesiaandgeneralsymptomcontrol5 Reviewyourtreatmentaction-hasithadaneffectSenior review i worried
SEPTIC SCREEN
bull CXRbull UrineDipstick bull Cultures Blood Urine (MSU) Sputum
Stoolbull Swabs rom likely sources eg wound bedsore throat eye cannula catheterdrain site
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 142412
Initial Assessment
Investigations
Plan
Medication Review
Examination
History
ATSP Re HYPERKALAEMIA (stable patient)
A V P U
ABCDE ECG
CHEST and CVS
Hydration
Unwellorstable
Fluidbalance
- Is this acute
- Is it a chronic accumulation
- Does the patient have CRF
- CARDIAC history
- LOOK at FLUID Px charts
- Is patient diabetic
- Symptoms eg palpitationsdizziness
bull ECG
bull ABG - helpul i you suspect a spurious
result
bull BloodsndashRepeatsampleifunsureof
accuracy o hyperkalaemia eg haemolysis
Hyperkalaemia treatment
bull Iflt7andWITHOUTECGchanges
Insulin and dextrose IVI- reer to local trust policy or exact instructions I unable to ind then
10unitsactrapidin50mlof50dextroseover10mins
bull Ifgt65WITHECGchanges
Salbutamol 5mg neb
Insulin and dextroseIVIthenINFORMASENIORaspatientmaywellneed
Calcium gluconate10mlof10IVover5minforcardiacprotectionEnsurepatientison
cardiac monitoring Calcium resonium PO15mgQDSCausesconstipationsowriteupalaxativePRN
Hold medications as appropriate (see above)
REPEAT BLOODS post treatment
bull Diuretics-K+sparingorlosingbull ACEA2RBinbitorsegramipril
losartan
bull NSAIDS
bull IVFluids
bull PotassiumsupplementsIVPO
bull Nutritionaldrinks
ECG
ECGchangesinhyperkalaemia
bullArrythmias
bullProlongedPRintervalwithflattened
Pwaves
bullWideQRSwithslurrySTsegment
bullTalltentedTTraves
I patient is symptomaticunstable this is a medical EMERGENCY and needs a senior doctor involved
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 152413
Initial Assessment
Assessment o uid balance
Examination
Investigations
History
Plan
ATSP Re LOW URINE OUTPUT (catheterised patient)
ABCDE
CATHETER- IS IT BLOCKED
1Checktheuidchartandworkouttotalinputandoutput(usuallyover24hrsbutpatientis commonly post-op so calculate rom the time since they returned rom theatre i this is the case)2Remembertheurineoutputshouldbe05mlkghrDonrsquot orget to account or parenteral eeds stoma output and insensible losses
Fluid balance over 4 hours eg post opInput 500ml Output Urine 100ml Insensiblelosses 200ml Stoma 500mlTOTAL 500ml TOTAL 800ml
FLUID BALANCE=-300mliepatientisDRY
CHEST-isthepatientuidoverloadedABDO EXAM bullTenderUrinaryretentionNotepost-opileuscancauseurinaryretention bullStomasitendashisitinfectedLook or acute serious pathologies and try to correct these
bullAlwaysremembertolookatthenotes This problem is commonly seen in post op
surgical patientsbullCheckwhichoperationtheyrsquovehad and any important details on the op notes
beore you speak to senior docbullEnsurethatthepatientisnotuid restrictedegCCFascites
Consider
bullBloods-FBCandUampEstomonitorrenalfunction bullAXR bullDipstickurineMSUorCSU bullStoolsample(Cdiifonabx) bullSepticscreenDiscuss the need or imaging with senior i suspecting intra-abdominal sepsis
bullOftenallthatrsquosneededisauid challenge o 500ml saline particularly i the patient is dry (negative uidbalance)Getnursestorunitthroughstatandcheckopnomorethan1hrlaterIfpatientissimply
dehydrated their urine op should have picked up rom this CAUTION IN CCFCRF patients
bullCorrectunderlyingcauseoncediagnosedbullMonitorBPampurineOP(maintainurineopto05mgkghranddocumentthisinstruction)bullConsiderdiuretics(statdose40mgfurosemideIV) i you think the patient is uid overloaded (usually with positiveuidbalance)howeverusewithcautionandalwayscheckpreviousU+ErsquosConsultwithseniordoc
beore doing this you could easily exacerbate the problem
Think about RISK FACTORS orbullDehydrationLookforpotentialuidlosseseg
vomiting diarrhoea poor oral intake high stomaoutput
bullUrinaryobstructionegnatureofopco-morbiditiesbullInfectionSepsisbullDrugseganticholinergics
SEPTIC
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 162414
Make a very quick decision as to whether or not you are confdent in treating this patient on your own
Patients who are short o breath can deteriorate very quickly indeed Call or a Senior immediately i you are unsure
Medication Review
Examination
History
Investigations- dependingon scoring parameters
Plan
Medication Review
ATSP Re SHORTNESS OF BREATH
A V P U
ABCDE
OXYGEN (highowinitially)ABG
THOROUGH exam is vital to guide management
Hydration assessment
- Onset
- Duration
- Exacerbating or relieving actors
- Check clerking proorma or
co-morbidities
bullABGndashimmediatelythenrepeatbullCXRCheckmostrecentoneDonrsquot
be araid to repeat CXR i things havechanged clinically Order a portable ilm
i you eel the patient is too unstable to betransported - discuss this with the nurses bullECGbullCulturesBloodandsputumif
appropriate andor check previous orsensitivities
bullRepeatbloods
bull Staywithpatientuntilyouarehappytheyarestable
bull Regularnursingobs(2hourly)
bull KeepawatchfuleyeontheirbloodsCXRetc
CALL FOR SENIOR HELP IF YOU ARE UNSURETHESE PATIENTS CAN DETERIORATE VERY QUICKLY INDEED
Patients with anxiety exacerbatingtheir respiratory disease are otengiven Oramorph by the nursingsta Be wary o this as you dontwant to be causing respiratorydepression in eg COPD patientsAsk a senior i unsure
Is patient on thromboprophylaxisWhat can I givebull ThinkaboutyourchoicesforOxygen
Therapy depending on patientrsquos chronic diseasestatusandABGresult
bullWheezeSalbutamol5mgneb+- atrovent500mcgneb(canbegivenwith O2)bullLRTICAPHAP Antibiotics (check
protocol)bullPulm OedemaFurosemide40mgIV
JVP and ankles
Calves Thighs
Anaphylaxis
Pneumothorax
Comparesatstonormalcomparewithchronicdiseasestatus
Cardiacorrespiratorycause
Ask about ASSOCIATED FEATURES and RISK
FACTORS or
DVTPE
Overload eg recent transusionluid therapy
MI
Infection(hospitalacquired)
Anxiety AsthmaCOPD exacerbation
Recent surgery (atelectasis)
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 172415
Initial Assessment
Examination
History
Investigations - depending on scoring parameters and clinical judgement
Plan - very diferent or acutely unwell patients and those who are stable
Medication Review
ATSP Re TACHYCARDIAPALPITATIONS
A V P U
ABCDE ECG
TACHYARRYTHMIAS ARE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY If patient has developed a new tachyarrhythmia
on ECG (SVTFast AF) a senior needs to be involved Make sure you perform the following
Chest and Abdo Exam
Fluidbalance-ispatientdehydrated
Mandatory
bullECG
Consider
bullRoutinebloods+-CULTURESfor
septic screen i spiked temperature bullX-matchifsuspectpatientisbleeding
bullUrineDipstick
1IVaccess+-fluidsandbloods2Followtachycardiaalgorithmifappropriate-seniorshouldreallybeinvolvedinthis3Regularnursingobs(candotemponlyevery30minshalfhourifyouthinkhaveRFsforsepsis)4TreatsuspectedcauseoftenthisisactuallySYMPTOMCONTROLandyoumayfindthatsimple
stable tachycardias resolve once you have the ollowing under controlbull PAIN bull DEHYDRATION
bull AGITATION bull SEPSIS
bull ANXIETY bull VOMITING
IATROGENIC causes o tachycardiabull SALBUTAMOLoverusebull EYEDROPSegPHENYLEPHRINEbull THEOPHYLLINEtoxicitybull DIPYRIDAMOLE
MEDICAL MANAGEMENTbull Considerdigoxin 250mcg in
elderly patients or bisoprolol 25 mgunless otherwise contra indicated (low BP
Asthma) once cause has been identiied(senior discussion)
bullIsthepatientsymptomatic
bullCARDIAC HISTORY
bullPreviouscardiachistoryandRISKFACTORSfor
MIAFArrhythmias
bullPreviousECGs
bullFor arrhythmias IS THIS NEW Assume it is
unless proven otherwise
bullLookatKardexforanyanti-arrhythmic
medications or clues
bullHowmuchteaandcoffeehasthepatienthad
bullHas patient been on any drugs which put thematincreasedriskoftheaboveEgWarfarin
NSAIDs- bleed Should the patient have been onprophylacticLMWH-PE
Possible reasons or simple tachycardia
bull Painbull Anxietybull Sepsisbull Hypovolaemia ndash bleeddehydrationbull PEbull MIbull Medication side FX
EXPOSEor sources o sepsis
PULSEREGULARORIRREGULAR
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 182416
You will oten get called to the wards to prescribe drugs or common in-patient complaints
Always eye-ball a patient beore doing so- the nurses may have the diagnosis wrong
DonrsquotforgettocheckforALLERGIESPMHandRENALFUNCTION(ifindicated)LookatKARDEXor any obvious interactions
Most drugs you will prescribe on-call should be written in the PRN or lsquoonce onlyrsquo section i you
do not know the patient
ANALGESIA MEDICATION ROUTE DOSAGE MAXDAY
PARACETAMOL POIV 500mgndash1g QDS
IBUPROFEN PO 200-400mg TDS
DICLOFENACrsquoVoltarolrsquo POIM 50mg TDS
PR 100mg TDS
CO-CODAMOL
(8500OR30500) PO 1-2TABLETS QDS
CO-DYDRAMOL(10500) PO 1-2TABLETS QDS
CODEINEPHOSPHATE POIM 30-60mg QDS
BUSCOPAN POIV 10-20mg QDS
QUININE PO 200mg ON
TRAMADOL PO 50-100mg QDS
MORPHINE IVPO 5-10mg STAT
NB Opiates can cause nauseavomiting and constipation Always Prescribe a PRN antiemetic and simple laxative
ANTI-EMETICS METOCLOPRAMIDErsquoMaxalonrsquo POIMIV 10mg TDS
(dopamineantagonist-worksdirectlyonGIT)
CYCLIZINE POIV 50mg TDS
(antihistaminendashworkscentrally)
PROCHLORPERAZINElsquoStemetilrsquoPO 10- 20mg TDS
lsquoBuccastemrsquo BUCCAL 3-6mg BD
(dopamineantagonist-workscentrallyonchemoreceptortriggerone)
DOMPERIDONE PO 10-20mg QDS
(actscentrallyonchemoreceptortriggerone)
ONDANSETRON POIMIV 8mg TDS
(5HT3 antagonist)
GASTIC REFLUX GAVISCON PO 5-10ml TDS
RANITIDINE PO 150mg BD
OMEPRAzOLE PO 20mg OD
COMMONLY PRESCRIBED DRUGS and doses
Caution NSAIDs in
asthmaPUCRF
Pts with
renal colic
respond
well to PR
dicloenac
Quinineisusedor night-timeleg crampscommon inhospital ptsMake sure youexamine frst- itmay be a DVT
Buscopan is an anti-
spasmodic and works
on smooth muscle
Greatforcramping
abdo pain
You can try most o these
in various combinations i
previous attempts to control
symptoms have ailed
Metoclopramideshould notbe used postGIsurgeryfor
3 days It canalso causesextra-pyramidalreactions andoculogyric
crises Bewareo this thoughthe antidoteis procyclidine5-10mgIVIM
Ondansetron is very
expensive Its otenreserved or chemo
patients donrsquot use it as
rst-line
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 192417
SOB SALBUTAMOL NEB 5mg STATPRN
IPRATROPIUM BROMIDE (Atrovent) NEB 500mcg STATPRN
PREDNISOLONE PO 30-40mg STATOD
(3-5days max)
HYDROCORTISONE IV 200mg STAT(i acute SOB or angiodema)
FUROSEMIDE POIV 40-80mg STAT
ORAMORPH PO 5mg
LAXATIVES
Stimulants SODIUMDOCUSATE PO 50-200mg TDS
BISOCODYL PO 5-10mg BD
SENNA PO TT (15mg) BDTDSOsmotic MOVICOL PO 1-2sachets BDTDS
LACTULOSE PO 15ml BD
I aecal loading GLYCERINESUPPOSITORY PR T STATPRN
PHOSPHATE ENEMA PR T STATPRN
ITCHRASH CHLORPHENAMINE PO 4mg TDS
(alsoknownasldquoPiritonrdquo)
AGITATION DIAzEPAM POSLOWIV 5-10mg
SLEEPLESSNESS ZOPICLONE PO 375-75mg
AGGRESSION HALOPERIDOL CheckBNFforindicationsanddoses
ALCOHOL
WITHDRAWAL CHLORDIAzEPOXIDE(reducingregimen)
Day1and220-30mgQDS
Day3and415mgQDS
Day510mgQDS
Day610mgBD
Day710mgNocte
SIMPLE UTI TRIMETHOPRIM PO 200mg BD
NITROFURANTOIN PO 50mg QDS
CEPHALEXIN PO 500mg BD
FOR ALL OTHER INFECTIONS REFER TO YOUR LOCAL ANTIBIOTIC POLICY-YOUWILLSOONLEARNMOSTOFTHEMOFFBYHEART
Salbutamol causes
tachycardia
Use oramorph with caution in COPD pts It works well in anxious patients to control their breathing
In-hospital patients are oten constipated oten due to decreased activity and medications Try tackling
constipation using dierent pharmacological approaches ie donrsquot Px movicol i already on lactulose
Write in lsquovariable dosersquo section o kardex near the back
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 202418
Wararin
Digoxin
PRESCRIBING OUT OF HOURS
You will oten get bleeped to prescribe wararin or patients you donrsquot know especially over the
weekendevenings i your colleagues havenrsquot done them
CHECK PATIENT IS NOT BLEEDING
Areyouprescribingmaintenanceorloadingdose
LOADING this is the regimen prescribed initially until INR stable and in target range Old school says10mg10mg5mgcheckINR(Day4)
MAINTENANCE usual dose once INR established to keep within target range Check yellow book or
regular prescriptions
bullOnceanINRhasbeenobtainedforoneofyourpatientsmakesureyouprescribethewarfarinfor
about3-4daysthenre-checkMarkopenbracketsonwarfarinchartstoindicatewhenyouwantthe
nextINRtobechecked(usuallybetween3-4daysintheinitialperiodormorefrequentlyifthereare
difculties establishing a maintenance dose)
bullINR is too high (lt4 or lt5 i target is 3-4) - DO NOT OMIT just reduce the dose (1mg) and re-
checkINRatleast48hrsafterasittakesbetween48-72hrsforyourchangetohaveaneect
bull I INR is gt4 (or gt5 i target is 3-4) and patient not actively bleeding prescribe Vitamin K 1mg IV
and OMIT the next dose o wararin
Reason or LT wararin Tx AF 2-3
RecurrentDVT 2-3
PE 2-3
RecurrentPE 3-4
Prostheticheartvalve 3-4
Check kardex or INTERACTIONS
Common onesbull ClarithromycinErythromycin
bull Rifampicin
I actively bleeding check with Senior or advice on urther action
You will occasionally get bleeped to review digoxin levels
Toxicity is very worrying and would normally require the use o lsquoDigibindrsquo which is basically
anantidote for digoxinODYouwillneed toget anECGand assessthepatient clinicallybefore
proceedinggetting senior help
Sub-therapeutic levels are common They are not so worrying but you should clinically assess
the patient in particular their CVS paying particular attention to their pulse as you will denitely get
asked about this i you ask or senior help
I digoxin levels are out o range make sure you check their K+ and keep a regular eye on it as this
needs to be stable or digoxin to be a sae and eective choice o therapy
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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Gentamicin
Usually prescribed in severeneutropenic sepsis (OD regimen) = 5-7mgkgmax480mg
You may get bleeped to check the gentamicin levels o ward patients and subsequently prescribe
the next dose
Theblood levelneedstobe taken6-14hoursafter thestartof thefrst IVI You are basically
looking or the levels to be within therapeutic range I they are not you need to reer to the
Hartord Normogram This is a chart which indicates WHEN the next dose should be according
to how out o range the levels are You DO NOT change the DOSE just the TIMING o the next
one(either2436or48hrslater)Makesureifyouhavebeenaskedtotakethebloodyourself
you note exactly how many hours post IVI the blood has been taken on the blood card it may be
another o your peers who has to review the level
Toxicity may
cause
Deaness
tinnitus
Nystagmus
Vertigo
RenalFailure
Monitor UEs
DAILY
ForpatientswithINFECTIVE ENDOCARDITIS (TDS regimen) = 1mgkg per dose
Therst levelthatneeds toberecordedisafter the3rd4thdoseensuringatleast24hoursof
treatmentisgivenItshouldbetaken1hourpostIVIiethePEAKorPOSTlevelandbebetween
3-5mgL A trough or PRE Dose level is taken approx 1 hour beore any administered dose and
should be lt1mgL The reason or this is that they are on a TDS regimen so renal unction needs
to be closely monitored It is important that gentamicin levels do not rise to toxic amounts
which is more common in patients with renal impairment
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
32
1
06 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Time between start of infusion and sample draw (hours)
Nicolau DP Freeman CD Belliveau PP Nightingale CH Ross JW Quintiliani R Experience with
a once-daily aminoglycoside program administered to 2184 adult patients Antimicrob Agents
Chemo 1995293650-655
Hartford Once Daily Dosing Nomogram
(GentTobra 7mgkg
L e v e l ( m c g m l )
q48h
q36h
q24h
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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General Hints and Tips or seeing patients out o hours
When answering your bleep fnd out
1 Reason or bleep
2Quickbackgroundinfo
3 FurtherrelevantclinicalinfoegOBSERVATIONS and compare these to how they normally runI itrsquos a patient with high EWS just inorm a senior to make them aware and ready or action
4WhattheywantyoutoDO(PURPOSE o call)
5 Ask or the ollowing things to be ready when you arrive
bullNotes
bullKardex
bullObschartnursingle
bullEquipmentegcannulasbloodscatheteretc
6GiveappropriateinstructionsiftheyneedtodoanythingacutelybeforeyouarriveForexamplei
reason or bleep is Haematemesis ask or IV access and bloods to be taken or i a patient has
spiked a temp o gt38˚C get the nurses or night practitioner to do cultures beore you arrive Itsaves a lot o time and afng around once you are on the ward
7 Decide where this lies in your list o priorities or whether it is a job nurse practitioners can do
to help you
NB Try not to have arguments with nurses on the phone some o them are just starting out like
you and may also be petried sometimes they need reassurance too
When you get there
Findthenursewhobleepedyou(orrequestedthebleep)andgetamoredetailedaccountof
whatrsquos going on
Eye-ball the patient beore delving into notes or looking on the computer ollowing the standard
ABCDE assessment It wonrsquot take you long to gure out i they are acutely unwell unstable or
not
Once you have done your initial assessment and any immediate management document what
you have done using a logical and systematic approach This way you wonrsquot orget anything You
will also look really slick and competent plus you might nd you paint yoursel a picture o whatrsquos
going on even i you were clueless initially
Sit down at a computer with the nursing le and medical notes and go straight or the clerking It
should give you a succinct list o PC and other co-morbidities to create a more complete clinical
pictureFlickthroughthewardnotesandndanythingyoucanreaditmaybeofsomeuseLook
at the last entry in particular as there may be a plan o what to do should the situation you have
been bleeped or arises
Check PACS and the lab system or any recent imaging or tests NB ALWAYS compare recent results
to previous ones Just go down the lists looking or cultures unusual blood tests INRs etc and
document what you nd Sometimes the best summaries o a patient are created when someone
manages them on-call Be thorough at the beginning but i you are hard pushed or time reer back to the help sheets- they are designed to make you SAFE not to make you a brilliant diagnostician
whocancowboytheirwaythroughFY1lsquoHousersquostyle
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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HaveagoodbrowsethroughtheKARDEXlookingatwhichmedsmayhavecontributedtothe
situation which may have prevented it i they had been given and which ones you might need
toinitiatetomakesurethepatientisSAFE
Once you have all this inormation create a PROBLEM list and rom this document yourIMPRESSION o the situation Write a PLAN and document whether you involved a senior and
their name and grade Also document the amount o time you were there sometimes you need
tostaywithapatienttoseeifyourtreatmentworkseguidsforlowBPmeanwhileyoucan
scribble down everything yoursquove done to save time
Whenever you are assessing a patient think to yoursel
lsquoWhat do I need to DO to make sure this patient is SAFErsquo I this patient deteriorates or
dies unexpectedly and you were the last doctor to see them you need to make sure your
documentation is adequate Your management appropriate or not will mean nothing i it
has not been written down in the eyes o the law
In summary
bullAnsweryourbleepinasystematicway-itwillhelpyouprioritiseandbecomemoreecient
bullDelegatecertaintaskstonursesdonrsquotbeafraidofaskingthemyouarepartofaTEAM
bullPrioritiseyourjobsanddonrsquotbeafraidtoo-loadsomeontoyourwardSHOYOUaretheone
whogetsbleepedrstsoyouwillbeaskedtodoEVERYTHING
bullWhenyougettoapatient
1 ABCDE approach ALWAYS
2Documentyourinitialassessmentandmanagement 3Reviewthenursingleforobschartuidbalancewarfarinchartsuidprescriptions
4Reviewmedicalnotesandclerkingthensummarise
5ReviewKARDEX
6 Problem list
7 Impression
8 ACTION PLAN (use tick boxes or investigations you have ordered)
9 Keep their details (sticker on handover sheet) and make sure you check on them
later or handover to day team
ALWAYS MAKE SURE YOU ARE SAFE IF IN ANY DOUBT WHATSOEVER YOU MUST INFORMA SENIOR
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 2424
Disclaimer
Copyright
Production
Contacts
The fndings and conclusions in this document are those o the authors who are
responsible or its content All inormation is to be interpreted on an idividual basisin context with the clinical situation to which it reers The inormation is not a
replacement or local guidelines and protocols nor is it a document with any legal
standing No statement in this document can be construed as an ocial position o
the North Western Deanery or NHS Northwest
copyGillianJacksonampFrancesBennett2011
BookdesignedbyAndrewPowellMedicalIllustrationatRoyalBoltonHospitalRef48355
Franmbennettgmailcom
gljacksonhotmailcouk
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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Examination
History
Investigations Medication Review
Investigations History
Name o DrMelanieCrowtherFY1Bleep1234
A V P U
Speaking ull sentences
RR 17
Sats 98 on air
Description
Chest clearGoodbilatAE
JVP Not raised
CRTlt2secs
Mucus membranesMoist well hydrated
+0HS
CalvesSot and non tenderNo oedema
Further relevant examinations
Inspection of catheter sitebull Noevidenceoftrauma
Appearance of urinebull 520mlinbagbull Bloodstainedbuttranslucentbull Noclots
BS normal Sot and non-tenderNo organomegalyNo ascites
Bladder not palpable
A
B
C
D
E
Patient Details NAME DOB Hosp No
EXAMPLE OF DOCUMENTATION
ATSP Re BLOOD IN CATHETER BAG
HR 86 reg
BP-lying13972
-standing13274
Fluidbalance
IN 1500ml12hr
OUT 1200ml12hr
Temp372
AMT1010
BM NA
Agitationmood no change
Any relevant PMHx eg TURP No
Past Hx o same thing None previously
When was catheter put in Catheter inserted
37 ago
Any record o diculties Doctor was called
to perorm as several nurses struggled to pass
tube
Why was pt catheterised Urinary retentionAny immediate distress or raised EWS No
I III
ABDOEXAM
prev now prev now
Hb 111 Na 138
WC 89 K 42
Plt 435 Cr 198
MCV 89 Ur 98
INR 11 CRP 57
Consider holding
Clexane and PO anticoags
MUST CHECK WITH SENIOR FIRST
Patients may be on anticoagulants
eg or AVR
1) Ensure IV access2) SendbloodsFBCUampECROSS MATCHCLOTTING3) Regularobs(2-4hourly)4) Strictuidbalancerecording (maintainurineopgt30mlshr)
5) Change catheter bag (to re-measurewith time)
6) Dipstick urine and send or CSU
SIGNED M Crowther GMC 7895432
Bloods
PlanMedication Review
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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Initial Assessment
Examination
History
Investigations
Plan
Medication Review
ATSP Re DECREASED GCS
ABCDE AIRWAY amp OXYGENGCSPUPILSBM
ChestandAbdoExam(Quickfullassessment)
NEUROLOGICAL EXAM
bullReexesincplantars
bullPUPILS
COLLAPSESEIZURE - TRAUMA
DRUG TOXICITY
HYPOGLYCAEMIA
Look at medical notes yoursel
Commonly hypoglycaemia or opiate toxicity
but must rule out any serious acute events
Think about RISK FACTORS or
bullSepsis
bullStrokeorMI
bullLowBM
bullDrugtoxicity(opiatessedatives)
bull RenalFailure
Consider (according to clinical picture)
bullBloods
bullDipstickUrine
bullCXR
bullECG
bullABG
Treatsuspectedcause+-analgesiaifnecessary
bullOpiate ODNaloxonerdquoNarcanrdquo400mcgIVandrepeatuntilresponsive
In opioid toxicity reversal with naloxone produces instantaneous results once it has reached therapeutic levels
Remember it is very short acting and the patient may require a naloxone IVI depending on the amount and
natureoftheopiateODRefertotheBNForlocaltrustpolicyforthisanddiscusswithaseniorrst
bullLow blood sugars get senior helpifcausingsignicantlyreducedGCSNeedtoconsider10-25dextrose
IVIsIfGCS14+givelucoadeandcheckBMin30minsNursesshouldalreadyhavegivensomethingcalled
HYPOSTOP i patient is known diabetic beore calling you as it does not require a prescription
bullBenzodiazepinesunlikelywithin-hospitalpatientsbutthereversingagentisFLUMAzENILYoushould
never be using this on your own and most wards do not stock it anyway
Regular(2-4hrly)nursingobsinwelllitroom
IfyouareinANYDOUBTorsuspectanacuteeventhasoccurredyouMUSTseekSENIORHELP
IMMEDIATELY
Notorious drugs that cause sedation
bull OPIATES (OD)
bull BENZODIAZEPINES
6
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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History
Initial Assessment and Examination
Ater Death
Medications or symptom control
ATSP Re DYING PATIENT
A V P U
A - isthisobstructedArethereexcesssecretions
B - isrespirationregularoragonal
C - ispatienttachycardicThis may be only sign o painD - isthepatientagitatedoruncomfortable
- ispatientvomitingorconausea
- isthepatienthavingseiures
E - isthepatientitchy
Arethefamilyawareofthesituation
Whataretheirinstructionsaboutbeingcontactedifpatientdeteriorateseginmiddleofthenight
HaspatientbeenassignedtoLCPanddocumentationallinorder
Go and see the body
Document Your name and bleep numberbull ldquoCalledtoconrmdeathNovitalsignsrdquoStatetime o death
bull Fixedanddilatedpupils
bull Norespiratoryeortfor3minutes
bull Nopulseorheartsounds
bull DOCUMENT WHETHER OR NOT PATIENT IS FITTED WITH PACEMAKER RADIOACTIVE IMPLANT
bull YoudoNOTneedtoputacauseofdeathifyoudonrsquotknowthepatientunlessalreadyclearly
documented in notesbull YouDONOTneedtowriteadeathcerticate
bull WhetherornotNoKinformed
bull RIP
bull Painbreathlessness MorphineNB DIAMORPHINE is commonly stated as drug o choice in prescribing guidancebut oten hospitals donrsquot stock it I this is the case you can still use this inormation butensure you MULTIPLY the dose o diamorphine by 15 or a morphine equivalent (EgStateddoseDiamorphine10mgSC24hrsthenmorphineequivalentwouldbe15mgSC24hrs)
bull NauseavomitingLevomepromaine
bull Secretions Glycopyroniumbull RestlessnessagitationMidaolam
bull Itchiness Chlorpheniramine(Piriton)
See ldquoICP or the Care o the Dying Prescribing Guidance V 40rdquo or your trust equivalent or detailsRemember Some patients at the end o lie do not require heavy sedation or maximum pain relietailor your prescription according to your assessment and listen to the nurse caring or themWrite these meds up as PRN or via a syringe driver i itrsquos necessary (ie nurses constantlyadministering)Do NOT put patients on the Care o the Dying Pathway (ie withdraw lie-prolongingmedications)ndash this is a consultantrsquosMDT decision
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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Initial Assessment and Examination
History
Investigations
Plan
Medication Review
ATSP Re FALLSCOLLAPSE
ABCDE
GCS
BM
ForHead Trauma ensure you document
the ollowing
1 Mechanism o injury
2AnyLOCReducedGCSConfusion
3AnyvomitingorSeiuresymptoms
4HeadexaminationegBruising
LacerationBoggy swellings
Signsoftrauma
bullHeadandneck
bullHIPS
Neuroexam
Lying-StandingBP
RISK FACTORS or
bullMechanicalFalls
bullStroke
bullLowBM
bullDrugtoxicity(opiatessedatives)
bullArrhythmiasbullSeiure
bull Infection
bullAlwaystakeaFALLS HISTORY but remember
you are ocussing on making the patient SAFE
rather than diagnosing a cause or their all
Oten none are needed (always do a lying
and standing BP though)
Depend on history and exam ndingsConsider
bullECG
bullBloods
bullDipstick
bullCThead(senior must be inormed)
bullRegularnursing+-neuroobsifindicatedbullAddressunderlyingcauseifappropriate
Wounds Most can be glued or steristripped I concerned send patient to AampE
Consider withholding the ollowing
bull Antihypertensives
bull Sedatives until head trauma ruled out
bull Warfarin i patient is at risk o allsagain ie undetermined cause o alls
or unsteady on eetdementia Check
with senior rst patient may have articial
valve replacement
bull Inorm nursing staf o any changes
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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Assessment or repeat prescription
History
Sliding scale or IV insulin
High BM
1 The REASONfortheiruids(NBMslidingscaleunwellsepticunsafeswallow)
2FLUIDstatusndashcheckforoverloaddehydrationInput-Outputchart
3 CHECK UampEpayingattentiontoK+requirementsDonrsquotjustrewriteuidswithoutchecking
mostrecentUampEsIfnobloodsforgt48hrsandonregularuids repeat uampersquos beore represcribing
Write a blood card or next appropriate monitoring so it doesnrsquot get missed4ChecktheKARDEX or PO electrolyte supplements and diuretics I patient is receiving diuretic
anduidssimultaneouslythencontactseniorforadvice
Duringon-callyouwillnormallybeaskedtore-writetheslidingscaleontheuidchartBMsare
monitored every hour by nursing staf and inusion rate is altered accordingly
In the inusion pump
bull50mlsNsaline+50unitsACTRAPIDinsulin
bullKClmayalsobeaddeddependingonthepatientrsquoslevelsIflt3add20mmolif3-5add10mmol
BloodGlucoseLevelmmolL Standardscale Augmentedscale
Units o insulinhour Units o insulinhour
lt4 0 0 4-7 1 2
71-11 2 4
111-17 4 8
171-22 6 12
gt22 8 16
Stopinfusionfor30minutesthencheckBMagainRestartslidingscaleatslowerrateof05mmolhour
Stopping the insulin inusion completely can be especially dangerous in patients with type 1 diabetes
A high BM is oten nothing to worry about during an oncall shit It is usually because the patientrsquosnormal blood sugar control regime has been disrupted due to acute illness changes to routine or acombinationMake sure you1 Check BM charts or previous readings and whether this is new or them or not2 Check urine or ketones3 Do ABG i patient looks unwell I this is the case they are likely to have a high EWS so manage
appropriately4 Document your ndings and action taken (if any)
Ifpatientisnotonaslidingscaleyoucanprescribe10unitsactrapid(evenifNIDDM)tobringtheBMdown but donrsquot start messing around with their normal blood glucose control it is not an emergencysituationandcanbedealtwithduringwardhoursbyspecialiedteamswhohavealotofexperienceinthese cases
Ensurepatientisnotuidrestrictedforanyreasonieheartfailureoedemaandascites
ATSP or FLUID REVIEW
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Initial Assessment
Examination
History
Investigations
Plan
Medication Review
ATSP Re HAEMATEMESISCOFFEE GROUND VOMITMALAENA
A V P U
ABCDE
Chest Exam
ABDO EXAM
bullAnysignsofperforationTender
bullPR EXAM ndashALWAYScheckforevidenceYOURSELFevenHaematemesisCGV
IV Access and bloods
Work out EWSBP lying and standing
IfpthashadsignicantupperGIbleed
1 A signicant posturaldrop(gt20mmHg)in BP is oten the rst sign2Theureawillusuallybecomeproportionally higher than creatinineoten with little other evidence o renalailure
bullRememberHbwonrsquotdropimmediately afteraGIbleed-thereforenormalHbisnt
reassuring
RISK FACTORS or GI BleedbullGastricirritantmedications
(NSAIDS)bullAlcoholALDbullLackofgastro-protective
medicationbullUlcersbull ReuxGORDbull Persistentvomitingbull Endoscopystentingproceduresbull Postabdosurgery
Mandatory bullBloods-FBCUampEincludingCa2+ LFTINRandclottingX-match send as URGENTConsider bullAXRerectCXR bullUrgentendoscopyifHbhastaken
massive drop rom previous or is verylow ie lt7 Seniors denitely need tobe inormed beore considering this
WITHOLD
bullAny anti-coagulants
bullNSAIDS
CONSIDER
bullAntiemetic
bullPPI(lansopraoleisindicatedfor
patients on aspirin and clopidogrel
omepraoleifnot)
bull KeepNBMuntilwardteamassessmentuntilyouaresatisedthepatientisstablebull IVaccess+-FLUIDSbull Regularnursingobs-recheckonehourlaterand2hourlythereafterbull FluidbalanceMonitorurineOPandmaintaintogt30mlhrbull Keepdetailsandcheckonthemlater
NB Patients are not normally transused blood products over night unless it is an emergency IVuidswillpreventhypovolaemiaanditsconsequencesIfyouthinkyourpatientlooksabitdryoris slightly tachycardic etc then stay on the sae side and run through some saline (unless otherwisecontraindicated)
ue Haematemesis or Malaena is a medical emergency and will oten be accompanied with a high EWSeat accordingly i this is the case In-hospital patients oten suer simple coee ground vomits without
any systemic disruption but must still be considered as a potenital emergency
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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Medication Review
Initial Assessment Examination Possible CAUSES to consider
Investigations-depend on scoring parameters
Medication Review
Plan
History - ALWAYS look in the notes
Impression
ATSP Re HIGH EWS (General Assessment)NB always ask nurses or VALUES OF PARAMETERS and what they are COMPARED TO NORMAL
TrustguidelinesindicateforFY1sEWS3ndashAssessmanageandreassessactionsafter30minutes
EWSgt5ndashSeniormustbeinformedafterinitialassessmentndashattheveryleastjusttomakesuretheyareaware
RR
Sats
HR
BP
Fluid balance
Temp
AMT
BM
Agitationmood
GCS
CHEST-THOROUGH
clinical respiratory exam
is vital to guide urther
management
HS
JVP
Calves
Mucus membranes
CRT
bull PEbull HA Pneumoniabull Failure ndash heart lungsbull MI
bull Decompensated heart ailure
bull Acutedecompensated Renal failure
bull Dehydrationbull Sepsis or inection
bull Perorationbull AAA
bull Peritonitisbull DVT (look for one- a DVT wonrsquot cause high
EWS on its own)bull Source of sepsis (lines cellulitis catheter etc)
A
B
C
D
E
Considerbull CXRbull ABGbull Routinebloods+-CULTURESforsepticscreen
i temp spiked
bull X-matchifsuspectpatientisbleedingbull ECGbull UrineDipstick
ReviewKardexforanyIATROGENIC causes o above eg NSAIDSwararin bleedIsthepatientoversedatedSYMPTOM controlbull Isthepatientinpain- analgesiabull Isthepatientvomiting- antiemetic (IVIM)
bull IsthepatientdehydratedndashIV luidsbull IsthepatientsepticndashWhatisthesource
- Antibiotics (see trust guidance)Should the patient have been on
prophylacticLMWH-PE
Has the patient suered an acute
event
Has anything CHANGED and HOW
WHYhasthishappened
A high EWS can oten resolve with SYMPTOM control Eg bring the BP up and tachyhigh RR mayresolve1 Regular nursing obs2 Treatsuspectedcause3 Strictfluidbalance+-catheterisationifpatientisunwellenough4 Analgesiaandgeneralsymptomcontrol5 Reviewyourtreatmentaction-hasithadaneffectSenior review i worried
SEPTIC SCREEN
bull CXRbull UrineDipstick bull Cultures Blood Urine (MSU) Sputum
Stoolbull Swabs rom likely sources eg wound bedsore throat eye cannula catheterdrain site
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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Initial Assessment
Investigations
Plan
Medication Review
Examination
History
ATSP Re HYPERKALAEMIA (stable patient)
A V P U
ABCDE ECG
CHEST and CVS
Hydration
Unwellorstable
Fluidbalance
- Is this acute
- Is it a chronic accumulation
- Does the patient have CRF
- CARDIAC history
- LOOK at FLUID Px charts
- Is patient diabetic
- Symptoms eg palpitationsdizziness
bull ECG
bull ABG - helpul i you suspect a spurious
result
bull BloodsndashRepeatsampleifunsureof
accuracy o hyperkalaemia eg haemolysis
Hyperkalaemia treatment
bull Iflt7andWITHOUTECGchanges
Insulin and dextrose IVI- reer to local trust policy or exact instructions I unable to ind then
10unitsactrapidin50mlof50dextroseover10mins
bull Ifgt65WITHECGchanges
Salbutamol 5mg neb
Insulin and dextroseIVIthenINFORMASENIORaspatientmaywellneed
Calcium gluconate10mlof10IVover5minforcardiacprotectionEnsurepatientison
cardiac monitoring Calcium resonium PO15mgQDSCausesconstipationsowriteupalaxativePRN
Hold medications as appropriate (see above)
REPEAT BLOODS post treatment
bull Diuretics-K+sparingorlosingbull ACEA2RBinbitorsegramipril
losartan
bull NSAIDS
bull IVFluids
bull PotassiumsupplementsIVPO
bull Nutritionaldrinks
ECG
ECGchangesinhyperkalaemia
bullArrythmias
bullProlongedPRintervalwithflattened
Pwaves
bullWideQRSwithslurrySTsegment
bullTalltentedTTraves
I patient is symptomaticunstable this is a medical EMERGENCY and needs a senior doctor involved
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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Initial Assessment
Assessment o uid balance
Examination
Investigations
History
Plan
ATSP Re LOW URINE OUTPUT (catheterised patient)
ABCDE
CATHETER- IS IT BLOCKED
1Checktheuidchartandworkouttotalinputandoutput(usuallyover24hrsbutpatientis commonly post-op so calculate rom the time since they returned rom theatre i this is the case)2Remembertheurineoutputshouldbe05mlkghrDonrsquot orget to account or parenteral eeds stoma output and insensible losses
Fluid balance over 4 hours eg post opInput 500ml Output Urine 100ml Insensiblelosses 200ml Stoma 500mlTOTAL 500ml TOTAL 800ml
FLUID BALANCE=-300mliepatientisDRY
CHEST-isthepatientuidoverloadedABDO EXAM bullTenderUrinaryretentionNotepost-opileuscancauseurinaryretention bullStomasitendashisitinfectedLook or acute serious pathologies and try to correct these
bullAlwaysremembertolookatthenotes This problem is commonly seen in post op
surgical patientsbullCheckwhichoperationtheyrsquovehad and any important details on the op notes
beore you speak to senior docbullEnsurethatthepatientisnotuid restrictedegCCFascites
Consider
bullBloods-FBCandUampEstomonitorrenalfunction bullAXR bullDipstickurineMSUorCSU bullStoolsample(Cdiifonabx) bullSepticscreenDiscuss the need or imaging with senior i suspecting intra-abdominal sepsis
bullOftenallthatrsquosneededisauid challenge o 500ml saline particularly i the patient is dry (negative uidbalance)Getnursestorunitthroughstatandcheckopnomorethan1hrlaterIfpatientissimply
dehydrated their urine op should have picked up rom this CAUTION IN CCFCRF patients
bullCorrectunderlyingcauseoncediagnosedbullMonitorBPampurineOP(maintainurineopto05mgkghranddocumentthisinstruction)bullConsiderdiuretics(statdose40mgfurosemideIV) i you think the patient is uid overloaded (usually with positiveuidbalance)howeverusewithcautionandalwayscheckpreviousU+ErsquosConsultwithseniordoc
beore doing this you could easily exacerbate the problem
Think about RISK FACTORS orbullDehydrationLookforpotentialuidlosseseg
vomiting diarrhoea poor oral intake high stomaoutput
bullUrinaryobstructionegnatureofopco-morbiditiesbullInfectionSepsisbullDrugseganticholinergics
SEPTIC
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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Make a very quick decision as to whether or not you are confdent in treating this patient on your own
Patients who are short o breath can deteriorate very quickly indeed Call or a Senior immediately i you are unsure
Medication Review
Examination
History
Investigations- dependingon scoring parameters
Plan
Medication Review
ATSP Re SHORTNESS OF BREATH
A V P U
ABCDE
OXYGEN (highowinitially)ABG
THOROUGH exam is vital to guide management
Hydration assessment
- Onset
- Duration
- Exacerbating or relieving actors
- Check clerking proorma or
co-morbidities
bullABGndashimmediatelythenrepeatbullCXRCheckmostrecentoneDonrsquot
be araid to repeat CXR i things havechanged clinically Order a portable ilm
i you eel the patient is too unstable to betransported - discuss this with the nurses bullECGbullCulturesBloodandsputumif
appropriate andor check previous orsensitivities
bullRepeatbloods
bull Staywithpatientuntilyouarehappytheyarestable
bull Regularnursingobs(2hourly)
bull KeepawatchfuleyeontheirbloodsCXRetc
CALL FOR SENIOR HELP IF YOU ARE UNSURETHESE PATIENTS CAN DETERIORATE VERY QUICKLY INDEED
Patients with anxiety exacerbatingtheir respiratory disease are otengiven Oramorph by the nursingsta Be wary o this as you dontwant to be causing respiratorydepression in eg COPD patientsAsk a senior i unsure
Is patient on thromboprophylaxisWhat can I givebull ThinkaboutyourchoicesforOxygen
Therapy depending on patientrsquos chronic diseasestatusandABGresult
bullWheezeSalbutamol5mgneb+- atrovent500mcgneb(canbegivenwith O2)bullLRTICAPHAP Antibiotics (check
protocol)bullPulm OedemaFurosemide40mgIV
JVP and ankles
Calves Thighs
Anaphylaxis
Pneumothorax
Comparesatstonormalcomparewithchronicdiseasestatus
Cardiacorrespiratorycause
Ask about ASSOCIATED FEATURES and RISK
FACTORS or
DVTPE
Overload eg recent transusionluid therapy
MI
Infection(hospitalacquired)
Anxiety AsthmaCOPD exacerbation
Recent surgery (atelectasis)
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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Initial Assessment
Examination
History
Investigations - depending on scoring parameters and clinical judgement
Plan - very diferent or acutely unwell patients and those who are stable
Medication Review
ATSP Re TACHYCARDIAPALPITATIONS
A V P U
ABCDE ECG
TACHYARRYTHMIAS ARE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY If patient has developed a new tachyarrhythmia
on ECG (SVTFast AF) a senior needs to be involved Make sure you perform the following
Chest and Abdo Exam
Fluidbalance-ispatientdehydrated
Mandatory
bullECG
Consider
bullRoutinebloods+-CULTURESfor
septic screen i spiked temperature bullX-matchifsuspectpatientisbleeding
bullUrineDipstick
1IVaccess+-fluidsandbloods2Followtachycardiaalgorithmifappropriate-seniorshouldreallybeinvolvedinthis3Regularnursingobs(candotemponlyevery30minshalfhourifyouthinkhaveRFsforsepsis)4TreatsuspectedcauseoftenthisisactuallySYMPTOMCONTROLandyoumayfindthatsimple
stable tachycardias resolve once you have the ollowing under controlbull PAIN bull DEHYDRATION
bull AGITATION bull SEPSIS
bull ANXIETY bull VOMITING
IATROGENIC causes o tachycardiabull SALBUTAMOLoverusebull EYEDROPSegPHENYLEPHRINEbull THEOPHYLLINEtoxicitybull DIPYRIDAMOLE
MEDICAL MANAGEMENTbull Considerdigoxin 250mcg in
elderly patients or bisoprolol 25 mgunless otherwise contra indicated (low BP
Asthma) once cause has been identiied(senior discussion)
bullIsthepatientsymptomatic
bullCARDIAC HISTORY
bullPreviouscardiachistoryandRISKFACTORSfor
MIAFArrhythmias
bullPreviousECGs
bullFor arrhythmias IS THIS NEW Assume it is
unless proven otherwise
bullLookatKardexforanyanti-arrhythmic
medications or clues
bullHowmuchteaandcoffeehasthepatienthad
bullHas patient been on any drugs which put thematincreasedriskoftheaboveEgWarfarin
NSAIDs- bleed Should the patient have been onprophylacticLMWH-PE
Possible reasons or simple tachycardia
bull Painbull Anxietybull Sepsisbull Hypovolaemia ndash bleeddehydrationbull PEbull MIbull Medication side FX
EXPOSEor sources o sepsis
PULSEREGULARORIRREGULAR
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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You will oten get called to the wards to prescribe drugs or common in-patient complaints
Always eye-ball a patient beore doing so- the nurses may have the diagnosis wrong
DonrsquotforgettocheckforALLERGIESPMHandRENALFUNCTION(ifindicated)LookatKARDEXor any obvious interactions
Most drugs you will prescribe on-call should be written in the PRN or lsquoonce onlyrsquo section i you
do not know the patient
ANALGESIA MEDICATION ROUTE DOSAGE MAXDAY
PARACETAMOL POIV 500mgndash1g QDS
IBUPROFEN PO 200-400mg TDS
DICLOFENACrsquoVoltarolrsquo POIM 50mg TDS
PR 100mg TDS
CO-CODAMOL
(8500OR30500) PO 1-2TABLETS QDS
CO-DYDRAMOL(10500) PO 1-2TABLETS QDS
CODEINEPHOSPHATE POIM 30-60mg QDS
BUSCOPAN POIV 10-20mg QDS
QUININE PO 200mg ON
TRAMADOL PO 50-100mg QDS
MORPHINE IVPO 5-10mg STAT
NB Opiates can cause nauseavomiting and constipation Always Prescribe a PRN antiemetic and simple laxative
ANTI-EMETICS METOCLOPRAMIDErsquoMaxalonrsquo POIMIV 10mg TDS
(dopamineantagonist-worksdirectlyonGIT)
CYCLIZINE POIV 50mg TDS
(antihistaminendashworkscentrally)
PROCHLORPERAZINElsquoStemetilrsquoPO 10- 20mg TDS
lsquoBuccastemrsquo BUCCAL 3-6mg BD
(dopamineantagonist-workscentrallyonchemoreceptortriggerone)
DOMPERIDONE PO 10-20mg QDS
(actscentrallyonchemoreceptortriggerone)
ONDANSETRON POIMIV 8mg TDS
(5HT3 antagonist)
GASTIC REFLUX GAVISCON PO 5-10ml TDS
RANITIDINE PO 150mg BD
OMEPRAzOLE PO 20mg OD
COMMONLY PRESCRIBED DRUGS and doses
Caution NSAIDs in
asthmaPUCRF
Pts with
renal colic
respond
well to PR
dicloenac
Quinineisusedor night-timeleg crampscommon inhospital ptsMake sure youexamine frst- itmay be a DVT
Buscopan is an anti-
spasmodic and works
on smooth muscle
Greatforcramping
abdo pain
You can try most o these
in various combinations i
previous attempts to control
symptoms have ailed
Metoclopramideshould notbe used postGIsurgeryfor
3 days It canalso causesextra-pyramidalreactions andoculogyric
crises Bewareo this thoughthe antidoteis procyclidine5-10mgIVIM
Ondansetron is very
expensive Its otenreserved or chemo
patients donrsquot use it as
rst-line
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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SOB SALBUTAMOL NEB 5mg STATPRN
IPRATROPIUM BROMIDE (Atrovent) NEB 500mcg STATPRN
PREDNISOLONE PO 30-40mg STATOD
(3-5days max)
HYDROCORTISONE IV 200mg STAT(i acute SOB or angiodema)
FUROSEMIDE POIV 40-80mg STAT
ORAMORPH PO 5mg
LAXATIVES
Stimulants SODIUMDOCUSATE PO 50-200mg TDS
BISOCODYL PO 5-10mg BD
SENNA PO TT (15mg) BDTDSOsmotic MOVICOL PO 1-2sachets BDTDS
LACTULOSE PO 15ml BD
I aecal loading GLYCERINESUPPOSITORY PR T STATPRN
PHOSPHATE ENEMA PR T STATPRN
ITCHRASH CHLORPHENAMINE PO 4mg TDS
(alsoknownasldquoPiritonrdquo)
AGITATION DIAzEPAM POSLOWIV 5-10mg
SLEEPLESSNESS ZOPICLONE PO 375-75mg
AGGRESSION HALOPERIDOL CheckBNFforindicationsanddoses
ALCOHOL
WITHDRAWAL CHLORDIAzEPOXIDE(reducingregimen)
Day1and220-30mgQDS
Day3and415mgQDS
Day510mgQDS
Day610mgBD
Day710mgNocte
SIMPLE UTI TRIMETHOPRIM PO 200mg BD
NITROFURANTOIN PO 50mg QDS
CEPHALEXIN PO 500mg BD
FOR ALL OTHER INFECTIONS REFER TO YOUR LOCAL ANTIBIOTIC POLICY-YOUWILLSOONLEARNMOSTOFTHEMOFFBYHEART
Salbutamol causes
tachycardia
Use oramorph with caution in COPD pts It works well in anxious patients to control their breathing
In-hospital patients are oten constipated oten due to decreased activity and medications Try tackling
constipation using dierent pharmacological approaches ie donrsquot Px movicol i already on lactulose
Write in lsquovariable dosersquo section o kardex near the back
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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Wararin
Digoxin
PRESCRIBING OUT OF HOURS
You will oten get bleeped to prescribe wararin or patients you donrsquot know especially over the
weekendevenings i your colleagues havenrsquot done them
CHECK PATIENT IS NOT BLEEDING
Areyouprescribingmaintenanceorloadingdose
LOADING this is the regimen prescribed initially until INR stable and in target range Old school says10mg10mg5mgcheckINR(Day4)
MAINTENANCE usual dose once INR established to keep within target range Check yellow book or
regular prescriptions
bullOnceanINRhasbeenobtainedforoneofyourpatientsmakesureyouprescribethewarfarinfor
about3-4daysthenre-checkMarkopenbracketsonwarfarinchartstoindicatewhenyouwantthe
nextINRtobechecked(usuallybetween3-4daysintheinitialperiodormorefrequentlyifthereare
difculties establishing a maintenance dose)
bullINR is too high (lt4 or lt5 i target is 3-4) - DO NOT OMIT just reduce the dose (1mg) and re-
checkINRatleast48hrsafterasittakesbetween48-72hrsforyourchangetohaveaneect
bull I INR is gt4 (or gt5 i target is 3-4) and patient not actively bleeding prescribe Vitamin K 1mg IV
and OMIT the next dose o wararin
Reason or LT wararin Tx AF 2-3
RecurrentDVT 2-3
PE 2-3
RecurrentPE 3-4
Prostheticheartvalve 3-4
Check kardex or INTERACTIONS
Common onesbull ClarithromycinErythromycin
bull Rifampicin
I actively bleeding check with Senior or advice on urther action
You will occasionally get bleeped to review digoxin levels
Toxicity is very worrying and would normally require the use o lsquoDigibindrsquo which is basically
anantidote for digoxinODYouwillneed toget anECGand assessthepatient clinicallybefore
proceedinggetting senior help
Sub-therapeutic levels are common They are not so worrying but you should clinically assess
the patient in particular their CVS paying particular attention to their pulse as you will denitely get
asked about this i you ask or senior help
I digoxin levels are out o range make sure you check their K+ and keep a regular eye on it as this
needs to be stable or digoxin to be a sae and eective choice o therapy
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Gentamicin
Usually prescribed in severeneutropenic sepsis (OD regimen) = 5-7mgkgmax480mg
You may get bleeped to check the gentamicin levels o ward patients and subsequently prescribe
the next dose
Theblood levelneedstobe taken6-14hoursafter thestartof thefrst IVI You are basically
looking or the levels to be within therapeutic range I they are not you need to reer to the
Hartord Normogram This is a chart which indicates WHEN the next dose should be according
to how out o range the levels are You DO NOT change the DOSE just the TIMING o the next
one(either2436or48hrslater)Makesureifyouhavebeenaskedtotakethebloodyourself
you note exactly how many hours post IVI the blood has been taken on the blood card it may be
another o your peers who has to review the level
Toxicity may
cause
Deaness
tinnitus
Nystagmus
Vertigo
RenalFailure
Monitor UEs
DAILY
ForpatientswithINFECTIVE ENDOCARDITIS (TDS regimen) = 1mgkg per dose
Therst levelthatneeds toberecordedisafter the3rd4thdoseensuringatleast24hoursof
treatmentisgivenItshouldbetaken1hourpostIVIiethePEAKorPOSTlevelandbebetween
3-5mgL A trough or PRE Dose level is taken approx 1 hour beore any administered dose and
should be lt1mgL The reason or this is that they are on a TDS regimen so renal unction needs
to be closely monitored It is important that gentamicin levels do not rise to toxic amounts
which is more common in patients with renal impairment
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
32
1
06 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Time between start of infusion and sample draw (hours)
Nicolau DP Freeman CD Belliveau PP Nightingale CH Ross JW Quintiliani R Experience with
a once-daily aminoglycoside program administered to 2184 adult patients Antimicrob Agents
Chemo 1995293650-655
Hartford Once Daily Dosing Nomogram
(GentTobra 7mgkg
L e v e l ( m c g m l )
q48h
q36h
q24h
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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General Hints and Tips or seeing patients out o hours
When answering your bleep fnd out
1 Reason or bleep
2Quickbackgroundinfo
3 FurtherrelevantclinicalinfoegOBSERVATIONS and compare these to how they normally runI itrsquos a patient with high EWS just inorm a senior to make them aware and ready or action
4WhattheywantyoutoDO(PURPOSE o call)
5 Ask or the ollowing things to be ready when you arrive
bullNotes
bullKardex
bullObschartnursingle
bullEquipmentegcannulasbloodscatheteretc
6GiveappropriateinstructionsiftheyneedtodoanythingacutelybeforeyouarriveForexamplei
reason or bleep is Haematemesis ask or IV access and bloods to be taken or i a patient has
spiked a temp o gt38˚C get the nurses or night practitioner to do cultures beore you arrive Itsaves a lot o time and afng around once you are on the ward
7 Decide where this lies in your list o priorities or whether it is a job nurse practitioners can do
to help you
NB Try not to have arguments with nurses on the phone some o them are just starting out like
you and may also be petried sometimes they need reassurance too
When you get there
Findthenursewhobleepedyou(orrequestedthebleep)andgetamoredetailedaccountof
whatrsquos going on
Eye-ball the patient beore delving into notes or looking on the computer ollowing the standard
ABCDE assessment It wonrsquot take you long to gure out i they are acutely unwell unstable or
not
Once you have done your initial assessment and any immediate management document what
you have done using a logical and systematic approach This way you wonrsquot orget anything You
will also look really slick and competent plus you might nd you paint yoursel a picture o whatrsquos
going on even i you were clueless initially
Sit down at a computer with the nursing le and medical notes and go straight or the clerking It
should give you a succinct list o PC and other co-morbidities to create a more complete clinical
pictureFlickthroughthewardnotesandndanythingyoucanreaditmaybeofsomeuseLook
at the last entry in particular as there may be a plan o what to do should the situation you have
been bleeped or arises
Check PACS and the lab system or any recent imaging or tests NB ALWAYS compare recent results
to previous ones Just go down the lists looking or cultures unusual blood tests INRs etc and
document what you nd Sometimes the best summaries o a patient are created when someone
manages them on-call Be thorough at the beginning but i you are hard pushed or time reer back to the help sheets- they are designed to make you SAFE not to make you a brilliant diagnostician
whocancowboytheirwaythroughFY1lsquoHousersquostyle
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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HaveagoodbrowsethroughtheKARDEXlookingatwhichmedsmayhavecontributedtothe
situation which may have prevented it i they had been given and which ones you might need
toinitiatetomakesurethepatientisSAFE
Once you have all this inormation create a PROBLEM list and rom this document yourIMPRESSION o the situation Write a PLAN and document whether you involved a senior and
their name and grade Also document the amount o time you were there sometimes you need
tostaywithapatienttoseeifyourtreatmentworkseguidsforlowBPmeanwhileyoucan
scribble down everything yoursquove done to save time
Whenever you are assessing a patient think to yoursel
lsquoWhat do I need to DO to make sure this patient is SAFErsquo I this patient deteriorates or
dies unexpectedly and you were the last doctor to see them you need to make sure your
documentation is adequate Your management appropriate or not will mean nothing i it
has not been written down in the eyes o the law
In summary
bullAnsweryourbleepinasystematicway-itwillhelpyouprioritiseandbecomemoreecient
bullDelegatecertaintaskstonursesdonrsquotbeafraidofaskingthemyouarepartofaTEAM
bullPrioritiseyourjobsanddonrsquotbeafraidtoo-loadsomeontoyourwardSHOYOUaretheone
whogetsbleepedrstsoyouwillbeaskedtodoEVERYTHING
bullWhenyougettoapatient
1 ABCDE approach ALWAYS
2Documentyourinitialassessmentandmanagement 3Reviewthenursingleforobschartuidbalancewarfarinchartsuidprescriptions
4Reviewmedicalnotesandclerkingthensummarise
5ReviewKARDEX
6 Problem list
7 Impression
8 ACTION PLAN (use tick boxes or investigations you have ordered)
9 Keep their details (sticker on handover sheet) and make sure you check on them
later or handover to day team
ALWAYS MAKE SURE YOU ARE SAFE IF IN ANY DOUBT WHATSOEVER YOU MUST INFORMA SENIOR
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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Disclaimer
Copyright
Production
Contacts
The fndings and conclusions in this document are those o the authors who are
responsible or its content All inormation is to be interpreted on an idividual basisin context with the clinical situation to which it reers The inormation is not a
replacement or local guidelines and protocols nor is it a document with any legal
standing No statement in this document can be construed as an ocial position o
the North Western Deanery or NHS Northwest
copyGillianJacksonampFrancesBennett2011
BookdesignedbyAndrewPowellMedicalIllustrationatRoyalBoltonHospitalRef48355
Franmbennettgmailcom
gljacksonhotmailcouk
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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Initial Assessment
Examination
History
Investigations
Plan
Medication Review
ATSP Re DECREASED GCS
ABCDE AIRWAY amp OXYGENGCSPUPILSBM
ChestandAbdoExam(Quickfullassessment)
NEUROLOGICAL EXAM
bullReexesincplantars
bullPUPILS
COLLAPSESEIZURE - TRAUMA
DRUG TOXICITY
HYPOGLYCAEMIA
Look at medical notes yoursel
Commonly hypoglycaemia or opiate toxicity
but must rule out any serious acute events
Think about RISK FACTORS or
bullSepsis
bullStrokeorMI
bullLowBM
bullDrugtoxicity(opiatessedatives)
bull RenalFailure
Consider (according to clinical picture)
bullBloods
bullDipstickUrine
bullCXR
bullECG
bullABG
Treatsuspectedcause+-analgesiaifnecessary
bullOpiate ODNaloxonerdquoNarcanrdquo400mcgIVandrepeatuntilresponsive
In opioid toxicity reversal with naloxone produces instantaneous results once it has reached therapeutic levels
Remember it is very short acting and the patient may require a naloxone IVI depending on the amount and
natureoftheopiateODRefertotheBNForlocaltrustpolicyforthisanddiscusswithaseniorrst
bullLow blood sugars get senior helpifcausingsignicantlyreducedGCSNeedtoconsider10-25dextrose
IVIsIfGCS14+givelucoadeandcheckBMin30minsNursesshouldalreadyhavegivensomethingcalled
HYPOSTOP i patient is known diabetic beore calling you as it does not require a prescription
bullBenzodiazepinesunlikelywithin-hospitalpatientsbutthereversingagentisFLUMAzENILYoushould
never be using this on your own and most wards do not stock it anyway
Regular(2-4hrly)nursingobsinwelllitroom
IfyouareinANYDOUBTorsuspectanacuteeventhasoccurredyouMUSTseekSENIORHELP
IMMEDIATELY
Notorious drugs that cause sedation
bull OPIATES (OD)
bull BENZODIAZEPINES
6
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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History
Initial Assessment and Examination
Ater Death
Medications or symptom control
ATSP Re DYING PATIENT
A V P U
A - isthisobstructedArethereexcesssecretions
B - isrespirationregularoragonal
C - ispatienttachycardicThis may be only sign o painD - isthepatientagitatedoruncomfortable
- ispatientvomitingorconausea
- isthepatienthavingseiures
E - isthepatientitchy
Arethefamilyawareofthesituation
Whataretheirinstructionsaboutbeingcontactedifpatientdeteriorateseginmiddleofthenight
HaspatientbeenassignedtoLCPanddocumentationallinorder
Go and see the body
Document Your name and bleep numberbull ldquoCalledtoconrmdeathNovitalsignsrdquoStatetime o death
bull Fixedanddilatedpupils
bull Norespiratoryeortfor3minutes
bull Nopulseorheartsounds
bull DOCUMENT WHETHER OR NOT PATIENT IS FITTED WITH PACEMAKER RADIOACTIVE IMPLANT
bull YoudoNOTneedtoputacauseofdeathifyoudonrsquotknowthepatientunlessalreadyclearly
documented in notesbull YouDONOTneedtowriteadeathcerticate
bull WhetherornotNoKinformed
bull RIP
bull Painbreathlessness MorphineNB DIAMORPHINE is commonly stated as drug o choice in prescribing guidancebut oten hospitals donrsquot stock it I this is the case you can still use this inormation butensure you MULTIPLY the dose o diamorphine by 15 or a morphine equivalent (EgStateddoseDiamorphine10mgSC24hrsthenmorphineequivalentwouldbe15mgSC24hrs)
bull NauseavomitingLevomepromaine
bull Secretions Glycopyroniumbull RestlessnessagitationMidaolam
bull Itchiness Chlorpheniramine(Piriton)
See ldquoICP or the Care o the Dying Prescribing Guidance V 40rdquo or your trust equivalent or detailsRemember Some patients at the end o lie do not require heavy sedation or maximum pain relietailor your prescription according to your assessment and listen to the nurse caring or themWrite these meds up as PRN or via a syringe driver i itrsquos necessary (ie nurses constantlyadministering)Do NOT put patients on the Care o the Dying Pathway (ie withdraw lie-prolongingmedications)ndash this is a consultantrsquosMDT decision
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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Initial Assessment and Examination
History
Investigations
Plan
Medication Review
ATSP Re FALLSCOLLAPSE
ABCDE
GCS
BM
ForHead Trauma ensure you document
the ollowing
1 Mechanism o injury
2AnyLOCReducedGCSConfusion
3AnyvomitingorSeiuresymptoms
4HeadexaminationegBruising
LacerationBoggy swellings
Signsoftrauma
bullHeadandneck
bullHIPS
Neuroexam
Lying-StandingBP
RISK FACTORS or
bullMechanicalFalls
bullStroke
bullLowBM
bullDrugtoxicity(opiatessedatives)
bullArrhythmiasbullSeiure
bull Infection
bullAlwaystakeaFALLS HISTORY but remember
you are ocussing on making the patient SAFE
rather than diagnosing a cause or their all
Oten none are needed (always do a lying
and standing BP though)
Depend on history and exam ndingsConsider
bullECG
bullBloods
bullDipstick
bullCThead(senior must be inormed)
bullRegularnursing+-neuroobsifindicatedbullAddressunderlyingcauseifappropriate
Wounds Most can be glued or steristripped I concerned send patient to AampE
Consider withholding the ollowing
bull Antihypertensives
bull Sedatives until head trauma ruled out
bull Warfarin i patient is at risk o allsagain ie undetermined cause o alls
or unsteady on eetdementia Check
with senior rst patient may have articial
valve replacement
bull Inorm nursing staf o any changes
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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Assessment or repeat prescription
History
Sliding scale or IV insulin
High BM
1 The REASONfortheiruids(NBMslidingscaleunwellsepticunsafeswallow)
2FLUIDstatusndashcheckforoverloaddehydrationInput-Outputchart
3 CHECK UampEpayingattentiontoK+requirementsDonrsquotjustrewriteuidswithoutchecking
mostrecentUampEsIfnobloodsforgt48hrsandonregularuids repeat uampersquos beore represcribing
Write a blood card or next appropriate monitoring so it doesnrsquot get missed4ChecktheKARDEX or PO electrolyte supplements and diuretics I patient is receiving diuretic
anduidssimultaneouslythencontactseniorforadvice
Duringon-callyouwillnormallybeaskedtore-writetheslidingscaleontheuidchartBMsare
monitored every hour by nursing staf and inusion rate is altered accordingly
In the inusion pump
bull50mlsNsaline+50unitsACTRAPIDinsulin
bullKClmayalsobeaddeddependingonthepatientrsquoslevelsIflt3add20mmolif3-5add10mmol
BloodGlucoseLevelmmolL Standardscale Augmentedscale
Units o insulinhour Units o insulinhour
lt4 0 0 4-7 1 2
71-11 2 4
111-17 4 8
171-22 6 12
gt22 8 16
Stopinfusionfor30minutesthencheckBMagainRestartslidingscaleatslowerrateof05mmolhour
Stopping the insulin inusion completely can be especially dangerous in patients with type 1 diabetes
A high BM is oten nothing to worry about during an oncall shit It is usually because the patientrsquosnormal blood sugar control regime has been disrupted due to acute illness changes to routine or acombinationMake sure you1 Check BM charts or previous readings and whether this is new or them or not2 Check urine or ketones3 Do ABG i patient looks unwell I this is the case they are likely to have a high EWS so manage
appropriately4 Document your ndings and action taken (if any)
Ifpatientisnotonaslidingscaleyoucanprescribe10unitsactrapid(evenifNIDDM)tobringtheBMdown but donrsquot start messing around with their normal blood glucose control it is not an emergencysituationandcanbedealtwithduringwardhoursbyspecialiedteamswhohavealotofexperienceinthese cases
Ensurepatientisnotuidrestrictedforanyreasonieheartfailureoedemaandascites
ATSP or FLUID REVIEW
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 122410
Initial Assessment
Examination
History
Investigations
Plan
Medication Review
ATSP Re HAEMATEMESISCOFFEE GROUND VOMITMALAENA
A V P U
ABCDE
Chest Exam
ABDO EXAM
bullAnysignsofperforationTender
bullPR EXAM ndashALWAYScheckforevidenceYOURSELFevenHaematemesisCGV
IV Access and bloods
Work out EWSBP lying and standing
IfpthashadsignicantupperGIbleed
1 A signicant posturaldrop(gt20mmHg)in BP is oten the rst sign2Theureawillusuallybecomeproportionally higher than creatinineoten with little other evidence o renalailure
bullRememberHbwonrsquotdropimmediately afteraGIbleed-thereforenormalHbisnt
reassuring
RISK FACTORS or GI BleedbullGastricirritantmedications
(NSAIDS)bullAlcoholALDbullLackofgastro-protective
medicationbullUlcersbull ReuxGORDbull Persistentvomitingbull Endoscopystentingproceduresbull Postabdosurgery
Mandatory bullBloods-FBCUampEincludingCa2+ LFTINRandclottingX-match send as URGENTConsider bullAXRerectCXR bullUrgentendoscopyifHbhastaken
massive drop rom previous or is verylow ie lt7 Seniors denitely need tobe inormed beore considering this
WITHOLD
bullAny anti-coagulants
bullNSAIDS
CONSIDER
bullAntiemetic
bullPPI(lansopraoleisindicatedfor
patients on aspirin and clopidogrel
omepraoleifnot)
bull KeepNBMuntilwardteamassessmentuntilyouaresatisedthepatientisstablebull IVaccess+-FLUIDSbull Regularnursingobs-recheckonehourlaterand2hourlythereafterbull FluidbalanceMonitorurineOPandmaintaintogt30mlhrbull Keepdetailsandcheckonthemlater
NB Patients are not normally transused blood products over night unless it is an emergency IVuidswillpreventhypovolaemiaanditsconsequencesIfyouthinkyourpatientlooksabitdryoris slightly tachycardic etc then stay on the sae side and run through some saline (unless otherwisecontraindicated)
ue Haematemesis or Malaena is a medical emergency and will oten be accompanied with a high EWSeat accordingly i this is the case In-hospital patients oten suer simple coee ground vomits without
any systemic disruption but must still be considered as a potenital emergency
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 132411
Medication Review
Initial Assessment Examination Possible CAUSES to consider
Investigations-depend on scoring parameters
Medication Review
Plan
History - ALWAYS look in the notes
Impression
ATSP Re HIGH EWS (General Assessment)NB always ask nurses or VALUES OF PARAMETERS and what they are COMPARED TO NORMAL
TrustguidelinesindicateforFY1sEWS3ndashAssessmanageandreassessactionsafter30minutes
EWSgt5ndashSeniormustbeinformedafterinitialassessmentndashattheveryleastjusttomakesuretheyareaware
RR
Sats
HR
BP
Fluid balance
Temp
AMT
BM
Agitationmood
GCS
CHEST-THOROUGH
clinical respiratory exam
is vital to guide urther
management
HS
JVP
Calves
Mucus membranes
CRT
bull PEbull HA Pneumoniabull Failure ndash heart lungsbull MI
bull Decompensated heart ailure
bull Acutedecompensated Renal failure
bull Dehydrationbull Sepsis or inection
bull Perorationbull AAA
bull Peritonitisbull DVT (look for one- a DVT wonrsquot cause high
EWS on its own)bull Source of sepsis (lines cellulitis catheter etc)
A
B
C
D
E
Considerbull CXRbull ABGbull Routinebloods+-CULTURESforsepticscreen
i temp spiked
bull X-matchifsuspectpatientisbleedingbull ECGbull UrineDipstick
ReviewKardexforanyIATROGENIC causes o above eg NSAIDSwararin bleedIsthepatientoversedatedSYMPTOM controlbull Isthepatientinpain- analgesiabull Isthepatientvomiting- antiemetic (IVIM)
bull IsthepatientdehydratedndashIV luidsbull IsthepatientsepticndashWhatisthesource
- Antibiotics (see trust guidance)Should the patient have been on
prophylacticLMWH-PE
Has the patient suered an acute
event
Has anything CHANGED and HOW
WHYhasthishappened
A high EWS can oten resolve with SYMPTOM control Eg bring the BP up and tachyhigh RR mayresolve1 Regular nursing obs2 Treatsuspectedcause3 Strictfluidbalance+-catheterisationifpatientisunwellenough4 Analgesiaandgeneralsymptomcontrol5 Reviewyourtreatmentaction-hasithadaneffectSenior review i worried
SEPTIC SCREEN
bull CXRbull UrineDipstick bull Cultures Blood Urine (MSU) Sputum
Stoolbull Swabs rom likely sources eg wound bedsore throat eye cannula catheterdrain site
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 142412
Initial Assessment
Investigations
Plan
Medication Review
Examination
History
ATSP Re HYPERKALAEMIA (stable patient)
A V P U
ABCDE ECG
CHEST and CVS
Hydration
Unwellorstable
Fluidbalance
- Is this acute
- Is it a chronic accumulation
- Does the patient have CRF
- CARDIAC history
- LOOK at FLUID Px charts
- Is patient diabetic
- Symptoms eg palpitationsdizziness
bull ECG
bull ABG - helpul i you suspect a spurious
result
bull BloodsndashRepeatsampleifunsureof
accuracy o hyperkalaemia eg haemolysis
Hyperkalaemia treatment
bull Iflt7andWITHOUTECGchanges
Insulin and dextrose IVI- reer to local trust policy or exact instructions I unable to ind then
10unitsactrapidin50mlof50dextroseover10mins
bull Ifgt65WITHECGchanges
Salbutamol 5mg neb
Insulin and dextroseIVIthenINFORMASENIORaspatientmaywellneed
Calcium gluconate10mlof10IVover5minforcardiacprotectionEnsurepatientison
cardiac monitoring Calcium resonium PO15mgQDSCausesconstipationsowriteupalaxativePRN
Hold medications as appropriate (see above)
REPEAT BLOODS post treatment
bull Diuretics-K+sparingorlosingbull ACEA2RBinbitorsegramipril
losartan
bull NSAIDS
bull IVFluids
bull PotassiumsupplementsIVPO
bull Nutritionaldrinks
ECG
ECGchangesinhyperkalaemia
bullArrythmias
bullProlongedPRintervalwithflattened
Pwaves
bullWideQRSwithslurrySTsegment
bullTalltentedTTraves
I patient is symptomaticunstable this is a medical EMERGENCY and needs a senior doctor involved
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 152413
Initial Assessment
Assessment o uid balance
Examination
Investigations
History
Plan
ATSP Re LOW URINE OUTPUT (catheterised patient)
ABCDE
CATHETER- IS IT BLOCKED
1Checktheuidchartandworkouttotalinputandoutput(usuallyover24hrsbutpatientis commonly post-op so calculate rom the time since they returned rom theatre i this is the case)2Remembertheurineoutputshouldbe05mlkghrDonrsquot orget to account or parenteral eeds stoma output and insensible losses
Fluid balance over 4 hours eg post opInput 500ml Output Urine 100ml Insensiblelosses 200ml Stoma 500mlTOTAL 500ml TOTAL 800ml
FLUID BALANCE=-300mliepatientisDRY
CHEST-isthepatientuidoverloadedABDO EXAM bullTenderUrinaryretentionNotepost-opileuscancauseurinaryretention bullStomasitendashisitinfectedLook or acute serious pathologies and try to correct these
bullAlwaysremembertolookatthenotes This problem is commonly seen in post op
surgical patientsbullCheckwhichoperationtheyrsquovehad and any important details on the op notes
beore you speak to senior docbullEnsurethatthepatientisnotuid restrictedegCCFascites
Consider
bullBloods-FBCandUampEstomonitorrenalfunction bullAXR bullDipstickurineMSUorCSU bullStoolsample(Cdiifonabx) bullSepticscreenDiscuss the need or imaging with senior i suspecting intra-abdominal sepsis
bullOftenallthatrsquosneededisauid challenge o 500ml saline particularly i the patient is dry (negative uidbalance)Getnursestorunitthroughstatandcheckopnomorethan1hrlaterIfpatientissimply
dehydrated their urine op should have picked up rom this CAUTION IN CCFCRF patients
bullCorrectunderlyingcauseoncediagnosedbullMonitorBPampurineOP(maintainurineopto05mgkghranddocumentthisinstruction)bullConsiderdiuretics(statdose40mgfurosemideIV) i you think the patient is uid overloaded (usually with positiveuidbalance)howeverusewithcautionandalwayscheckpreviousU+ErsquosConsultwithseniordoc
beore doing this you could easily exacerbate the problem
Think about RISK FACTORS orbullDehydrationLookforpotentialuidlosseseg
vomiting diarrhoea poor oral intake high stomaoutput
bullUrinaryobstructionegnatureofopco-morbiditiesbullInfectionSepsisbullDrugseganticholinergics
SEPTIC
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 162414
Make a very quick decision as to whether or not you are confdent in treating this patient on your own
Patients who are short o breath can deteriorate very quickly indeed Call or a Senior immediately i you are unsure
Medication Review
Examination
History
Investigations- dependingon scoring parameters
Plan
Medication Review
ATSP Re SHORTNESS OF BREATH
A V P U
ABCDE
OXYGEN (highowinitially)ABG
THOROUGH exam is vital to guide management
Hydration assessment
- Onset
- Duration
- Exacerbating or relieving actors
- Check clerking proorma or
co-morbidities
bullABGndashimmediatelythenrepeatbullCXRCheckmostrecentoneDonrsquot
be araid to repeat CXR i things havechanged clinically Order a portable ilm
i you eel the patient is too unstable to betransported - discuss this with the nurses bullECGbullCulturesBloodandsputumif
appropriate andor check previous orsensitivities
bullRepeatbloods
bull Staywithpatientuntilyouarehappytheyarestable
bull Regularnursingobs(2hourly)
bull KeepawatchfuleyeontheirbloodsCXRetc
CALL FOR SENIOR HELP IF YOU ARE UNSURETHESE PATIENTS CAN DETERIORATE VERY QUICKLY INDEED
Patients with anxiety exacerbatingtheir respiratory disease are otengiven Oramorph by the nursingsta Be wary o this as you dontwant to be causing respiratorydepression in eg COPD patientsAsk a senior i unsure
Is patient on thromboprophylaxisWhat can I givebull ThinkaboutyourchoicesforOxygen
Therapy depending on patientrsquos chronic diseasestatusandABGresult
bullWheezeSalbutamol5mgneb+- atrovent500mcgneb(canbegivenwith O2)bullLRTICAPHAP Antibiotics (check
protocol)bullPulm OedemaFurosemide40mgIV
JVP and ankles
Calves Thighs
Anaphylaxis
Pneumothorax
Comparesatstonormalcomparewithchronicdiseasestatus
Cardiacorrespiratorycause
Ask about ASSOCIATED FEATURES and RISK
FACTORS or
DVTPE
Overload eg recent transusionluid therapy
MI
Infection(hospitalacquired)
Anxiety AsthmaCOPD exacerbation
Recent surgery (atelectasis)
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 172415
Initial Assessment
Examination
History
Investigations - depending on scoring parameters and clinical judgement
Plan - very diferent or acutely unwell patients and those who are stable
Medication Review
ATSP Re TACHYCARDIAPALPITATIONS
A V P U
ABCDE ECG
TACHYARRYTHMIAS ARE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY If patient has developed a new tachyarrhythmia
on ECG (SVTFast AF) a senior needs to be involved Make sure you perform the following
Chest and Abdo Exam
Fluidbalance-ispatientdehydrated
Mandatory
bullECG
Consider
bullRoutinebloods+-CULTURESfor
septic screen i spiked temperature bullX-matchifsuspectpatientisbleeding
bullUrineDipstick
1IVaccess+-fluidsandbloods2Followtachycardiaalgorithmifappropriate-seniorshouldreallybeinvolvedinthis3Regularnursingobs(candotemponlyevery30minshalfhourifyouthinkhaveRFsforsepsis)4TreatsuspectedcauseoftenthisisactuallySYMPTOMCONTROLandyoumayfindthatsimple
stable tachycardias resolve once you have the ollowing under controlbull PAIN bull DEHYDRATION
bull AGITATION bull SEPSIS
bull ANXIETY bull VOMITING
IATROGENIC causes o tachycardiabull SALBUTAMOLoverusebull EYEDROPSegPHENYLEPHRINEbull THEOPHYLLINEtoxicitybull DIPYRIDAMOLE
MEDICAL MANAGEMENTbull Considerdigoxin 250mcg in
elderly patients or bisoprolol 25 mgunless otherwise contra indicated (low BP
Asthma) once cause has been identiied(senior discussion)
bullIsthepatientsymptomatic
bullCARDIAC HISTORY
bullPreviouscardiachistoryandRISKFACTORSfor
MIAFArrhythmias
bullPreviousECGs
bullFor arrhythmias IS THIS NEW Assume it is
unless proven otherwise
bullLookatKardexforanyanti-arrhythmic
medications or clues
bullHowmuchteaandcoffeehasthepatienthad
bullHas patient been on any drugs which put thematincreasedriskoftheaboveEgWarfarin
NSAIDs- bleed Should the patient have been onprophylacticLMWH-PE
Possible reasons or simple tachycardia
bull Painbull Anxietybull Sepsisbull Hypovolaemia ndash bleeddehydrationbull PEbull MIbull Medication side FX
EXPOSEor sources o sepsis
PULSEREGULARORIRREGULAR
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 182416
You will oten get called to the wards to prescribe drugs or common in-patient complaints
Always eye-ball a patient beore doing so- the nurses may have the diagnosis wrong
DonrsquotforgettocheckforALLERGIESPMHandRENALFUNCTION(ifindicated)LookatKARDEXor any obvious interactions
Most drugs you will prescribe on-call should be written in the PRN or lsquoonce onlyrsquo section i you
do not know the patient
ANALGESIA MEDICATION ROUTE DOSAGE MAXDAY
PARACETAMOL POIV 500mgndash1g QDS
IBUPROFEN PO 200-400mg TDS
DICLOFENACrsquoVoltarolrsquo POIM 50mg TDS
PR 100mg TDS
CO-CODAMOL
(8500OR30500) PO 1-2TABLETS QDS
CO-DYDRAMOL(10500) PO 1-2TABLETS QDS
CODEINEPHOSPHATE POIM 30-60mg QDS
BUSCOPAN POIV 10-20mg QDS
QUININE PO 200mg ON
TRAMADOL PO 50-100mg QDS
MORPHINE IVPO 5-10mg STAT
NB Opiates can cause nauseavomiting and constipation Always Prescribe a PRN antiemetic and simple laxative
ANTI-EMETICS METOCLOPRAMIDErsquoMaxalonrsquo POIMIV 10mg TDS
(dopamineantagonist-worksdirectlyonGIT)
CYCLIZINE POIV 50mg TDS
(antihistaminendashworkscentrally)
PROCHLORPERAZINElsquoStemetilrsquoPO 10- 20mg TDS
lsquoBuccastemrsquo BUCCAL 3-6mg BD
(dopamineantagonist-workscentrallyonchemoreceptortriggerone)
DOMPERIDONE PO 10-20mg QDS
(actscentrallyonchemoreceptortriggerone)
ONDANSETRON POIMIV 8mg TDS
(5HT3 antagonist)
GASTIC REFLUX GAVISCON PO 5-10ml TDS
RANITIDINE PO 150mg BD
OMEPRAzOLE PO 20mg OD
COMMONLY PRESCRIBED DRUGS and doses
Caution NSAIDs in
asthmaPUCRF
Pts with
renal colic
respond
well to PR
dicloenac
Quinineisusedor night-timeleg crampscommon inhospital ptsMake sure youexamine frst- itmay be a DVT
Buscopan is an anti-
spasmodic and works
on smooth muscle
Greatforcramping
abdo pain
You can try most o these
in various combinations i
previous attempts to control
symptoms have ailed
Metoclopramideshould notbe used postGIsurgeryfor
3 days It canalso causesextra-pyramidalreactions andoculogyric
crises Bewareo this thoughthe antidoteis procyclidine5-10mgIVIM
Ondansetron is very
expensive Its otenreserved or chemo
patients donrsquot use it as
rst-line
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 192417
SOB SALBUTAMOL NEB 5mg STATPRN
IPRATROPIUM BROMIDE (Atrovent) NEB 500mcg STATPRN
PREDNISOLONE PO 30-40mg STATOD
(3-5days max)
HYDROCORTISONE IV 200mg STAT(i acute SOB or angiodema)
FUROSEMIDE POIV 40-80mg STAT
ORAMORPH PO 5mg
LAXATIVES
Stimulants SODIUMDOCUSATE PO 50-200mg TDS
BISOCODYL PO 5-10mg BD
SENNA PO TT (15mg) BDTDSOsmotic MOVICOL PO 1-2sachets BDTDS
LACTULOSE PO 15ml BD
I aecal loading GLYCERINESUPPOSITORY PR T STATPRN
PHOSPHATE ENEMA PR T STATPRN
ITCHRASH CHLORPHENAMINE PO 4mg TDS
(alsoknownasldquoPiritonrdquo)
AGITATION DIAzEPAM POSLOWIV 5-10mg
SLEEPLESSNESS ZOPICLONE PO 375-75mg
AGGRESSION HALOPERIDOL CheckBNFforindicationsanddoses
ALCOHOL
WITHDRAWAL CHLORDIAzEPOXIDE(reducingregimen)
Day1and220-30mgQDS
Day3and415mgQDS
Day510mgQDS
Day610mgBD
Day710mgNocte
SIMPLE UTI TRIMETHOPRIM PO 200mg BD
NITROFURANTOIN PO 50mg QDS
CEPHALEXIN PO 500mg BD
FOR ALL OTHER INFECTIONS REFER TO YOUR LOCAL ANTIBIOTIC POLICY-YOUWILLSOONLEARNMOSTOFTHEMOFFBYHEART
Salbutamol causes
tachycardia
Use oramorph with caution in COPD pts It works well in anxious patients to control their breathing
In-hospital patients are oten constipated oten due to decreased activity and medications Try tackling
constipation using dierent pharmacological approaches ie donrsquot Px movicol i already on lactulose
Write in lsquovariable dosersquo section o kardex near the back
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 202418
Wararin
Digoxin
PRESCRIBING OUT OF HOURS
You will oten get bleeped to prescribe wararin or patients you donrsquot know especially over the
weekendevenings i your colleagues havenrsquot done them
CHECK PATIENT IS NOT BLEEDING
Areyouprescribingmaintenanceorloadingdose
LOADING this is the regimen prescribed initially until INR stable and in target range Old school says10mg10mg5mgcheckINR(Day4)
MAINTENANCE usual dose once INR established to keep within target range Check yellow book or
regular prescriptions
bullOnceanINRhasbeenobtainedforoneofyourpatientsmakesureyouprescribethewarfarinfor
about3-4daysthenre-checkMarkopenbracketsonwarfarinchartstoindicatewhenyouwantthe
nextINRtobechecked(usuallybetween3-4daysintheinitialperiodormorefrequentlyifthereare
difculties establishing a maintenance dose)
bullINR is too high (lt4 or lt5 i target is 3-4) - DO NOT OMIT just reduce the dose (1mg) and re-
checkINRatleast48hrsafterasittakesbetween48-72hrsforyourchangetohaveaneect
bull I INR is gt4 (or gt5 i target is 3-4) and patient not actively bleeding prescribe Vitamin K 1mg IV
and OMIT the next dose o wararin
Reason or LT wararin Tx AF 2-3
RecurrentDVT 2-3
PE 2-3
RecurrentPE 3-4
Prostheticheartvalve 3-4
Check kardex or INTERACTIONS
Common onesbull ClarithromycinErythromycin
bull Rifampicin
I actively bleeding check with Senior or advice on urther action
You will occasionally get bleeped to review digoxin levels
Toxicity is very worrying and would normally require the use o lsquoDigibindrsquo which is basically
anantidote for digoxinODYouwillneed toget anECGand assessthepatient clinicallybefore
proceedinggetting senior help
Sub-therapeutic levels are common They are not so worrying but you should clinically assess
the patient in particular their CVS paying particular attention to their pulse as you will denitely get
asked about this i you ask or senior help
I digoxin levels are out o range make sure you check their K+ and keep a regular eye on it as this
needs to be stable or digoxin to be a sae and eective choice o therapy
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 212419
Gentamicin
Usually prescribed in severeneutropenic sepsis (OD regimen) = 5-7mgkgmax480mg
You may get bleeped to check the gentamicin levels o ward patients and subsequently prescribe
the next dose
Theblood levelneedstobe taken6-14hoursafter thestartof thefrst IVI You are basically
looking or the levels to be within therapeutic range I they are not you need to reer to the
Hartord Normogram This is a chart which indicates WHEN the next dose should be according
to how out o range the levels are You DO NOT change the DOSE just the TIMING o the next
one(either2436or48hrslater)Makesureifyouhavebeenaskedtotakethebloodyourself
you note exactly how many hours post IVI the blood has been taken on the blood card it may be
another o your peers who has to review the level
Toxicity may
cause
Deaness
tinnitus
Nystagmus
Vertigo
RenalFailure
Monitor UEs
DAILY
ForpatientswithINFECTIVE ENDOCARDITIS (TDS regimen) = 1mgkg per dose
Therst levelthatneeds toberecordedisafter the3rd4thdoseensuringatleast24hoursof
treatmentisgivenItshouldbetaken1hourpostIVIiethePEAKorPOSTlevelandbebetween
3-5mgL A trough or PRE Dose level is taken approx 1 hour beore any administered dose and
should be lt1mgL The reason or this is that they are on a TDS regimen so renal unction needs
to be closely monitored It is important that gentamicin levels do not rise to toxic amounts
which is more common in patients with renal impairment
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
32
1
06 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Time between start of infusion and sample draw (hours)
Nicolau DP Freeman CD Belliveau PP Nightingale CH Ross JW Quintiliani R Experience with
a once-daily aminoglycoside program administered to 2184 adult patients Antimicrob Agents
Chemo 1995293650-655
Hartford Once Daily Dosing Nomogram
(GentTobra 7mgkg
L e v e l ( m c g m l )
q48h
q36h
q24h
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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General Hints and Tips or seeing patients out o hours
When answering your bleep fnd out
1 Reason or bleep
2Quickbackgroundinfo
3 FurtherrelevantclinicalinfoegOBSERVATIONS and compare these to how they normally runI itrsquos a patient with high EWS just inorm a senior to make them aware and ready or action
4WhattheywantyoutoDO(PURPOSE o call)
5 Ask or the ollowing things to be ready when you arrive
bullNotes
bullKardex
bullObschartnursingle
bullEquipmentegcannulasbloodscatheteretc
6GiveappropriateinstructionsiftheyneedtodoanythingacutelybeforeyouarriveForexamplei
reason or bleep is Haematemesis ask or IV access and bloods to be taken or i a patient has
spiked a temp o gt38˚C get the nurses or night practitioner to do cultures beore you arrive Itsaves a lot o time and afng around once you are on the ward
7 Decide where this lies in your list o priorities or whether it is a job nurse practitioners can do
to help you
NB Try not to have arguments with nurses on the phone some o them are just starting out like
you and may also be petried sometimes they need reassurance too
When you get there
Findthenursewhobleepedyou(orrequestedthebleep)andgetamoredetailedaccountof
whatrsquos going on
Eye-ball the patient beore delving into notes or looking on the computer ollowing the standard
ABCDE assessment It wonrsquot take you long to gure out i they are acutely unwell unstable or
not
Once you have done your initial assessment and any immediate management document what
you have done using a logical and systematic approach This way you wonrsquot orget anything You
will also look really slick and competent plus you might nd you paint yoursel a picture o whatrsquos
going on even i you were clueless initially
Sit down at a computer with the nursing le and medical notes and go straight or the clerking It
should give you a succinct list o PC and other co-morbidities to create a more complete clinical
pictureFlickthroughthewardnotesandndanythingyoucanreaditmaybeofsomeuseLook
at the last entry in particular as there may be a plan o what to do should the situation you have
been bleeped or arises
Check PACS and the lab system or any recent imaging or tests NB ALWAYS compare recent results
to previous ones Just go down the lists looking or cultures unusual blood tests INRs etc and
document what you nd Sometimes the best summaries o a patient are created when someone
manages them on-call Be thorough at the beginning but i you are hard pushed or time reer back to the help sheets- they are designed to make you SAFE not to make you a brilliant diagnostician
whocancowboytheirwaythroughFY1lsquoHousersquostyle
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 232421
HaveagoodbrowsethroughtheKARDEXlookingatwhichmedsmayhavecontributedtothe
situation which may have prevented it i they had been given and which ones you might need
toinitiatetomakesurethepatientisSAFE
Once you have all this inormation create a PROBLEM list and rom this document yourIMPRESSION o the situation Write a PLAN and document whether you involved a senior and
their name and grade Also document the amount o time you were there sometimes you need
tostaywithapatienttoseeifyourtreatmentworkseguidsforlowBPmeanwhileyoucan
scribble down everything yoursquove done to save time
Whenever you are assessing a patient think to yoursel
lsquoWhat do I need to DO to make sure this patient is SAFErsquo I this patient deteriorates or
dies unexpectedly and you were the last doctor to see them you need to make sure your
documentation is adequate Your management appropriate or not will mean nothing i it
has not been written down in the eyes o the law
In summary
bullAnsweryourbleepinasystematicway-itwillhelpyouprioritiseandbecomemoreecient
bullDelegatecertaintaskstonursesdonrsquotbeafraidofaskingthemyouarepartofaTEAM
bullPrioritiseyourjobsanddonrsquotbeafraidtoo-loadsomeontoyourwardSHOYOUaretheone
whogetsbleepedrstsoyouwillbeaskedtodoEVERYTHING
bullWhenyougettoapatient
1 ABCDE approach ALWAYS
2Documentyourinitialassessmentandmanagement 3Reviewthenursingleforobschartuidbalancewarfarinchartsuidprescriptions
4Reviewmedicalnotesandclerkingthensummarise
5ReviewKARDEX
6 Problem list
7 Impression
8 ACTION PLAN (use tick boxes or investigations you have ordered)
9 Keep their details (sticker on handover sheet) and make sure you check on them
later or handover to day team
ALWAYS MAKE SURE YOU ARE SAFE IF IN ANY DOUBT WHATSOEVER YOU MUST INFORMA SENIOR
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 2424
Disclaimer
Copyright
Production
Contacts
The fndings and conclusions in this document are those o the authors who are
responsible or its content All inormation is to be interpreted on an idividual basisin context with the clinical situation to which it reers The inormation is not a
replacement or local guidelines and protocols nor is it a document with any legal
standing No statement in this document can be construed as an ocial position o
the North Western Deanery or NHS Northwest
copyGillianJacksonampFrancesBennett2011
BookdesignedbyAndrewPowellMedicalIllustrationatRoyalBoltonHospitalRef48355
Franmbennettgmailcom
gljacksonhotmailcouk
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 9247
History
Initial Assessment and Examination
Ater Death
Medications or symptom control
ATSP Re DYING PATIENT
A V P U
A - isthisobstructedArethereexcesssecretions
B - isrespirationregularoragonal
C - ispatienttachycardicThis may be only sign o painD - isthepatientagitatedoruncomfortable
- ispatientvomitingorconausea
- isthepatienthavingseiures
E - isthepatientitchy
Arethefamilyawareofthesituation
Whataretheirinstructionsaboutbeingcontactedifpatientdeteriorateseginmiddleofthenight
HaspatientbeenassignedtoLCPanddocumentationallinorder
Go and see the body
Document Your name and bleep numberbull ldquoCalledtoconrmdeathNovitalsignsrdquoStatetime o death
bull Fixedanddilatedpupils
bull Norespiratoryeortfor3minutes
bull Nopulseorheartsounds
bull DOCUMENT WHETHER OR NOT PATIENT IS FITTED WITH PACEMAKER RADIOACTIVE IMPLANT
bull YoudoNOTneedtoputacauseofdeathifyoudonrsquotknowthepatientunlessalreadyclearly
documented in notesbull YouDONOTneedtowriteadeathcerticate
bull WhetherornotNoKinformed
bull RIP
bull Painbreathlessness MorphineNB DIAMORPHINE is commonly stated as drug o choice in prescribing guidancebut oten hospitals donrsquot stock it I this is the case you can still use this inormation butensure you MULTIPLY the dose o diamorphine by 15 or a morphine equivalent (EgStateddoseDiamorphine10mgSC24hrsthenmorphineequivalentwouldbe15mgSC24hrs)
bull NauseavomitingLevomepromaine
bull Secretions Glycopyroniumbull RestlessnessagitationMidaolam
bull Itchiness Chlorpheniramine(Piriton)
See ldquoICP or the Care o the Dying Prescribing Guidance V 40rdquo or your trust equivalent or detailsRemember Some patients at the end o lie do not require heavy sedation or maximum pain relietailor your prescription according to your assessment and listen to the nurse caring or themWrite these meds up as PRN or via a syringe driver i itrsquos necessary (ie nurses constantlyadministering)Do NOT put patients on the Care o the Dying Pathway (ie withdraw lie-prolongingmedications)ndash this is a consultantrsquosMDT decision
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 10248
Initial Assessment and Examination
History
Investigations
Plan
Medication Review
ATSP Re FALLSCOLLAPSE
ABCDE
GCS
BM
ForHead Trauma ensure you document
the ollowing
1 Mechanism o injury
2AnyLOCReducedGCSConfusion
3AnyvomitingorSeiuresymptoms
4HeadexaminationegBruising
LacerationBoggy swellings
Signsoftrauma
bullHeadandneck
bullHIPS
Neuroexam
Lying-StandingBP
RISK FACTORS or
bullMechanicalFalls
bullStroke
bullLowBM
bullDrugtoxicity(opiatessedatives)
bullArrhythmiasbullSeiure
bull Infection
bullAlwaystakeaFALLS HISTORY but remember
you are ocussing on making the patient SAFE
rather than diagnosing a cause or their all
Oten none are needed (always do a lying
and standing BP though)
Depend on history and exam ndingsConsider
bullECG
bullBloods
bullDipstick
bullCThead(senior must be inormed)
bullRegularnursing+-neuroobsifindicatedbullAddressunderlyingcauseifappropriate
Wounds Most can be glued or steristripped I concerned send patient to AampE
Consider withholding the ollowing
bull Antihypertensives
bull Sedatives until head trauma ruled out
bull Warfarin i patient is at risk o allsagain ie undetermined cause o alls
or unsteady on eetdementia Check
with senior rst patient may have articial
valve replacement
bull Inorm nursing staf o any changes
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 11249
Assessment or repeat prescription
History
Sliding scale or IV insulin
High BM
1 The REASONfortheiruids(NBMslidingscaleunwellsepticunsafeswallow)
2FLUIDstatusndashcheckforoverloaddehydrationInput-Outputchart
3 CHECK UampEpayingattentiontoK+requirementsDonrsquotjustrewriteuidswithoutchecking
mostrecentUampEsIfnobloodsforgt48hrsandonregularuids repeat uampersquos beore represcribing
Write a blood card or next appropriate monitoring so it doesnrsquot get missed4ChecktheKARDEX or PO electrolyte supplements and diuretics I patient is receiving diuretic
anduidssimultaneouslythencontactseniorforadvice
Duringon-callyouwillnormallybeaskedtore-writetheslidingscaleontheuidchartBMsare
monitored every hour by nursing staf and inusion rate is altered accordingly
In the inusion pump
bull50mlsNsaline+50unitsACTRAPIDinsulin
bullKClmayalsobeaddeddependingonthepatientrsquoslevelsIflt3add20mmolif3-5add10mmol
BloodGlucoseLevelmmolL Standardscale Augmentedscale
Units o insulinhour Units o insulinhour
lt4 0 0 4-7 1 2
71-11 2 4
111-17 4 8
171-22 6 12
gt22 8 16
Stopinfusionfor30minutesthencheckBMagainRestartslidingscaleatslowerrateof05mmolhour
Stopping the insulin inusion completely can be especially dangerous in patients with type 1 diabetes
A high BM is oten nothing to worry about during an oncall shit It is usually because the patientrsquosnormal blood sugar control regime has been disrupted due to acute illness changes to routine or acombinationMake sure you1 Check BM charts or previous readings and whether this is new or them or not2 Check urine or ketones3 Do ABG i patient looks unwell I this is the case they are likely to have a high EWS so manage
appropriately4 Document your ndings and action taken (if any)
Ifpatientisnotonaslidingscaleyoucanprescribe10unitsactrapid(evenifNIDDM)tobringtheBMdown but donrsquot start messing around with their normal blood glucose control it is not an emergencysituationandcanbedealtwithduringwardhoursbyspecialiedteamswhohavealotofexperienceinthese cases
Ensurepatientisnotuidrestrictedforanyreasonieheartfailureoedemaandascites
ATSP or FLUID REVIEW
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 122410
Initial Assessment
Examination
History
Investigations
Plan
Medication Review
ATSP Re HAEMATEMESISCOFFEE GROUND VOMITMALAENA
A V P U
ABCDE
Chest Exam
ABDO EXAM
bullAnysignsofperforationTender
bullPR EXAM ndashALWAYScheckforevidenceYOURSELFevenHaematemesisCGV
IV Access and bloods
Work out EWSBP lying and standing
IfpthashadsignicantupperGIbleed
1 A signicant posturaldrop(gt20mmHg)in BP is oten the rst sign2Theureawillusuallybecomeproportionally higher than creatinineoten with little other evidence o renalailure
bullRememberHbwonrsquotdropimmediately afteraGIbleed-thereforenormalHbisnt
reassuring
RISK FACTORS or GI BleedbullGastricirritantmedications
(NSAIDS)bullAlcoholALDbullLackofgastro-protective
medicationbullUlcersbull ReuxGORDbull Persistentvomitingbull Endoscopystentingproceduresbull Postabdosurgery
Mandatory bullBloods-FBCUampEincludingCa2+ LFTINRandclottingX-match send as URGENTConsider bullAXRerectCXR bullUrgentendoscopyifHbhastaken
massive drop rom previous or is verylow ie lt7 Seniors denitely need tobe inormed beore considering this
WITHOLD
bullAny anti-coagulants
bullNSAIDS
CONSIDER
bullAntiemetic
bullPPI(lansopraoleisindicatedfor
patients on aspirin and clopidogrel
omepraoleifnot)
bull KeepNBMuntilwardteamassessmentuntilyouaresatisedthepatientisstablebull IVaccess+-FLUIDSbull Regularnursingobs-recheckonehourlaterand2hourlythereafterbull FluidbalanceMonitorurineOPandmaintaintogt30mlhrbull Keepdetailsandcheckonthemlater
NB Patients are not normally transused blood products over night unless it is an emergency IVuidswillpreventhypovolaemiaanditsconsequencesIfyouthinkyourpatientlooksabitdryoris slightly tachycardic etc then stay on the sae side and run through some saline (unless otherwisecontraindicated)
ue Haematemesis or Malaena is a medical emergency and will oten be accompanied with a high EWSeat accordingly i this is the case In-hospital patients oten suer simple coee ground vomits without
any systemic disruption but must still be considered as a potenital emergency
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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Medication Review
Initial Assessment Examination Possible CAUSES to consider
Investigations-depend on scoring parameters
Medication Review
Plan
History - ALWAYS look in the notes
Impression
ATSP Re HIGH EWS (General Assessment)NB always ask nurses or VALUES OF PARAMETERS and what they are COMPARED TO NORMAL
TrustguidelinesindicateforFY1sEWS3ndashAssessmanageandreassessactionsafter30minutes
EWSgt5ndashSeniormustbeinformedafterinitialassessmentndashattheveryleastjusttomakesuretheyareaware
RR
Sats
HR
BP
Fluid balance
Temp
AMT
BM
Agitationmood
GCS
CHEST-THOROUGH
clinical respiratory exam
is vital to guide urther
management
HS
JVP
Calves
Mucus membranes
CRT
bull PEbull HA Pneumoniabull Failure ndash heart lungsbull MI
bull Decompensated heart ailure
bull Acutedecompensated Renal failure
bull Dehydrationbull Sepsis or inection
bull Perorationbull AAA
bull Peritonitisbull DVT (look for one- a DVT wonrsquot cause high
EWS on its own)bull Source of sepsis (lines cellulitis catheter etc)
A
B
C
D
E
Considerbull CXRbull ABGbull Routinebloods+-CULTURESforsepticscreen
i temp spiked
bull X-matchifsuspectpatientisbleedingbull ECGbull UrineDipstick
ReviewKardexforanyIATROGENIC causes o above eg NSAIDSwararin bleedIsthepatientoversedatedSYMPTOM controlbull Isthepatientinpain- analgesiabull Isthepatientvomiting- antiemetic (IVIM)
bull IsthepatientdehydratedndashIV luidsbull IsthepatientsepticndashWhatisthesource
- Antibiotics (see trust guidance)Should the patient have been on
prophylacticLMWH-PE
Has the patient suered an acute
event
Has anything CHANGED and HOW
WHYhasthishappened
A high EWS can oten resolve with SYMPTOM control Eg bring the BP up and tachyhigh RR mayresolve1 Regular nursing obs2 Treatsuspectedcause3 Strictfluidbalance+-catheterisationifpatientisunwellenough4 Analgesiaandgeneralsymptomcontrol5 Reviewyourtreatmentaction-hasithadaneffectSenior review i worried
SEPTIC SCREEN
bull CXRbull UrineDipstick bull Cultures Blood Urine (MSU) Sputum
Stoolbull Swabs rom likely sources eg wound bedsore throat eye cannula catheterdrain site
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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Initial Assessment
Investigations
Plan
Medication Review
Examination
History
ATSP Re HYPERKALAEMIA (stable patient)
A V P U
ABCDE ECG
CHEST and CVS
Hydration
Unwellorstable
Fluidbalance
- Is this acute
- Is it a chronic accumulation
- Does the patient have CRF
- CARDIAC history
- LOOK at FLUID Px charts
- Is patient diabetic
- Symptoms eg palpitationsdizziness
bull ECG
bull ABG - helpul i you suspect a spurious
result
bull BloodsndashRepeatsampleifunsureof
accuracy o hyperkalaemia eg haemolysis
Hyperkalaemia treatment
bull Iflt7andWITHOUTECGchanges
Insulin and dextrose IVI- reer to local trust policy or exact instructions I unable to ind then
10unitsactrapidin50mlof50dextroseover10mins
bull Ifgt65WITHECGchanges
Salbutamol 5mg neb
Insulin and dextroseIVIthenINFORMASENIORaspatientmaywellneed
Calcium gluconate10mlof10IVover5minforcardiacprotectionEnsurepatientison
cardiac monitoring Calcium resonium PO15mgQDSCausesconstipationsowriteupalaxativePRN
Hold medications as appropriate (see above)
REPEAT BLOODS post treatment
bull Diuretics-K+sparingorlosingbull ACEA2RBinbitorsegramipril
losartan
bull NSAIDS
bull IVFluids
bull PotassiumsupplementsIVPO
bull Nutritionaldrinks
ECG
ECGchangesinhyperkalaemia
bullArrythmias
bullProlongedPRintervalwithflattened
Pwaves
bullWideQRSwithslurrySTsegment
bullTalltentedTTraves
I patient is symptomaticunstable this is a medical EMERGENCY and needs a senior doctor involved
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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Initial Assessment
Assessment o uid balance
Examination
Investigations
History
Plan
ATSP Re LOW URINE OUTPUT (catheterised patient)
ABCDE
CATHETER- IS IT BLOCKED
1Checktheuidchartandworkouttotalinputandoutput(usuallyover24hrsbutpatientis commonly post-op so calculate rom the time since they returned rom theatre i this is the case)2Remembertheurineoutputshouldbe05mlkghrDonrsquot orget to account or parenteral eeds stoma output and insensible losses
Fluid balance over 4 hours eg post opInput 500ml Output Urine 100ml Insensiblelosses 200ml Stoma 500mlTOTAL 500ml TOTAL 800ml
FLUID BALANCE=-300mliepatientisDRY
CHEST-isthepatientuidoverloadedABDO EXAM bullTenderUrinaryretentionNotepost-opileuscancauseurinaryretention bullStomasitendashisitinfectedLook or acute serious pathologies and try to correct these
bullAlwaysremembertolookatthenotes This problem is commonly seen in post op
surgical patientsbullCheckwhichoperationtheyrsquovehad and any important details on the op notes
beore you speak to senior docbullEnsurethatthepatientisnotuid restrictedegCCFascites
Consider
bullBloods-FBCandUampEstomonitorrenalfunction bullAXR bullDipstickurineMSUorCSU bullStoolsample(Cdiifonabx) bullSepticscreenDiscuss the need or imaging with senior i suspecting intra-abdominal sepsis
bullOftenallthatrsquosneededisauid challenge o 500ml saline particularly i the patient is dry (negative uidbalance)Getnursestorunitthroughstatandcheckopnomorethan1hrlaterIfpatientissimply
dehydrated their urine op should have picked up rom this CAUTION IN CCFCRF patients
bullCorrectunderlyingcauseoncediagnosedbullMonitorBPampurineOP(maintainurineopto05mgkghranddocumentthisinstruction)bullConsiderdiuretics(statdose40mgfurosemideIV) i you think the patient is uid overloaded (usually with positiveuidbalance)howeverusewithcautionandalwayscheckpreviousU+ErsquosConsultwithseniordoc
beore doing this you could easily exacerbate the problem
Think about RISK FACTORS orbullDehydrationLookforpotentialuidlosseseg
vomiting diarrhoea poor oral intake high stomaoutput
bullUrinaryobstructionegnatureofopco-morbiditiesbullInfectionSepsisbullDrugseganticholinergics
SEPTIC
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Make a very quick decision as to whether or not you are confdent in treating this patient on your own
Patients who are short o breath can deteriorate very quickly indeed Call or a Senior immediately i you are unsure
Medication Review
Examination
History
Investigations- dependingon scoring parameters
Plan
Medication Review
ATSP Re SHORTNESS OF BREATH
A V P U
ABCDE
OXYGEN (highowinitially)ABG
THOROUGH exam is vital to guide management
Hydration assessment
- Onset
- Duration
- Exacerbating or relieving actors
- Check clerking proorma or
co-morbidities
bullABGndashimmediatelythenrepeatbullCXRCheckmostrecentoneDonrsquot
be araid to repeat CXR i things havechanged clinically Order a portable ilm
i you eel the patient is too unstable to betransported - discuss this with the nurses bullECGbullCulturesBloodandsputumif
appropriate andor check previous orsensitivities
bullRepeatbloods
bull Staywithpatientuntilyouarehappytheyarestable
bull Regularnursingobs(2hourly)
bull KeepawatchfuleyeontheirbloodsCXRetc
CALL FOR SENIOR HELP IF YOU ARE UNSURETHESE PATIENTS CAN DETERIORATE VERY QUICKLY INDEED
Patients with anxiety exacerbatingtheir respiratory disease are otengiven Oramorph by the nursingsta Be wary o this as you dontwant to be causing respiratorydepression in eg COPD patientsAsk a senior i unsure
Is patient on thromboprophylaxisWhat can I givebull ThinkaboutyourchoicesforOxygen
Therapy depending on patientrsquos chronic diseasestatusandABGresult
bullWheezeSalbutamol5mgneb+- atrovent500mcgneb(canbegivenwith O2)bullLRTICAPHAP Antibiotics (check
protocol)bullPulm OedemaFurosemide40mgIV
JVP and ankles
Calves Thighs
Anaphylaxis
Pneumothorax
Comparesatstonormalcomparewithchronicdiseasestatus
Cardiacorrespiratorycause
Ask about ASSOCIATED FEATURES and RISK
FACTORS or
DVTPE
Overload eg recent transusionluid therapy
MI
Infection(hospitalacquired)
Anxiety AsthmaCOPD exacerbation
Recent surgery (atelectasis)
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httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 172415
Initial Assessment
Examination
History
Investigations - depending on scoring parameters and clinical judgement
Plan - very diferent or acutely unwell patients and those who are stable
Medication Review
ATSP Re TACHYCARDIAPALPITATIONS
A V P U
ABCDE ECG
TACHYARRYTHMIAS ARE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY If patient has developed a new tachyarrhythmia
on ECG (SVTFast AF) a senior needs to be involved Make sure you perform the following
Chest and Abdo Exam
Fluidbalance-ispatientdehydrated
Mandatory
bullECG
Consider
bullRoutinebloods+-CULTURESfor
septic screen i spiked temperature bullX-matchifsuspectpatientisbleeding
bullUrineDipstick
1IVaccess+-fluidsandbloods2Followtachycardiaalgorithmifappropriate-seniorshouldreallybeinvolvedinthis3Regularnursingobs(candotemponlyevery30minshalfhourifyouthinkhaveRFsforsepsis)4TreatsuspectedcauseoftenthisisactuallySYMPTOMCONTROLandyoumayfindthatsimple
stable tachycardias resolve once you have the ollowing under controlbull PAIN bull DEHYDRATION
bull AGITATION bull SEPSIS
bull ANXIETY bull VOMITING
IATROGENIC causes o tachycardiabull SALBUTAMOLoverusebull EYEDROPSegPHENYLEPHRINEbull THEOPHYLLINEtoxicitybull DIPYRIDAMOLE
MEDICAL MANAGEMENTbull Considerdigoxin 250mcg in
elderly patients or bisoprolol 25 mgunless otherwise contra indicated (low BP
Asthma) once cause has been identiied(senior discussion)
bullIsthepatientsymptomatic
bullCARDIAC HISTORY
bullPreviouscardiachistoryandRISKFACTORSfor
MIAFArrhythmias
bullPreviousECGs
bullFor arrhythmias IS THIS NEW Assume it is
unless proven otherwise
bullLookatKardexforanyanti-arrhythmic
medications or clues
bullHowmuchteaandcoffeehasthepatienthad
bullHas patient been on any drugs which put thematincreasedriskoftheaboveEgWarfarin
NSAIDs- bleed Should the patient have been onprophylacticLMWH-PE
Possible reasons or simple tachycardia
bull Painbull Anxietybull Sepsisbull Hypovolaemia ndash bleeddehydrationbull PEbull MIbull Medication side FX
EXPOSEor sources o sepsis
PULSEREGULARORIRREGULAR
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httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 182416
You will oten get called to the wards to prescribe drugs or common in-patient complaints
Always eye-ball a patient beore doing so- the nurses may have the diagnosis wrong
DonrsquotforgettocheckforALLERGIESPMHandRENALFUNCTION(ifindicated)LookatKARDEXor any obvious interactions
Most drugs you will prescribe on-call should be written in the PRN or lsquoonce onlyrsquo section i you
do not know the patient
ANALGESIA MEDICATION ROUTE DOSAGE MAXDAY
PARACETAMOL POIV 500mgndash1g QDS
IBUPROFEN PO 200-400mg TDS
DICLOFENACrsquoVoltarolrsquo POIM 50mg TDS
PR 100mg TDS
CO-CODAMOL
(8500OR30500) PO 1-2TABLETS QDS
CO-DYDRAMOL(10500) PO 1-2TABLETS QDS
CODEINEPHOSPHATE POIM 30-60mg QDS
BUSCOPAN POIV 10-20mg QDS
QUININE PO 200mg ON
TRAMADOL PO 50-100mg QDS
MORPHINE IVPO 5-10mg STAT
NB Opiates can cause nauseavomiting and constipation Always Prescribe a PRN antiemetic and simple laxative
ANTI-EMETICS METOCLOPRAMIDErsquoMaxalonrsquo POIMIV 10mg TDS
(dopamineantagonist-worksdirectlyonGIT)
CYCLIZINE POIV 50mg TDS
(antihistaminendashworkscentrally)
PROCHLORPERAZINElsquoStemetilrsquoPO 10- 20mg TDS
lsquoBuccastemrsquo BUCCAL 3-6mg BD
(dopamineantagonist-workscentrallyonchemoreceptortriggerone)
DOMPERIDONE PO 10-20mg QDS
(actscentrallyonchemoreceptortriggerone)
ONDANSETRON POIMIV 8mg TDS
(5HT3 antagonist)
GASTIC REFLUX GAVISCON PO 5-10ml TDS
RANITIDINE PO 150mg BD
OMEPRAzOLE PO 20mg OD
COMMONLY PRESCRIBED DRUGS and doses
Caution NSAIDs in
asthmaPUCRF
Pts with
renal colic
respond
well to PR
dicloenac
Quinineisusedor night-timeleg crampscommon inhospital ptsMake sure youexamine frst- itmay be a DVT
Buscopan is an anti-
spasmodic and works
on smooth muscle
Greatforcramping
abdo pain
You can try most o these
in various combinations i
previous attempts to control
symptoms have ailed
Metoclopramideshould notbe used postGIsurgeryfor
3 days It canalso causesextra-pyramidalreactions andoculogyric
crises Bewareo this thoughthe antidoteis procyclidine5-10mgIVIM
Ondansetron is very
expensive Its otenreserved or chemo
patients donrsquot use it as
rst-line
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 192417
SOB SALBUTAMOL NEB 5mg STATPRN
IPRATROPIUM BROMIDE (Atrovent) NEB 500mcg STATPRN
PREDNISOLONE PO 30-40mg STATOD
(3-5days max)
HYDROCORTISONE IV 200mg STAT(i acute SOB or angiodema)
FUROSEMIDE POIV 40-80mg STAT
ORAMORPH PO 5mg
LAXATIVES
Stimulants SODIUMDOCUSATE PO 50-200mg TDS
BISOCODYL PO 5-10mg BD
SENNA PO TT (15mg) BDTDSOsmotic MOVICOL PO 1-2sachets BDTDS
LACTULOSE PO 15ml BD
I aecal loading GLYCERINESUPPOSITORY PR T STATPRN
PHOSPHATE ENEMA PR T STATPRN
ITCHRASH CHLORPHENAMINE PO 4mg TDS
(alsoknownasldquoPiritonrdquo)
AGITATION DIAzEPAM POSLOWIV 5-10mg
SLEEPLESSNESS ZOPICLONE PO 375-75mg
AGGRESSION HALOPERIDOL CheckBNFforindicationsanddoses
ALCOHOL
WITHDRAWAL CHLORDIAzEPOXIDE(reducingregimen)
Day1and220-30mgQDS
Day3and415mgQDS
Day510mgQDS
Day610mgBD
Day710mgNocte
SIMPLE UTI TRIMETHOPRIM PO 200mg BD
NITROFURANTOIN PO 50mg QDS
CEPHALEXIN PO 500mg BD
FOR ALL OTHER INFECTIONS REFER TO YOUR LOCAL ANTIBIOTIC POLICY-YOUWILLSOONLEARNMOSTOFTHEMOFFBYHEART
Salbutamol causes
tachycardia
Use oramorph with caution in COPD pts It works well in anxious patients to control their breathing
In-hospital patients are oten constipated oten due to decreased activity and medications Try tackling
constipation using dierent pharmacological approaches ie donrsquot Px movicol i already on lactulose
Write in lsquovariable dosersquo section o kardex near the back
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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Wararin
Digoxin
PRESCRIBING OUT OF HOURS
You will oten get bleeped to prescribe wararin or patients you donrsquot know especially over the
weekendevenings i your colleagues havenrsquot done them
CHECK PATIENT IS NOT BLEEDING
Areyouprescribingmaintenanceorloadingdose
LOADING this is the regimen prescribed initially until INR stable and in target range Old school says10mg10mg5mgcheckINR(Day4)
MAINTENANCE usual dose once INR established to keep within target range Check yellow book or
regular prescriptions
bullOnceanINRhasbeenobtainedforoneofyourpatientsmakesureyouprescribethewarfarinfor
about3-4daysthenre-checkMarkopenbracketsonwarfarinchartstoindicatewhenyouwantthe
nextINRtobechecked(usuallybetween3-4daysintheinitialperiodormorefrequentlyifthereare
difculties establishing a maintenance dose)
bullINR is too high (lt4 or lt5 i target is 3-4) - DO NOT OMIT just reduce the dose (1mg) and re-
checkINRatleast48hrsafterasittakesbetween48-72hrsforyourchangetohaveaneect
bull I INR is gt4 (or gt5 i target is 3-4) and patient not actively bleeding prescribe Vitamin K 1mg IV
and OMIT the next dose o wararin
Reason or LT wararin Tx AF 2-3
RecurrentDVT 2-3
PE 2-3
RecurrentPE 3-4
Prostheticheartvalve 3-4
Check kardex or INTERACTIONS
Common onesbull ClarithromycinErythromycin
bull Rifampicin
I actively bleeding check with Senior or advice on urther action
You will occasionally get bleeped to review digoxin levels
Toxicity is very worrying and would normally require the use o lsquoDigibindrsquo which is basically
anantidote for digoxinODYouwillneed toget anECGand assessthepatient clinicallybefore
proceedinggetting senior help
Sub-therapeutic levels are common They are not so worrying but you should clinically assess
the patient in particular their CVS paying particular attention to their pulse as you will denitely get
asked about this i you ask or senior help
I digoxin levels are out o range make sure you check their K+ and keep a regular eye on it as this
needs to be stable or digoxin to be a sae and eective choice o therapy
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Gentamicin
Usually prescribed in severeneutropenic sepsis (OD regimen) = 5-7mgkgmax480mg
You may get bleeped to check the gentamicin levels o ward patients and subsequently prescribe
the next dose
Theblood levelneedstobe taken6-14hoursafter thestartof thefrst IVI You are basically
looking or the levels to be within therapeutic range I they are not you need to reer to the
Hartord Normogram This is a chart which indicates WHEN the next dose should be according
to how out o range the levels are You DO NOT change the DOSE just the TIMING o the next
one(either2436or48hrslater)Makesureifyouhavebeenaskedtotakethebloodyourself
you note exactly how many hours post IVI the blood has been taken on the blood card it may be
another o your peers who has to review the level
Toxicity may
cause
Deaness
tinnitus
Nystagmus
Vertigo
RenalFailure
Monitor UEs
DAILY
ForpatientswithINFECTIVE ENDOCARDITIS (TDS regimen) = 1mgkg per dose
Therst levelthatneeds toberecordedisafter the3rd4thdoseensuringatleast24hoursof
treatmentisgivenItshouldbetaken1hourpostIVIiethePEAKorPOSTlevelandbebetween
3-5mgL A trough or PRE Dose level is taken approx 1 hour beore any administered dose and
should be lt1mgL The reason or this is that they are on a TDS regimen so renal unction needs
to be closely monitored It is important that gentamicin levels do not rise to toxic amounts
which is more common in patients with renal impairment
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
32
1
06 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Time between start of infusion and sample draw (hours)
Nicolau DP Freeman CD Belliveau PP Nightingale CH Ross JW Quintiliani R Experience with
a once-daily aminoglycoside program administered to 2184 adult patients Antimicrob Agents
Chemo 1995293650-655
Hartford Once Daily Dosing Nomogram
(GentTobra 7mgkg
L e v e l ( m c g m l )
q48h
q36h
q24h
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 222420
General Hints and Tips or seeing patients out o hours
When answering your bleep fnd out
1 Reason or bleep
2Quickbackgroundinfo
3 FurtherrelevantclinicalinfoegOBSERVATIONS and compare these to how they normally runI itrsquos a patient with high EWS just inorm a senior to make them aware and ready or action
4WhattheywantyoutoDO(PURPOSE o call)
5 Ask or the ollowing things to be ready when you arrive
bullNotes
bullKardex
bullObschartnursingle
bullEquipmentegcannulasbloodscatheteretc
6GiveappropriateinstructionsiftheyneedtodoanythingacutelybeforeyouarriveForexamplei
reason or bleep is Haematemesis ask or IV access and bloods to be taken or i a patient has
spiked a temp o gt38˚C get the nurses or night practitioner to do cultures beore you arrive Itsaves a lot o time and afng around once you are on the ward
7 Decide where this lies in your list o priorities or whether it is a job nurse practitioners can do
to help you
NB Try not to have arguments with nurses on the phone some o them are just starting out like
you and may also be petried sometimes they need reassurance too
When you get there
Findthenursewhobleepedyou(orrequestedthebleep)andgetamoredetailedaccountof
whatrsquos going on
Eye-ball the patient beore delving into notes or looking on the computer ollowing the standard
ABCDE assessment It wonrsquot take you long to gure out i they are acutely unwell unstable or
not
Once you have done your initial assessment and any immediate management document what
you have done using a logical and systematic approach This way you wonrsquot orget anything You
will also look really slick and competent plus you might nd you paint yoursel a picture o whatrsquos
going on even i you were clueless initially
Sit down at a computer with the nursing le and medical notes and go straight or the clerking It
should give you a succinct list o PC and other co-morbidities to create a more complete clinical
pictureFlickthroughthewardnotesandndanythingyoucanreaditmaybeofsomeuseLook
at the last entry in particular as there may be a plan o what to do should the situation you have
been bleeped or arises
Check PACS and the lab system or any recent imaging or tests NB ALWAYS compare recent results
to previous ones Just go down the lists looking or cultures unusual blood tests INRs etc and
document what you nd Sometimes the best summaries o a patient are created when someone
manages them on-call Be thorough at the beginning but i you are hard pushed or time reer back to the help sheets- they are designed to make you SAFE not to make you a brilliant diagnostician
whocancowboytheirwaythroughFY1lsquoHousersquostyle
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 232421
HaveagoodbrowsethroughtheKARDEXlookingatwhichmedsmayhavecontributedtothe
situation which may have prevented it i they had been given and which ones you might need
toinitiatetomakesurethepatientisSAFE
Once you have all this inormation create a PROBLEM list and rom this document yourIMPRESSION o the situation Write a PLAN and document whether you involved a senior and
their name and grade Also document the amount o time you were there sometimes you need
tostaywithapatienttoseeifyourtreatmentworkseguidsforlowBPmeanwhileyoucan
scribble down everything yoursquove done to save time
Whenever you are assessing a patient think to yoursel
lsquoWhat do I need to DO to make sure this patient is SAFErsquo I this patient deteriorates or
dies unexpectedly and you were the last doctor to see them you need to make sure your
documentation is adequate Your management appropriate or not will mean nothing i it
has not been written down in the eyes o the law
In summary
bullAnsweryourbleepinasystematicway-itwillhelpyouprioritiseandbecomemoreecient
bullDelegatecertaintaskstonursesdonrsquotbeafraidofaskingthemyouarepartofaTEAM
bullPrioritiseyourjobsanddonrsquotbeafraidtoo-loadsomeontoyourwardSHOYOUaretheone
whogetsbleepedrstsoyouwillbeaskedtodoEVERYTHING
bullWhenyougettoapatient
1 ABCDE approach ALWAYS
2Documentyourinitialassessmentandmanagement 3Reviewthenursingleforobschartuidbalancewarfarinchartsuidprescriptions
4Reviewmedicalnotesandclerkingthensummarise
5ReviewKARDEX
6 Problem list
7 Impression
8 ACTION PLAN (use tick boxes or investigations you have ordered)
9 Keep their details (sticker on handover sheet) and make sure you check on them
later or handover to day team
ALWAYS MAKE SURE YOU ARE SAFE IF IN ANY DOUBT WHATSOEVER YOU MUST INFORMA SENIOR
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 2424
Disclaimer
Copyright
Production
Contacts
The fndings and conclusions in this document are those o the authors who are
responsible or its content All inormation is to be interpreted on an idividual basisin context with the clinical situation to which it reers The inormation is not a
replacement or local guidelines and protocols nor is it a document with any legal
standing No statement in this document can be construed as an ocial position o
the North Western Deanery or NHS Northwest
copyGillianJacksonampFrancesBennett2011
BookdesignedbyAndrewPowellMedicalIllustrationatRoyalBoltonHospitalRef48355
Franmbennettgmailcom
gljacksonhotmailcouk
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 10248
Initial Assessment and Examination
History
Investigations
Plan
Medication Review
ATSP Re FALLSCOLLAPSE
ABCDE
GCS
BM
ForHead Trauma ensure you document
the ollowing
1 Mechanism o injury
2AnyLOCReducedGCSConfusion
3AnyvomitingorSeiuresymptoms
4HeadexaminationegBruising
LacerationBoggy swellings
Signsoftrauma
bullHeadandneck
bullHIPS
Neuroexam
Lying-StandingBP
RISK FACTORS or
bullMechanicalFalls
bullStroke
bullLowBM
bullDrugtoxicity(opiatessedatives)
bullArrhythmiasbullSeiure
bull Infection
bullAlwaystakeaFALLS HISTORY but remember
you are ocussing on making the patient SAFE
rather than diagnosing a cause or their all
Oten none are needed (always do a lying
and standing BP though)
Depend on history and exam ndingsConsider
bullECG
bullBloods
bullDipstick
bullCThead(senior must be inormed)
bullRegularnursing+-neuroobsifindicatedbullAddressunderlyingcauseifappropriate
Wounds Most can be glued or steristripped I concerned send patient to AampE
Consider withholding the ollowing
bull Antihypertensives
bull Sedatives until head trauma ruled out
bull Warfarin i patient is at risk o allsagain ie undetermined cause o alls
or unsteady on eetdementia Check
with senior rst patient may have articial
valve replacement
bull Inorm nursing staf o any changes
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 11249
Assessment or repeat prescription
History
Sliding scale or IV insulin
High BM
1 The REASONfortheiruids(NBMslidingscaleunwellsepticunsafeswallow)
2FLUIDstatusndashcheckforoverloaddehydrationInput-Outputchart
3 CHECK UampEpayingattentiontoK+requirementsDonrsquotjustrewriteuidswithoutchecking
mostrecentUampEsIfnobloodsforgt48hrsandonregularuids repeat uampersquos beore represcribing
Write a blood card or next appropriate monitoring so it doesnrsquot get missed4ChecktheKARDEX or PO electrolyte supplements and diuretics I patient is receiving diuretic
anduidssimultaneouslythencontactseniorforadvice
Duringon-callyouwillnormallybeaskedtore-writetheslidingscaleontheuidchartBMsare
monitored every hour by nursing staf and inusion rate is altered accordingly
In the inusion pump
bull50mlsNsaline+50unitsACTRAPIDinsulin
bullKClmayalsobeaddeddependingonthepatientrsquoslevelsIflt3add20mmolif3-5add10mmol
BloodGlucoseLevelmmolL Standardscale Augmentedscale
Units o insulinhour Units o insulinhour
lt4 0 0 4-7 1 2
71-11 2 4
111-17 4 8
171-22 6 12
gt22 8 16
Stopinfusionfor30minutesthencheckBMagainRestartslidingscaleatslowerrateof05mmolhour
Stopping the insulin inusion completely can be especially dangerous in patients with type 1 diabetes
A high BM is oten nothing to worry about during an oncall shit It is usually because the patientrsquosnormal blood sugar control regime has been disrupted due to acute illness changes to routine or acombinationMake sure you1 Check BM charts or previous readings and whether this is new or them or not2 Check urine or ketones3 Do ABG i patient looks unwell I this is the case they are likely to have a high EWS so manage
appropriately4 Document your ndings and action taken (if any)
Ifpatientisnotonaslidingscaleyoucanprescribe10unitsactrapid(evenifNIDDM)tobringtheBMdown but donrsquot start messing around with their normal blood glucose control it is not an emergencysituationandcanbedealtwithduringwardhoursbyspecialiedteamswhohavealotofexperienceinthese cases
Ensurepatientisnotuidrestrictedforanyreasonieheartfailureoedemaandascites
ATSP or FLUID REVIEW
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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Initial Assessment
Examination
History
Investigations
Plan
Medication Review
ATSP Re HAEMATEMESISCOFFEE GROUND VOMITMALAENA
A V P U
ABCDE
Chest Exam
ABDO EXAM
bullAnysignsofperforationTender
bullPR EXAM ndashALWAYScheckforevidenceYOURSELFevenHaematemesisCGV
IV Access and bloods
Work out EWSBP lying and standing
IfpthashadsignicantupperGIbleed
1 A signicant posturaldrop(gt20mmHg)in BP is oten the rst sign2Theureawillusuallybecomeproportionally higher than creatinineoten with little other evidence o renalailure
bullRememberHbwonrsquotdropimmediately afteraGIbleed-thereforenormalHbisnt
reassuring
RISK FACTORS or GI BleedbullGastricirritantmedications
(NSAIDS)bullAlcoholALDbullLackofgastro-protective
medicationbullUlcersbull ReuxGORDbull Persistentvomitingbull Endoscopystentingproceduresbull Postabdosurgery
Mandatory bullBloods-FBCUampEincludingCa2+ LFTINRandclottingX-match send as URGENTConsider bullAXRerectCXR bullUrgentendoscopyifHbhastaken
massive drop rom previous or is verylow ie lt7 Seniors denitely need tobe inormed beore considering this
WITHOLD
bullAny anti-coagulants
bullNSAIDS
CONSIDER
bullAntiemetic
bullPPI(lansopraoleisindicatedfor
patients on aspirin and clopidogrel
omepraoleifnot)
bull KeepNBMuntilwardteamassessmentuntilyouaresatisedthepatientisstablebull IVaccess+-FLUIDSbull Regularnursingobs-recheckonehourlaterand2hourlythereafterbull FluidbalanceMonitorurineOPandmaintaintogt30mlhrbull Keepdetailsandcheckonthemlater
NB Patients are not normally transused blood products over night unless it is an emergency IVuidswillpreventhypovolaemiaanditsconsequencesIfyouthinkyourpatientlooksabitdryoris slightly tachycardic etc then stay on the sae side and run through some saline (unless otherwisecontraindicated)
ue Haematemesis or Malaena is a medical emergency and will oten be accompanied with a high EWSeat accordingly i this is the case In-hospital patients oten suer simple coee ground vomits without
any systemic disruption but must still be considered as a potenital emergency
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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Medication Review
Initial Assessment Examination Possible CAUSES to consider
Investigations-depend on scoring parameters
Medication Review
Plan
History - ALWAYS look in the notes
Impression
ATSP Re HIGH EWS (General Assessment)NB always ask nurses or VALUES OF PARAMETERS and what they are COMPARED TO NORMAL
TrustguidelinesindicateforFY1sEWS3ndashAssessmanageandreassessactionsafter30minutes
EWSgt5ndashSeniormustbeinformedafterinitialassessmentndashattheveryleastjusttomakesuretheyareaware
RR
Sats
HR
BP
Fluid balance
Temp
AMT
BM
Agitationmood
GCS
CHEST-THOROUGH
clinical respiratory exam
is vital to guide urther
management
HS
JVP
Calves
Mucus membranes
CRT
bull PEbull HA Pneumoniabull Failure ndash heart lungsbull MI
bull Decompensated heart ailure
bull Acutedecompensated Renal failure
bull Dehydrationbull Sepsis or inection
bull Perorationbull AAA
bull Peritonitisbull DVT (look for one- a DVT wonrsquot cause high
EWS on its own)bull Source of sepsis (lines cellulitis catheter etc)
A
B
C
D
E
Considerbull CXRbull ABGbull Routinebloods+-CULTURESforsepticscreen
i temp spiked
bull X-matchifsuspectpatientisbleedingbull ECGbull UrineDipstick
ReviewKardexforanyIATROGENIC causes o above eg NSAIDSwararin bleedIsthepatientoversedatedSYMPTOM controlbull Isthepatientinpain- analgesiabull Isthepatientvomiting- antiemetic (IVIM)
bull IsthepatientdehydratedndashIV luidsbull IsthepatientsepticndashWhatisthesource
- Antibiotics (see trust guidance)Should the patient have been on
prophylacticLMWH-PE
Has the patient suered an acute
event
Has anything CHANGED and HOW
WHYhasthishappened
A high EWS can oten resolve with SYMPTOM control Eg bring the BP up and tachyhigh RR mayresolve1 Regular nursing obs2 Treatsuspectedcause3 Strictfluidbalance+-catheterisationifpatientisunwellenough4 Analgesiaandgeneralsymptomcontrol5 Reviewyourtreatmentaction-hasithadaneffectSenior review i worried
SEPTIC SCREEN
bull CXRbull UrineDipstick bull Cultures Blood Urine (MSU) Sputum
Stoolbull Swabs rom likely sources eg wound bedsore throat eye cannula catheterdrain site
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Initial Assessment
Investigations
Plan
Medication Review
Examination
History
ATSP Re HYPERKALAEMIA (stable patient)
A V P U
ABCDE ECG
CHEST and CVS
Hydration
Unwellorstable
Fluidbalance
- Is this acute
- Is it a chronic accumulation
- Does the patient have CRF
- CARDIAC history
- LOOK at FLUID Px charts
- Is patient diabetic
- Symptoms eg palpitationsdizziness
bull ECG
bull ABG - helpul i you suspect a spurious
result
bull BloodsndashRepeatsampleifunsureof
accuracy o hyperkalaemia eg haemolysis
Hyperkalaemia treatment
bull Iflt7andWITHOUTECGchanges
Insulin and dextrose IVI- reer to local trust policy or exact instructions I unable to ind then
10unitsactrapidin50mlof50dextroseover10mins
bull Ifgt65WITHECGchanges
Salbutamol 5mg neb
Insulin and dextroseIVIthenINFORMASENIORaspatientmaywellneed
Calcium gluconate10mlof10IVover5minforcardiacprotectionEnsurepatientison
cardiac monitoring Calcium resonium PO15mgQDSCausesconstipationsowriteupalaxativePRN
Hold medications as appropriate (see above)
REPEAT BLOODS post treatment
bull Diuretics-K+sparingorlosingbull ACEA2RBinbitorsegramipril
losartan
bull NSAIDS
bull IVFluids
bull PotassiumsupplementsIVPO
bull Nutritionaldrinks
ECG
ECGchangesinhyperkalaemia
bullArrythmias
bullProlongedPRintervalwithflattened
Pwaves
bullWideQRSwithslurrySTsegment
bullTalltentedTTraves
I patient is symptomaticunstable this is a medical EMERGENCY and needs a senior doctor involved
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 152413
Initial Assessment
Assessment o uid balance
Examination
Investigations
History
Plan
ATSP Re LOW URINE OUTPUT (catheterised patient)
ABCDE
CATHETER- IS IT BLOCKED
1Checktheuidchartandworkouttotalinputandoutput(usuallyover24hrsbutpatientis commonly post-op so calculate rom the time since they returned rom theatre i this is the case)2Remembertheurineoutputshouldbe05mlkghrDonrsquot orget to account or parenteral eeds stoma output and insensible losses
Fluid balance over 4 hours eg post opInput 500ml Output Urine 100ml Insensiblelosses 200ml Stoma 500mlTOTAL 500ml TOTAL 800ml
FLUID BALANCE=-300mliepatientisDRY
CHEST-isthepatientuidoverloadedABDO EXAM bullTenderUrinaryretentionNotepost-opileuscancauseurinaryretention bullStomasitendashisitinfectedLook or acute serious pathologies and try to correct these
bullAlwaysremembertolookatthenotes This problem is commonly seen in post op
surgical patientsbullCheckwhichoperationtheyrsquovehad and any important details on the op notes
beore you speak to senior docbullEnsurethatthepatientisnotuid restrictedegCCFascites
Consider
bullBloods-FBCandUampEstomonitorrenalfunction bullAXR bullDipstickurineMSUorCSU bullStoolsample(Cdiifonabx) bullSepticscreenDiscuss the need or imaging with senior i suspecting intra-abdominal sepsis
bullOftenallthatrsquosneededisauid challenge o 500ml saline particularly i the patient is dry (negative uidbalance)Getnursestorunitthroughstatandcheckopnomorethan1hrlaterIfpatientissimply
dehydrated their urine op should have picked up rom this CAUTION IN CCFCRF patients
bullCorrectunderlyingcauseoncediagnosedbullMonitorBPampurineOP(maintainurineopto05mgkghranddocumentthisinstruction)bullConsiderdiuretics(statdose40mgfurosemideIV) i you think the patient is uid overloaded (usually with positiveuidbalance)howeverusewithcautionandalwayscheckpreviousU+ErsquosConsultwithseniordoc
beore doing this you could easily exacerbate the problem
Think about RISK FACTORS orbullDehydrationLookforpotentialuidlosseseg
vomiting diarrhoea poor oral intake high stomaoutput
bullUrinaryobstructionegnatureofopco-morbiditiesbullInfectionSepsisbullDrugseganticholinergics
SEPTIC
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 162414
Make a very quick decision as to whether or not you are confdent in treating this patient on your own
Patients who are short o breath can deteriorate very quickly indeed Call or a Senior immediately i you are unsure
Medication Review
Examination
History
Investigations- dependingon scoring parameters
Plan
Medication Review
ATSP Re SHORTNESS OF BREATH
A V P U
ABCDE
OXYGEN (highowinitially)ABG
THOROUGH exam is vital to guide management
Hydration assessment
- Onset
- Duration
- Exacerbating or relieving actors
- Check clerking proorma or
co-morbidities
bullABGndashimmediatelythenrepeatbullCXRCheckmostrecentoneDonrsquot
be araid to repeat CXR i things havechanged clinically Order a portable ilm
i you eel the patient is too unstable to betransported - discuss this with the nurses bullECGbullCulturesBloodandsputumif
appropriate andor check previous orsensitivities
bullRepeatbloods
bull Staywithpatientuntilyouarehappytheyarestable
bull Regularnursingobs(2hourly)
bull KeepawatchfuleyeontheirbloodsCXRetc
CALL FOR SENIOR HELP IF YOU ARE UNSURETHESE PATIENTS CAN DETERIORATE VERY QUICKLY INDEED
Patients with anxiety exacerbatingtheir respiratory disease are otengiven Oramorph by the nursingsta Be wary o this as you dontwant to be causing respiratorydepression in eg COPD patientsAsk a senior i unsure
Is patient on thromboprophylaxisWhat can I givebull ThinkaboutyourchoicesforOxygen
Therapy depending on patientrsquos chronic diseasestatusandABGresult
bullWheezeSalbutamol5mgneb+- atrovent500mcgneb(canbegivenwith O2)bullLRTICAPHAP Antibiotics (check
protocol)bullPulm OedemaFurosemide40mgIV
JVP and ankles
Calves Thighs
Anaphylaxis
Pneumothorax
Comparesatstonormalcomparewithchronicdiseasestatus
Cardiacorrespiratorycause
Ask about ASSOCIATED FEATURES and RISK
FACTORS or
DVTPE
Overload eg recent transusionluid therapy
MI
Infection(hospitalacquired)
Anxiety AsthmaCOPD exacerbation
Recent surgery (atelectasis)
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 172415
Initial Assessment
Examination
History
Investigations - depending on scoring parameters and clinical judgement
Plan - very diferent or acutely unwell patients and those who are stable
Medication Review
ATSP Re TACHYCARDIAPALPITATIONS
A V P U
ABCDE ECG
TACHYARRYTHMIAS ARE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY If patient has developed a new tachyarrhythmia
on ECG (SVTFast AF) a senior needs to be involved Make sure you perform the following
Chest and Abdo Exam
Fluidbalance-ispatientdehydrated
Mandatory
bullECG
Consider
bullRoutinebloods+-CULTURESfor
septic screen i spiked temperature bullX-matchifsuspectpatientisbleeding
bullUrineDipstick
1IVaccess+-fluidsandbloods2Followtachycardiaalgorithmifappropriate-seniorshouldreallybeinvolvedinthis3Regularnursingobs(candotemponlyevery30minshalfhourifyouthinkhaveRFsforsepsis)4TreatsuspectedcauseoftenthisisactuallySYMPTOMCONTROLandyoumayfindthatsimple
stable tachycardias resolve once you have the ollowing under controlbull PAIN bull DEHYDRATION
bull AGITATION bull SEPSIS
bull ANXIETY bull VOMITING
IATROGENIC causes o tachycardiabull SALBUTAMOLoverusebull EYEDROPSegPHENYLEPHRINEbull THEOPHYLLINEtoxicitybull DIPYRIDAMOLE
MEDICAL MANAGEMENTbull Considerdigoxin 250mcg in
elderly patients or bisoprolol 25 mgunless otherwise contra indicated (low BP
Asthma) once cause has been identiied(senior discussion)
bullIsthepatientsymptomatic
bullCARDIAC HISTORY
bullPreviouscardiachistoryandRISKFACTORSfor
MIAFArrhythmias
bullPreviousECGs
bullFor arrhythmias IS THIS NEW Assume it is
unless proven otherwise
bullLookatKardexforanyanti-arrhythmic
medications or clues
bullHowmuchteaandcoffeehasthepatienthad
bullHas patient been on any drugs which put thematincreasedriskoftheaboveEgWarfarin
NSAIDs- bleed Should the patient have been onprophylacticLMWH-PE
Possible reasons or simple tachycardia
bull Painbull Anxietybull Sepsisbull Hypovolaemia ndash bleeddehydrationbull PEbull MIbull Medication side FX
EXPOSEor sources o sepsis
PULSEREGULARORIRREGULAR
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 182416
You will oten get called to the wards to prescribe drugs or common in-patient complaints
Always eye-ball a patient beore doing so- the nurses may have the diagnosis wrong
DonrsquotforgettocheckforALLERGIESPMHandRENALFUNCTION(ifindicated)LookatKARDEXor any obvious interactions
Most drugs you will prescribe on-call should be written in the PRN or lsquoonce onlyrsquo section i you
do not know the patient
ANALGESIA MEDICATION ROUTE DOSAGE MAXDAY
PARACETAMOL POIV 500mgndash1g QDS
IBUPROFEN PO 200-400mg TDS
DICLOFENACrsquoVoltarolrsquo POIM 50mg TDS
PR 100mg TDS
CO-CODAMOL
(8500OR30500) PO 1-2TABLETS QDS
CO-DYDRAMOL(10500) PO 1-2TABLETS QDS
CODEINEPHOSPHATE POIM 30-60mg QDS
BUSCOPAN POIV 10-20mg QDS
QUININE PO 200mg ON
TRAMADOL PO 50-100mg QDS
MORPHINE IVPO 5-10mg STAT
NB Opiates can cause nauseavomiting and constipation Always Prescribe a PRN antiemetic and simple laxative
ANTI-EMETICS METOCLOPRAMIDErsquoMaxalonrsquo POIMIV 10mg TDS
(dopamineantagonist-worksdirectlyonGIT)
CYCLIZINE POIV 50mg TDS
(antihistaminendashworkscentrally)
PROCHLORPERAZINElsquoStemetilrsquoPO 10- 20mg TDS
lsquoBuccastemrsquo BUCCAL 3-6mg BD
(dopamineantagonist-workscentrallyonchemoreceptortriggerone)
DOMPERIDONE PO 10-20mg QDS
(actscentrallyonchemoreceptortriggerone)
ONDANSETRON POIMIV 8mg TDS
(5HT3 antagonist)
GASTIC REFLUX GAVISCON PO 5-10ml TDS
RANITIDINE PO 150mg BD
OMEPRAzOLE PO 20mg OD
COMMONLY PRESCRIBED DRUGS and doses
Caution NSAIDs in
asthmaPUCRF
Pts with
renal colic
respond
well to PR
dicloenac
Quinineisusedor night-timeleg crampscommon inhospital ptsMake sure youexamine frst- itmay be a DVT
Buscopan is an anti-
spasmodic and works
on smooth muscle
Greatforcramping
abdo pain
You can try most o these
in various combinations i
previous attempts to control
symptoms have ailed
Metoclopramideshould notbe used postGIsurgeryfor
3 days It canalso causesextra-pyramidalreactions andoculogyric
crises Bewareo this thoughthe antidoteis procyclidine5-10mgIVIM
Ondansetron is very
expensive Its otenreserved or chemo
patients donrsquot use it as
rst-line
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 192417
SOB SALBUTAMOL NEB 5mg STATPRN
IPRATROPIUM BROMIDE (Atrovent) NEB 500mcg STATPRN
PREDNISOLONE PO 30-40mg STATOD
(3-5days max)
HYDROCORTISONE IV 200mg STAT(i acute SOB or angiodema)
FUROSEMIDE POIV 40-80mg STAT
ORAMORPH PO 5mg
LAXATIVES
Stimulants SODIUMDOCUSATE PO 50-200mg TDS
BISOCODYL PO 5-10mg BD
SENNA PO TT (15mg) BDTDSOsmotic MOVICOL PO 1-2sachets BDTDS
LACTULOSE PO 15ml BD
I aecal loading GLYCERINESUPPOSITORY PR T STATPRN
PHOSPHATE ENEMA PR T STATPRN
ITCHRASH CHLORPHENAMINE PO 4mg TDS
(alsoknownasldquoPiritonrdquo)
AGITATION DIAzEPAM POSLOWIV 5-10mg
SLEEPLESSNESS ZOPICLONE PO 375-75mg
AGGRESSION HALOPERIDOL CheckBNFforindicationsanddoses
ALCOHOL
WITHDRAWAL CHLORDIAzEPOXIDE(reducingregimen)
Day1and220-30mgQDS
Day3and415mgQDS
Day510mgQDS
Day610mgBD
Day710mgNocte
SIMPLE UTI TRIMETHOPRIM PO 200mg BD
NITROFURANTOIN PO 50mg QDS
CEPHALEXIN PO 500mg BD
FOR ALL OTHER INFECTIONS REFER TO YOUR LOCAL ANTIBIOTIC POLICY-YOUWILLSOONLEARNMOSTOFTHEMOFFBYHEART
Salbutamol causes
tachycardia
Use oramorph with caution in COPD pts It works well in anxious patients to control their breathing
In-hospital patients are oten constipated oten due to decreased activity and medications Try tackling
constipation using dierent pharmacological approaches ie donrsquot Px movicol i already on lactulose
Write in lsquovariable dosersquo section o kardex near the back
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 202418
Wararin
Digoxin
PRESCRIBING OUT OF HOURS
You will oten get bleeped to prescribe wararin or patients you donrsquot know especially over the
weekendevenings i your colleagues havenrsquot done them
CHECK PATIENT IS NOT BLEEDING
Areyouprescribingmaintenanceorloadingdose
LOADING this is the regimen prescribed initially until INR stable and in target range Old school says10mg10mg5mgcheckINR(Day4)
MAINTENANCE usual dose once INR established to keep within target range Check yellow book or
regular prescriptions
bullOnceanINRhasbeenobtainedforoneofyourpatientsmakesureyouprescribethewarfarinfor
about3-4daysthenre-checkMarkopenbracketsonwarfarinchartstoindicatewhenyouwantthe
nextINRtobechecked(usuallybetween3-4daysintheinitialperiodormorefrequentlyifthereare
difculties establishing a maintenance dose)
bullINR is too high (lt4 or lt5 i target is 3-4) - DO NOT OMIT just reduce the dose (1mg) and re-
checkINRatleast48hrsafterasittakesbetween48-72hrsforyourchangetohaveaneect
bull I INR is gt4 (or gt5 i target is 3-4) and patient not actively bleeding prescribe Vitamin K 1mg IV
and OMIT the next dose o wararin
Reason or LT wararin Tx AF 2-3
RecurrentDVT 2-3
PE 2-3
RecurrentPE 3-4
Prostheticheartvalve 3-4
Check kardex or INTERACTIONS
Common onesbull ClarithromycinErythromycin
bull Rifampicin
I actively bleeding check with Senior or advice on urther action
You will occasionally get bleeped to review digoxin levels
Toxicity is very worrying and would normally require the use o lsquoDigibindrsquo which is basically
anantidote for digoxinODYouwillneed toget anECGand assessthepatient clinicallybefore
proceedinggetting senior help
Sub-therapeutic levels are common They are not so worrying but you should clinically assess
the patient in particular their CVS paying particular attention to their pulse as you will denitely get
asked about this i you ask or senior help
I digoxin levels are out o range make sure you check their K+ and keep a regular eye on it as this
needs to be stable or digoxin to be a sae and eective choice o therapy
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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Gentamicin
Usually prescribed in severeneutropenic sepsis (OD regimen) = 5-7mgkgmax480mg
You may get bleeped to check the gentamicin levels o ward patients and subsequently prescribe
the next dose
Theblood levelneedstobe taken6-14hoursafter thestartof thefrst IVI You are basically
looking or the levels to be within therapeutic range I they are not you need to reer to the
Hartord Normogram This is a chart which indicates WHEN the next dose should be according
to how out o range the levels are You DO NOT change the DOSE just the TIMING o the next
one(either2436or48hrslater)Makesureifyouhavebeenaskedtotakethebloodyourself
you note exactly how many hours post IVI the blood has been taken on the blood card it may be
another o your peers who has to review the level
Toxicity may
cause
Deaness
tinnitus
Nystagmus
Vertigo
RenalFailure
Monitor UEs
DAILY
ForpatientswithINFECTIVE ENDOCARDITIS (TDS regimen) = 1mgkg per dose
Therst levelthatneeds toberecordedisafter the3rd4thdoseensuringatleast24hoursof
treatmentisgivenItshouldbetaken1hourpostIVIiethePEAKorPOSTlevelandbebetween
3-5mgL A trough or PRE Dose level is taken approx 1 hour beore any administered dose and
should be lt1mgL The reason or this is that they are on a TDS regimen so renal unction needs
to be closely monitored It is important that gentamicin levels do not rise to toxic amounts
which is more common in patients with renal impairment
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
32
1
06 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Time between start of infusion and sample draw (hours)
Nicolau DP Freeman CD Belliveau PP Nightingale CH Ross JW Quintiliani R Experience with
a once-daily aminoglycoside program administered to 2184 adult patients Antimicrob Agents
Chemo 1995293650-655
Hartford Once Daily Dosing Nomogram
(GentTobra 7mgkg
L e v e l ( m c g m l )
q48h
q36h
q24h
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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General Hints and Tips or seeing patients out o hours
When answering your bleep fnd out
1 Reason or bleep
2Quickbackgroundinfo
3 FurtherrelevantclinicalinfoegOBSERVATIONS and compare these to how they normally runI itrsquos a patient with high EWS just inorm a senior to make them aware and ready or action
4WhattheywantyoutoDO(PURPOSE o call)
5 Ask or the ollowing things to be ready when you arrive
bullNotes
bullKardex
bullObschartnursingle
bullEquipmentegcannulasbloodscatheteretc
6GiveappropriateinstructionsiftheyneedtodoanythingacutelybeforeyouarriveForexamplei
reason or bleep is Haematemesis ask or IV access and bloods to be taken or i a patient has
spiked a temp o gt38˚C get the nurses or night practitioner to do cultures beore you arrive Itsaves a lot o time and afng around once you are on the ward
7 Decide where this lies in your list o priorities or whether it is a job nurse practitioners can do
to help you
NB Try not to have arguments with nurses on the phone some o them are just starting out like
you and may also be petried sometimes they need reassurance too
When you get there
Findthenursewhobleepedyou(orrequestedthebleep)andgetamoredetailedaccountof
whatrsquos going on
Eye-ball the patient beore delving into notes or looking on the computer ollowing the standard
ABCDE assessment It wonrsquot take you long to gure out i they are acutely unwell unstable or
not
Once you have done your initial assessment and any immediate management document what
you have done using a logical and systematic approach This way you wonrsquot orget anything You
will also look really slick and competent plus you might nd you paint yoursel a picture o whatrsquos
going on even i you were clueless initially
Sit down at a computer with the nursing le and medical notes and go straight or the clerking It
should give you a succinct list o PC and other co-morbidities to create a more complete clinical
pictureFlickthroughthewardnotesandndanythingyoucanreaditmaybeofsomeuseLook
at the last entry in particular as there may be a plan o what to do should the situation you have
been bleeped or arises
Check PACS and the lab system or any recent imaging or tests NB ALWAYS compare recent results
to previous ones Just go down the lists looking or cultures unusual blood tests INRs etc and
document what you nd Sometimes the best summaries o a patient are created when someone
manages them on-call Be thorough at the beginning but i you are hard pushed or time reer back to the help sheets- they are designed to make you SAFE not to make you a brilliant diagnostician
whocancowboytheirwaythroughFY1lsquoHousersquostyle
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 232421
HaveagoodbrowsethroughtheKARDEXlookingatwhichmedsmayhavecontributedtothe
situation which may have prevented it i they had been given and which ones you might need
toinitiatetomakesurethepatientisSAFE
Once you have all this inormation create a PROBLEM list and rom this document yourIMPRESSION o the situation Write a PLAN and document whether you involved a senior and
their name and grade Also document the amount o time you were there sometimes you need
tostaywithapatienttoseeifyourtreatmentworkseguidsforlowBPmeanwhileyoucan
scribble down everything yoursquove done to save time
Whenever you are assessing a patient think to yoursel
lsquoWhat do I need to DO to make sure this patient is SAFErsquo I this patient deteriorates or
dies unexpectedly and you were the last doctor to see them you need to make sure your
documentation is adequate Your management appropriate or not will mean nothing i it
has not been written down in the eyes o the law
In summary
bullAnsweryourbleepinasystematicway-itwillhelpyouprioritiseandbecomemoreecient
bullDelegatecertaintaskstonursesdonrsquotbeafraidofaskingthemyouarepartofaTEAM
bullPrioritiseyourjobsanddonrsquotbeafraidtoo-loadsomeontoyourwardSHOYOUaretheone
whogetsbleepedrstsoyouwillbeaskedtodoEVERYTHING
bullWhenyougettoapatient
1 ABCDE approach ALWAYS
2Documentyourinitialassessmentandmanagement 3Reviewthenursingleforobschartuidbalancewarfarinchartsuidprescriptions
4Reviewmedicalnotesandclerkingthensummarise
5ReviewKARDEX
6 Problem list
7 Impression
8 ACTION PLAN (use tick boxes or investigations you have ordered)
9 Keep their details (sticker on handover sheet) and make sure you check on them
later or handover to day team
ALWAYS MAKE SURE YOU ARE SAFE IF IN ANY DOUBT WHATSOEVER YOU MUST INFORMA SENIOR
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 2424
Disclaimer
Copyright
Production
Contacts
The fndings and conclusions in this document are those o the authors who are
responsible or its content All inormation is to be interpreted on an idividual basisin context with the clinical situation to which it reers The inormation is not a
replacement or local guidelines and protocols nor is it a document with any legal
standing No statement in this document can be construed as an ocial position o
the North Western Deanery or NHS Northwest
copyGillianJacksonampFrancesBennett2011
BookdesignedbyAndrewPowellMedicalIllustrationatRoyalBoltonHospitalRef48355
Franmbennettgmailcom
gljacksonhotmailcouk
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 11249
Assessment or repeat prescription
History
Sliding scale or IV insulin
High BM
1 The REASONfortheiruids(NBMslidingscaleunwellsepticunsafeswallow)
2FLUIDstatusndashcheckforoverloaddehydrationInput-Outputchart
3 CHECK UampEpayingattentiontoK+requirementsDonrsquotjustrewriteuidswithoutchecking
mostrecentUampEsIfnobloodsforgt48hrsandonregularuids repeat uampersquos beore represcribing
Write a blood card or next appropriate monitoring so it doesnrsquot get missed4ChecktheKARDEX or PO electrolyte supplements and diuretics I patient is receiving diuretic
anduidssimultaneouslythencontactseniorforadvice
Duringon-callyouwillnormallybeaskedtore-writetheslidingscaleontheuidchartBMsare
monitored every hour by nursing staf and inusion rate is altered accordingly
In the inusion pump
bull50mlsNsaline+50unitsACTRAPIDinsulin
bullKClmayalsobeaddeddependingonthepatientrsquoslevelsIflt3add20mmolif3-5add10mmol
BloodGlucoseLevelmmolL Standardscale Augmentedscale
Units o insulinhour Units o insulinhour
lt4 0 0 4-7 1 2
71-11 2 4
111-17 4 8
171-22 6 12
gt22 8 16
Stopinfusionfor30minutesthencheckBMagainRestartslidingscaleatslowerrateof05mmolhour
Stopping the insulin inusion completely can be especially dangerous in patients with type 1 diabetes
A high BM is oten nothing to worry about during an oncall shit It is usually because the patientrsquosnormal blood sugar control regime has been disrupted due to acute illness changes to routine or acombinationMake sure you1 Check BM charts or previous readings and whether this is new or them or not2 Check urine or ketones3 Do ABG i patient looks unwell I this is the case they are likely to have a high EWS so manage
appropriately4 Document your ndings and action taken (if any)
Ifpatientisnotonaslidingscaleyoucanprescribe10unitsactrapid(evenifNIDDM)tobringtheBMdown but donrsquot start messing around with their normal blood glucose control it is not an emergencysituationandcanbedealtwithduringwardhoursbyspecialiedteamswhohavealotofexperienceinthese cases
Ensurepatientisnotuidrestrictedforanyreasonieheartfailureoedemaandascites
ATSP or FLUID REVIEW
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Initial Assessment
Examination
History
Investigations
Plan
Medication Review
ATSP Re HAEMATEMESISCOFFEE GROUND VOMITMALAENA
A V P U
ABCDE
Chest Exam
ABDO EXAM
bullAnysignsofperforationTender
bullPR EXAM ndashALWAYScheckforevidenceYOURSELFevenHaematemesisCGV
IV Access and bloods
Work out EWSBP lying and standing
IfpthashadsignicantupperGIbleed
1 A signicant posturaldrop(gt20mmHg)in BP is oten the rst sign2Theureawillusuallybecomeproportionally higher than creatinineoten with little other evidence o renalailure
bullRememberHbwonrsquotdropimmediately afteraGIbleed-thereforenormalHbisnt
reassuring
RISK FACTORS or GI BleedbullGastricirritantmedications
(NSAIDS)bullAlcoholALDbullLackofgastro-protective
medicationbullUlcersbull ReuxGORDbull Persistentvomitingbull Endoscopystentingproceduresbull Postabdosurgery
Mandatory bullBloods-FBCUampEincludingCa2+ LFTINRandclottingX-match send as URGENTConsider bullAXRerectCXR bullUrgentendoscopyifHbhastaken
massive drop rom previous or is verylow ie lt7 Seniors denitely need tobe inormed beore considering this
WITHOLD
bullAny anti-coagulants
bullNSAIDS
CONSIDER
bullAntiemetic
bullPPI(lansopraoleisindicatedfor
patients on aspirin and clopidogrel
omepraoleifnot)
bull KeepNBMuntilwardteamassessmentuntilyouaresatisedthepatientisstablebull IVaccess+-FLUIDSbull Regularnursingobs-recheckonehourlaterand2hourlythereafterbull FluidbalanceMonitorurineOPandmaintaintogt30mlhrbull Keepdetailsandcheckonthemlater
NB Patients are not normally transused blood products over night unless it is an emergency IVuidswillpreventhypovolaemiaanditsconsequencesIfyouthinkyourpatientlooksabitdryoris slightly tachycardic etc then stay on the sae side and run through some saline (unless otherwisecontraindicated)
ue Haematemesis or Malaena is a medical emergency and will oten be accompanied with a high EWSeat accordingly i this is the case In-hospital patients oten suer simple coee ground vomits without
any systemic disruption but must still be considered as a potenital emergency
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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Medication Review
Initial Assessment Examination Possible CAUSES to consider
Investigations-depend on scoring parameters
Medication Review
Plan
History - ALWAYS look in the notes
Impression
ATSP Re HIGH EWS (General Assessment)NB always ask nurses or VALUES OF PARAMETERS and what they are COMPARED TO NORMAL
TrustguidelinesindicateforFY1sEWS3ndashAssessmanageandreassessactionsafter30minutes
EWSgt5ndashSeniormustbeinformedafterinitialassessmentndashattheveryleastjusttomakesuretheyareaware
RR
Sats
HR
BP
Fluid balance
Temp
AMT
BM
Agitationmood
GCS
CHEST-THOROUGH
clinical respiratory exam
is vital to guide urther
management
HS
JVP
Calves
Mucus membranes
CRT
bull PEbull HA Pneumoniabull Failure ndash heart lungsbull MI
bull Decompensated heart ailure
bull Acutedecompensated Renal failure
bull Dehydrationbull Sepsis or inection
bull Perorationbull AAA
bull Peritonitisbull DVT (look for one- a DVT wonrsquot cause high
EWS on its own)bull Source of sepsis (lines cellulitis catheter etc)
A
B
C
D
E
Considerbull CXRbull ABGbull Routinebloods+-CULTURESforsepticscreen
i temp spiked
bull X-matchifsuspectpatientisbleedingbull ECGbull UrineDipstick
ReviewKardexforanyIATROGENIC causes o above eg NSAIDSwararin bleedIsthepatientoversedatedSYMPTOM controlbull Isthepatientinpain- analgesiabull Isthepatientvomiting- antiemetic (IVIM)
bull IsthepatientdehydratedndashIV luidsbull IsthepatientsepticndashWhatisthesource
- Antibiotics (see trust guidance)Should the patient have been on
prophylacticLMWH-PE
Has the patient suered an acute
event
Has anything CHANGED and HOW
WHYhasthishappened
A high EWS can oten resolve with SYMPTOM control Eg bring the BP up and tachyhigh RR mayresolve1 Regular nursing obs2 Treatsuspectedcause3 Strictfluidbalance+-catheterisationifpatientisunwellenough4 Analgesiaandgeneralsymptomcontrol5 Reviewyourtreatmentaction-hasithadaneffectSenior review i worried
SEPTIC SCREEN
bull CXRbull UrineDipstick bull Cultures Blood Urine (MSU) Sputum
Stoolbull Swabs rom likely sources eg wound bedsore throat eye cannula catheterdrain site
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Initial Assessment
Investigations
Plan
Medication Review
Examination
History
ATSP Re HYPERKALAEMIA (stable patient)
A V P U
ABCDE ECG
CHEST and CVS
Hydration
Unwellorstable
Fluidbalance
- Is this acute
- Is it a chronic accumulation
- Does the patient have CRF
- CARDIAC history
- LOOK at FLUID Px charts
- Is patient diabetic
- Symptoms eg palpitationsdizziness
bull ECG
bull ABG - helpul i you suspect a spurious
result
bull BloodsndashRepeatsampleifunsureof
accuracy o hyperkalaemia eg haemolysis
Hyperkalaemia treatment
bull Iflt7andWITHOUTECGchanges
Insulin and dextrose IVI- reer to local trust policy or exact instructions I unable to ind then
10unitsactrapidin50mlof50dextroseover10mins
bull Ifgt65WITHECGchanges
Salbutamol 5mg neb
Insulin and dextroseIVIthenINFORMASENIORaspatientmaywellneed
Calcium gluconate10mlof10IVover5minforcardiacprotectionEnsurepatientison
cardiac monitoring Calcium resonium PO15mgQDSCausesconstipationsowriteupalaxativePRN
Hold medications as appropriate (see above)
REPEAT BLOODS post treatment
bull Diuretics-K+sparingorlosingbull ACEA2RBinbitorsegramipril
losartan
bull NSAIDS
bull IVFluids
bull PotassiumsupplementsIVPO
bull Nutritionaldrinks
ECG
ECGchangesinhyperkalaemia
bullArrythmias
bullProlongedPRintervalwithflattened
Pwaves
bullWideQRSwithslurrySTsegment
bullTalltentedTTraves
I patient is symptomaticunstable this is a medical EMERGENCY and needs a senior doctor involved
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Initial Assessment
Assessment o uid balance
Examination
Investigations
History
Plan
ATSP Re LOW URINE OUTPUT (catheterised patient)
ABCDE
CATHETER- IS IT BLOCKED
1Checktheuidchartandworkouttotalinputandoutput(usuallyover24hrsbutpatientis commonly post-op so calculate rom the time since they returned rom theatre i this is the case)2Remembertheurineoutputshouldbe05mlkghrDonrsquot orget to account or parenteral eeds stoma output and insensible losses
Fluid balance over 4 hours eg post opInput 500ml Output Urine 100ml Insensiblelosses 200ml Stoma 500mlTOTAL 500ml TOTAL 800ml
FLUID BALANCE=-300mliepatientisDRY
CHEST-isthepatientuidoverloadedABDO EXAM bullTenderUrinaryretentionNotepost-opileuscancauseurinaryretention bullStomasitendashisitinfectedLook or acute serious pathologies and try to correct these
bullAlwaysremembertolookatthenotes This problem is commonly seen in post op
surgical patientsbullCheckwhichoperationtheyrsquovehad and any important details on the op notes
beore you speak to senior docbullEnsurethatthepatientisnotuid restrictedegCCFascites
Consider
bullBloods-FBCandUampEstomonitorrenalfunction bullAXR bullDipstickurineMSUorCSU bullStoolsample(Cdiifonabx) bullSepticscreenDiscuss the need or imaging with senior i suspecting intra-abdominal sepsis
bullOftenallthatrsquosneededisauid challenge o 500ml saline particularly i the patient is dry (negative uidbalance)Getnursestorunitthroughstatandcheckopnomorethan1hrlaterIfpatientissimply
dehydrated their urine op should have picked up rom this CAUTION IN CCFCRF patients
bullCorrectunderlyingcauseoncediagnosedbullMonitorBPampurineOP(maintainurineopto05mgkghranddocumentthisinstruction)bullConsiderdiuretics(statdose40mgfurosemideIV) i you think the patient is uid overloaded (usually with positiveuidbalance)howeverusewithcautionandalwayscheckpreviousU+ErsquosConsultwithseniordoc
beore doing this you could easily exacerbate the problem
Think about RISK FACTORS orbullDehydrationLookforpotentialuidlosseseg
vomiting diarrhoea poor oral intake high stomaoutput
bullUrinaryobstructionegnatureofopco-morbiditiesbullInfectionSepsisbullDrugseganticholinergics
SEPTIC
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Make a very quick decision as to whether or not you are confdent in treating this patient on your own
Patients who are short o breath can deteriorate very quickly indeed Call or a Senior immediately i you are unsure
Medication Review
Examination
History
Investigations- dependingon scoring parameters
Plan
Medication Review
ATSP Re SHORTNESS OF BREATH
A V P U
ABCDE
OXYGEN (highowinitially)ABG
THOROUGH exam is vital to guide management
Hydration assessment
- Onset
- Duration
- Exacerbating or relieving actors
- Check clerking proorma or
co-morbidities
bullABGndashimmediatelythenrepeatbullCXRCheckmostrecentoneDonrsquot
be araid to repeat CXR i things havechanged clinically Order a portable ilm
i you eel the patient is too unstable to betransported - discuss this with the nurses bullECGbullCulturesBloodandsputumif
appropriate andor check previous orsensitivities
bullRepeatbloods
bull Staywithpatientuntilyouarehappytheyarestable
bull Regularnursingobs(2hourly)
bull KeepawatchfuleyeontheirbloodsCXRetc
CALL FOR SENIOR HELP IF YOU ARE UNSURETHESE PATIENTS CAN DETERIORATE VERY QUICKLY INDEED
Patients with anxiety exacerbatingtheir respiratory disease are otengiven Oramorph by the nursingsta Be wary o this as you dontwant to be causing respiratorydepression in eg COPD patientsAsk a senior i unsure
Is patient on thromboprophylaxisWhat can I givebull ThinkaboutyourchoicesforOxygen
Therapy depending on patientrsquos chronic diseasestatusandABGresult
bullWheezeSalbutamol5mgneb+- atrovent500mcgneb(canbegivenwith O2)bullLRTICAPHAP Antibiotics (check
protocol)bullPulm OedemaFurosemide40mgIV
JVP and ankles
Calves Thighs
Anaphylaxis
Pneumothorax
Comparesatstonormalcomparewithchronicdiseasestatus
Cardiacorrespiratorycause
Ask about ASSOCIATED FEATURES and RISK
FACTORS or
DVTPE
Overload eg recent transusionluid therapy
MI
Infection(hospitalacquired)
Anxiety AsthmaCOPD exacerbation
Recent surgery (atelectasis)
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Initial Assessment
Examination
History
Investigations - depending on scoring parameters and clinical judgement
Plan - very diferent or acutely unwell patients and those who are stable
Medication Review
ATSP Re TACHYCARDIAPALPITATIONS
A V P U
ABCDE ECG
TACHYARRYTHMIAS ARE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY If patient has developed a new tachyarrhythmia
on ECG (SVTFast AF) a senior needs to be involved Make sure you perform the following
Chest and Abdo Exam
Fluidbalance-ispatientdehydrated
Mandatory
bullECG
Consider
bullRoutinebloods+-CULTURESfor
septic screen i spiked temperature bullX-matchifsuspectpatientisbleeding
bullUrineDipstick
1IVaccess+-fluidsandbloods2Followtachycardiaalgorithmifappropriate-seniorshouldreallybeinvolvedinthis3Regularnursingobs(candotemponlyevery30minshalfhourifyouthinkhaveRFsforsepsis)4TreatsuspectedcauseoftenthisisactuallySYMPTOMCONTROLandyoumayfindthatsimple
stable tachycardias resolve once you have the ollowing under controlbull PAIN bull DEHYDRATION
bull AGITATION bull SEPSIS
bull ANXIETY bull VOMITING
IATROGENIC causes o tachycardiabull SALBUTAMOLoverusebull EYEDROPSegPHENYLEPHRINEbull THEOPHYLLINEtoxicitybull DIPYRIDAMOLE
MEDICAL MANAGEMENTbull Considerdigoxin 250mcg in
elderly patients or bisoprolol 25 mgunless otherwise contra indicated (low BP
Asthma) once cause has been identiied(senior discussion)
bullIsthepatientsymptomatic
bullCARDIAC HISTORY
bullPreviouscardiachistoryandRISKFACTORSfor
MIAFArrhythmias
bullPreviousECGs
bullFor arrhythmias IS THIS NEW Assume it is
unless proven otherwise
bullLookatKardexforanyanti-arrhythmic
medications or clues
bullHowmuchteaandcoffeehasthepatienthad
bullHas patient been on any drugs which put thematincreasedriskoftheaboveEgWarfarin
NSAIDs- bleed Should the patient have been onprophylacticLMWH-PE
Possible reasons or simple tachycardia
bull Painbull Anxietybull Sepsisbull Hypovolaemia ndash bleeddehydrationbull PEbull MIbull Medication side FX
EXPOSEor sources o sepsis
PULSEREGULARORIRREGULAR
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httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 182416
You will oten get called to the wards to prescribe drugs or common in-patient complaints
Always eye-ball a patient beore doing so- the nurses may have the diagnosis wrong
DonrsquotforgettocheckforALLERGIESPMHandRENALFUNCTION(ifindicated)LookatKARDEXor any obvious interactions
Most drugs you will prescribe on-call should be written in the PRN or lsquoonce onlyrsquo section i you
do not know the patient
ANALGESIA MEDICATION ROUTE DOSAGE MAXDAY
PARACETAMOL POIV 500mgndash1g QDS
IBUPROFEN PO 200-400mg TDS
DICLOFENACrsquoVoltarolrsquo POIM 50mg TDS
PR 100mg TDS
CO-CODAMOL
(8500OR30500) PO 1-2TABLETS QDS
CO-DYDRAMOL(10500) PO 1-2TABLETS QDS
CODEINEPHOSPHATE POIM 30-60mg QDS
BUSCOPAN POIV 10-20mg QDS
QUININE PO 200mg ON
TRAMADOL PO 50-100mg QDS
MORPHINE IVPO 5-10mg STAT
NB Opiates can cause nauseavomiting and constipation Always Prescribe a PRN antiemetic and simple laxative
ANTI-EMETICS METOCLOPRAMIDErsquoMaxalonrsquo POIMIV 10mg TDS
(dopamineantagonist-worksdirectlyonGIT)
CYCLIZINE POIV 50mg TDS
(antihistaminendashworkscentrally)
PROCHLORPERAZINElsquoStemetilrsquoPO 10- 20mg TDS
lsquoBuccastemrsquo BUCCAL 3-6mg BD
(dopamineantagonist-workscentrallyonchemoreceptortriggerone)
DOMPERIDONE PO 10-20mg QDS
(actscentrallyonchemoreceptortriggerone)
ONDANSETRON POIMIV 8mg TDS
(5HT3 antagonist)
GASTIC REFLUX GAVISCON PO 5-10ml TDS
RANITIDINE PO 150mg BD
OMEPRAzOLE PO 20mg OD
COMMONLY PRESCRIBED DRUGS and doses
Caution NSAIDs in
asthmaPUCRF
Pts with
renal colic
respond
well to PR
dicloenac
Quinineisusedor night-timeleg crampscommon inhospital ptsMake sure youexamine frst- itmay be a DVT
Buscopan is an anti-
spasmodic and works
on smooth muscle
Greatforcramping
abdo pain
You can try most o these
in various combinations i
previous attempts to control
symptoms have ailed
Metoclopramideshould notbe used postGIsurgeryfor
3 days It canalso causesextra-pyramidalreactions andoculogyric
crises Bewareo this thoughthe antidoteis procyclidine5-10mgIVIM
Ondansetron is very
expensive Its otenreserved or chemo
patients donrsquot use it as
rst-line
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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SOB SALBUTAMOL NEB 5mg STATPRN
IPRATROPIUM BROMIDE (Atrovent) NEB 500mcg STATPRN
PREDNISOLONE PO 30-40mg STATOD
(3-5days max)
HYDROCORTISONE IV 200mg STAT(i acute SOB or angiodema)
FUROSEMIDE POIV 40-80mg STAT
ORAMORPH PO 5mg
LAXATIVES
Stimulants SODIUMDOCUSATE PO 50-200mg TDS
BISOCODYL PO 5-10mg BD
SENNA PO TT (15mg) BDTDSOsmotic MOVICOL PO 1-2sachets BDTDS
LACTULOSE PO 15ml BD
I aecal loading GLYCERINESUPPOSITORY PR T STATPRN
PHOSPHATE ENEMA PR T STATPRN
ITCHRASH CHLORPHENAMINE PO 4mg TDS
(alsoknownasldquoPiritonrdquo)
AGITATION DIAzEPAM POSLOWIV 5-10mg
SLEEPLESSNESS ZOPICLONE PO 375-75mg
AGGRESSION HALOPERIDOL CheckBNFforindicationsanddoses
ALCOHOL
WITHDRAWAL CHLORDIAzEPOXIDE(reducingregimen)
Day1and220-30mgQDS
Day3and415mgQDS
Day510mgQDS
Day610mgBD
Day710mgNocte
SIMPLE UTI TRIMETHOPRIM PO 200mg BD
NITROFURANTOIN PO 50mg QDS
CEPHALEXIN PO 500mg BD
FOR ALL OTHER INFECTIONS REFER TO YOUR LOCAL ANTIBIOTIC POLICY-YOUWILLSOONLEARNMOSTOFTHEMOFFBYHEART
Salbutamol causes
tachycardia
Use oramorph with caution in COPD pts It works well in anxious patients to control their breathing
In-hospital patients are oten constipated oten due to decreased activity and medications Try tackling
constipation using dierent pharmacological approaches ie donrsquot Px movicol i already on lactulose
Write in lsquovariable dosersquo section o kardex near the back
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 202418
Wararin
Digoxin
PRESCRIBING OUT OF HOURS
You will oten get bleeped to prescribe wararin or patients you donrsquot know especially over the
weekendevenings i your colleagues havenrsquot done them
CHECK PATIENT IS NOT BLEEDING
Areyouprescribingmaintenanceorloadingdose
LOADING this is the regimen prescribed initially until INR stable and in target range Old school says10mg10mg5mgcheckINR(Day4)
MAINTENANCE usual dose once INR established to keep within target range Check yellow book or
regular prescriptions
bullOnceanINRhasbeenobtainedforoneofyourpatientsmakesureyouprescribethewarfarinfor
about3-4daysthenre-checkMarkopenbracketsonwarfarinchartstoindicatewhenyouwantthe
nextINRtobechecked(usuallybetween3-4daysintheinitialperiodormorefrequentlyifthereare
difculties establishing a maintenance dose)
bullINR is too high (lt4 or lt5 i target is 3-4) - DO NOT OMIT just reduce the dose (1mg) and re-
checkINRatleast48hrsafterasittakesbetween48-72hrsforyourchangetohaveaneect
bull I INR is gt4 (or gt5 i target is 3-4) and patient not actively bleeding prescribe Vitamin K 1mg IV
and OMIT the next dose o wararin
Reason or LT wararin Tx AF 2-3
RecurrentDVT 2-3
PE 2-3
RecurrentPE 3-4
Prostheticheartvalve 3-4
Check kardex or INTERACTIONS
Common onesbull ClarithromycinErythromycin
bull Rifampicin
I actively bleeding check with Senior or advice on urther action
You will occasionally get bleeped to review digoxin levels
Toxicity is very worrying and would normally require the use o lsquoDigibindrsquo which is basically
anantidote for digoxinODYouwillneed toget anECGand assessthepatient clinicallybefore
proceedinggetting senior help
Sub-therapeutic levels are common They are not so worrying but you should clinically assess
the patient in particular their CVS paying particular attention to their pulse as you will denitely get
asked about this i you ask or senior help
I digoxin levels are out o range make sure you check their K+ and keep a regular eye on it as this
needs to be stable or digoxin to be a sae and eective choice o therapy
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 212419
Gentamicin
Usually prescribed in severeneutropenic sepsis (OD regimen) = 5-7mgkgmax480mg
You may get bleeped to check the gentamicin levels o ward patients and subsequently prescribe
the next dose
Theblood levelneedstobe taken6-14hoursafter thestartof thefrst IVI You are basically
looking or the levels to be within therapeutic range I they are not you need to reer to the
Hartord Normogram This is a chart which indicates WHEN the next dose should be according
to how out o range the levels are You DO NOT change the DOSE just the TIMING o the next
one(either2436or48hrslater)Makesureifyouhavebeenaskedtotakethebloodyourself
you note exactly how many hours post IVI the blood has been taken on the blood card it may be
another o your peers who has to review the level
Toxicity may
cause
Deaness
tinnitus
Nystagmus
Vertigo
RenalFailure
Monitor UEs
DAILY
ForpatientswithINFECTIVE ENDOCARDITIS (TDS regimen) = 1mgkg per dose
Therst levelthatneeds toberecordedisafter the3rd4thdoseensuringatleast24hoursof
treatmentisgivenItshouldbetaken1hourpostIVIiethePEAKorPOSTlevelandbebetween
3-5mgL A trough or PRE Dose level is taken approx 1 hour beore any administered dose and
should be lt1mgL The reason or this is that they are on a TDS regimen so renal unction needs
to be closely monitored It is important that gentamicin levels do not rise to toxic amounts
which is more common in patients with renal impairment
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
32
1
06 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Time between start of infusion and sample draw (hours)
Nicolau DP Freeman CD Belliveau PP Nightingale CH Ross JW Quintiliani R Experience with
a once-daily aminoglycoside program administered to 2184 adult patients Antimicrob Agents
Chemo 1995293650-655
Hartford Once Daily Dosing Nomogram
(GentTobra 7mgkg
L e v e l ( m c g m l )
q48h
q36h
q24h
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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General Hints and Tips or seeing patients out o hours
When answering your bleep fnd out
1 Reason or bleep
2Quickbackgroundinfo
3 FurtherrelevantclinicalinfoegOBSERVATIONS and compare these to how they normally runI itrsquos a patient with high EWS just inorm a senior to make them aware and ready or action
4WhattheywantyoutoDO(PURPOSE o call)
5 Ask or the ollowing things to be ready when you arrive
bullNotes
bullKardex
bullObschartnursingle
bullEquipmentegcannulasbloodscatheteretc
6GiveappropriateinstructionsiftheyneedtodoanythingacutelybeforeyouarriveForexamplei
reason or bleep is Haematemesis ask or IV access and bloods to be taken or i a patient has
spiked a temp o gt38˚C get the nurses or night practitioner to do cultures beore you arrive Itsaves a lot o time and afng around once you are on the ward
7 Decide where this lies in your list o priorities or whether it is a job nurse practitioners can do
to help you
NB Try not to have arguments with nurses on the phone some o them are just starting out like
you and may also be petried sometimes they need reassurance too
When you get there
Findthenursewhobleepedyou(orrequestedthebleep)andgetamoredetailedaccountof
whatrsquos going on
Eye-ball the patient beore delving into notes or looking on the computer ollowing the standard
ABCDE assessment It wonrsquot take you long to gure out i they are acutely unwell unstable or
not
Once you have done your initial assessment and any immediate management document what
you have done using a logical and systematic approach This way you wonrsquot orget anything You
will also look really slick and competent plus you might nd you paint yoursel a picture o whatrsquos
going on even i you were clueless initially
Sit down at a computer with the nursing le and medical notes and go straight or the clerking It
should give you a succinct list o PC and other co-morbidities to create a more complete clinical
pictureFlickthroughthewardnotesandndanythingyoucanreaditmaybeofsomeuseLook
at the last entry in particular as there may be a plan o what to do should the situation you have
been bleeped or arises
Check PACS and the lab system or any recent imaging or tests NB ALWAYS compare recent results
to previous ones Just go down the lists looking or cultures unusual blood tests INRs etc and
document what you nd Sometimes the best summaries o a patient are created when someone
manages them on-call Be thorough at the beginning but i you are hard pushed or time reer back to the help sheets- they are designed to make you SAFE not to make you a brilliant diagnostician
whocancowboytheirwaythroughFY1lsquoHousersquostyle
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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HaveagoodbrowsethroughtheKARDEXlookingatwhichmedsmayhavecontributedtothe
situation which may have prevented it i they had been given and which ones you might need
toinitiatetomakesurethepatientisSAFE
Once you have all this inormation create a PROBLEM list and rom this document yourIMPRESSION o the situation Write a PLAN and document whether you involved a senior and
their name and grade Also document the amount o time you were there sometimes you need
tostaywithapatienttoseeifyourtreatmentworkseguidsforlowBPmeanwhileyoucan
scribble down everything yoursquove done to save time
Whenever you are assessing a patient think to yoursel
lsquoWhat do I need to DO to make sure this patient is SAFErsquo I this patient deteriorates or
dies unexpectedly and you were the last doctor to see them you need to make sure your
documentation is adequate Your management appropriate or not will mean nothing i it
has not been written down in the eyes o the law
In summary
bullAnsweryourbleepinasystematicway-itwillhelpyouprioritiseandbecomemoreecient
bullDelegatecertaintaskstonursesdonrsquotbeafraidofaskingthemyouarepartofaTEAM
bullPrioritiseyourjobsanddonrsquotbeafraidtoo-loadsomeontoyourwardSHOYOUaretheone
whogetsbleepedrstsoyouwillbeaskedtodoEVERYTHING
bullWhenyougettoapatient
1 ABCDE approach ALWAYS
2Documentyourinitialassessmentandmanagement 3Reviewthenursingleforobschartuidbalancewarfarinchartsuidprescriptions
4Reviewmedicalnotesandclerkingthensummarise
5ReviewKARDEX
6 Problem list
7 Impression
8 ACTION PLAN (use tick boxes or investigations you have ordered)
9 Keep their details (sticker on handover sheet) and make sure you check on them
later or handover to day team
ALWAYS MAKE SURE YOU ARE SAFE IF IN ANY DOUBT WHATSOEVER YOU MUST INFORMA SENIOR
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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Disclaimer
Copyright
Production
Contacts
The fndings and conclusions in this document are those o the authors who are
responsible or its content All inormation is to be interpreted on an idividual basisin context with the clinical situation to which it reers The inormation is not a
replacement or local guidelines and protocols nor is it a document with any legal
standing No statement in this document can be construed as an ocial position o
the North Western Deanery or NHS Northwest
copyGillianJacksonampFrancesBennett2011
BookdesignedbyAndrewPowellMedicalIllustrationatRoyalBoltonHospitalRef48355
Franmbennettgmailcom
gljacksonhotmailcouk
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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Initial Assessment
Examination
History
Investigations
Plan
Medication Review
ATSP Re HAEMATEMESISCOFFEE GROUND VOMITMALAENA
A V P U
ABCDE
Chest Exam
ABDO EXAM
bullAnysignsofperforationTender
bullPR EXAM ndashALWAYScheckforevidenceYOURSELFevenHaematemesisCGV
IV Access and bloods
Work out EWSBP lying and standing
IfpthashadsignicantupperGIbleed
1 A signicant posturaldrop(gt20mmHg)in BP is oten the rst sign2Theureawillusuallybecomeproportionally higher than creatinineoten with little other evidence o renalailure
bullRememberHbwonrsquotdropimmediately afteraGIbleed-thereforenormalHbisnt
reassuring
RISK FACTORS or GI BleedbullGastricirritantmedications
(NSAIDS)bullAlcoholALDbullLackofgastro-protective
medicationbullUlcersbull ReuxGORDbull Persistentvomitingbull Endoscopystentingproceduresbull Postabdosurgery
Mandatory bullBloods-FBCUampEincludingCa2+ LFTINRandclottingX-match send as URGENTConsider bullAXRerectCXR bullUrgentendoscopyifHbhastaken
massive drop rom previous or is verylow ie lt7 Seniors denitely need tobe inormed beore considering this
WITHOLD
bullAny anti-coagulants
bullNSAIDS
CONSIDER
bullAntiemetic
bullPPI(lansopraoleisindicatedfor
patients on aspirin and clopidogrel
omepraoleifnot)
bull KeepNBMuntilwardteamassessmentuntilyouaresatisedthepatientisstablebull IVaccess+-FLUIDSbull Regularnursingobs-recheckonehourlaterand2hourlythereafterbull FluidbalanceMonitorurineOPandmaintaintogt30mlhrbull Keepdetailsandcheckonthemlater
NB Patients are not normally transused blood products over night unless it is an emergency IVuidswillpreventhypovolaemiaanditsconsequencesIfyouthinkyourpatientlooksabitdryoris slightly tachycardic etc then stay on the sae side and run through some saline (unless otherwisecontraindicated)
ue Haematemesis or Malaena is a medical emergency and will oten be accompanied with a high EWSeat accordingly i this is the case In-hospital patients oten suer simple coee ground vomits without
any systemic disruption but must still be considered as a potenital emergency
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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Medication Review
Initial Assessment Examination Possible CAUSES to consider
Investigations-depend on scoring parameters
Medication Review
Plan
History - ALWAYS look in the notes
Impression
ATSP Re HIGH EWS (General Assessment)NB always ask nurses or VALUES OF PARAMETERS and what they are COMPARED TO NORMAL
TrustguidelinesindicateforFY1sEWS3ndashAssessmanageandreassessactionsafter30minutes
EWSgt5ndashSeniormustbeinformedafterinitialassessmentndashattheveryleastjusttomakesuretheyareaware
RR
Sats
HR
BP
Fluid balance
Temp
AMT
BM
Agitationmood
GCS
CHEST-THOROUGH
clinical respiratory exam
is vital to guide urther
management
HS
JVP
Calves
Mucus membranes
CRT
bull PEbull HA Pneumoniabull Failure ndash heart lungsbull MI
bull Decompensated heart ailure
bull Acutedecompensated Renal failure
bull Dehydrationbull Sepsis or inection
bull Perorationbull AAA
bull Peritonitisbull DVT (look for one- a DVT wonrsquot cause high
EWS on its own)bull Source of sepsis (lines cellulitis catheter etc)
A
B
C
D
E
Considerbull CXRbull ABGbull Routinebloods+-CULTURESforsepticscreen
i temp spiked
bull X-matchifsuspectpatientisbleedingbull ECGbull UrineDipstick
ReviewKardexforanyIATROGENIC causes o above eg NSAIDSwararin bleedIsthepatientoversedatedSYMPTOM controlbull Isthepatientinpain- analgesiabull Isthepatientvomiting- antiemetic (IVIM)
bull IsthepatientdehydratedndashIV luidsbull IsthepatientsepticndashWhatisthesource
- Antibiotics (see trust guidance)Should the patient have been on
prophylacticLMWH-PE
Has the patient suered an acute
event
Has anything CHANGED and HOW
WHYhasthishappened
A high EWS can oten resolve with SYMPTOM control Eg bring the BP up and tachyhigh RR mayresolve1 Regular nursing obs2 Treatsuspectedcause3 Strictfluidbalance+-catheterisationifpatientisunwellenough4 Analgesiaandgeneralsymptomcontrol5 Reviewyourtreatmentaction-hasithadaneffectSenior review i worried
SEPTIC SCREEN
bull CXRbull UrineDipstick bull Cultures Blood Urine (MSU) Sputum
Stoolbull Swabs rom likely sources eg wound bedsore throat eye cannula catheterdrain site
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Initial Assessment
Investigations
Plan
Medication Review
Examination
History
ATSP Re HYPERKALAEMIA (stable patient)
A V P U
ABCDE ECG
CHEST and CVS
Hydration
Unwellorstable
Fluidbalance
- Is this acute
- Is it a chronic accumulation
- Does the patient have CRF
- CARDIAC history
- LOOK at FLUID Px charts
- Is patient diabetic
- Symptoms eg palpitationsdizziness
bull ECG
bull ABG - helpul i you suspect a spurious
result
bull BloodsndashRepeatsampleifunsureof
accuracy o hyperkalaemia eg haemolysis
Hyperkalaemia treatment
bull Iflt7andWITHOUTECGchanges
Insulin and dextrose IVI- reer to local trust policy or exact instructions I unable to ind then
10unitsactrapidin50mlof50dextroseover10mins
bull Ifgt65WITHECGchanges
Salbutamol 5mg neb
Insulin and dextroseIVIthenINFORMASENIORaspatientmaywellneed
Calcium gluconate10mlof10IVover5minforcardiacprotectionEnsurepatientison
cardiac monitoring Calcium resonium PO15mgQDSCausesconstipationsowriteupalaxativePRN
Hold medications as appropriate (see above)
REPEAT BLOODS post treatment
bull Diuretics-K+sparingorlosingbull ACEA2RBinbitorsegramipril
losartan
bull NSAIDS
bull IVFluids
bull PotassiumsupplementsIVPO
bull Nutritionaldrinks
ECG
ECGchangesinhyperkalaemia
bullArrythmias
bullProlongedPRintervalwithflattened
Pwaves
bullWideQRSwithslurrySTsegment
bullTalltentedTTraves
I patient is symptomaticunstable this is a medical EMERGENCY and needs a senior doctor involved
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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Initial Assessment
Assessment o uid balance
Examination
Investigations
History
Plan
ATSP Re LOW URINE OUTPUT (catheterised patient)
ABCDE
CATHETER- IS IT BLOCKED
1Checktheuidchartandworkouttotalinputandoutput(usuallyover24hrsbutpatientis commonly post-op so calculate rom the time since they returned rom theatre i this is the case)2Remembertheurineoutputshouldbe05mlkghrDonrsquot orget to account or parenteral eeds stoma output and insensible losses
Fluid balance over 4 hours eg post opInput 500ml Output Urine 100ml Insensiblelosses 200ml Stoma 500mlTOTAL 500ml TOTAL 800ml
FLUID BALANCE=-300mliepatientisDRY
CHEST-isthepatientuidoverloadedABDO EXAM bullTenderUrinaryretentionNotepost-opileuscancauseurinaryretention bullStomasitendashisitinfectedLook or acute serious pathologies and try to correct these
bullAlwaysremembertolookatthenotes This problem is commonly seen in post op
surgical patientsbullCheckwhichoperationtheyrsquovehad and any important details on the op notes
beore you speak to senior docbullEnsurethatthepatientisnotuid restrictedegCCFascites
Consider
bullBloods-FBCandUampEstomonitorrenalfunction bullAXR bullDipstickurineMSUorCSU bullStoolsample(Cdiifonabx) bullSepticscreenDiscuss the need or imaging with senior i suspecting intra-abdominal sepsis
bullOftenallthatrsquosneededisauid challenge o 500ml saline particularly i the patient is dry (negative uidbalance)Getnursestorunitthroughstatandcheckopnomorethan1hrlaterIfpatientissimply
dehydrated their urine op should have picked up rom this CAUTION IN CCFCRF patients
bullCorrectunderlyingcauseoncediagnosedbullMonitorBPampurineOP(maintainurineopto05mgkghranddocumentthisinstruction)bullConsiderdiuretics(statdose40mgfurosemideIV) i you think the patient is uid overloaded (usually with positiveuidbalance)howeverusewithcautionandalwayscheckpreviousU+ErsquosConsultwithseniordoc
beore doing this you could easily exacerbate the problem
Think about RISK FACTORS orbullDehydrationLookforpotentialuidlosseseg
vomiting diarrhoea poor oral intake high stomaoutput
bullUrinaryobstructionegnatureofopco-morbiditiesbullInfectionSepsisbullDrugseganticholinergics
SEPTIC
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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Make a very quick decision as to whether or not you are confdent in treating this patient on your own
Patients who are short o breath can deteriorate very quickly indeed Call or a Senior immediately i you are unsure
Medication Review
Examination
History
Investigations- dependingon scoring parameters
Plan
Medication Review
ATSP Re SHORTNESS OF BREATH
A V P U
ABCDE
OXYGEN (highowinitially)ABG
THOROUGH exam is vital to guide management
Hydration assessment
- Onset
- Duration
- Exacerbating or relieving actors
- Check clerking proorma or
co-morbidities
bullABGndashimmediatelythenrepeatbullCXRCheckmostrecentoneDonrsquot
be araid to repeat CXR i things havechanged clinically Order a portable ilm
i you eel the patient is too unstable to betransported - discuss this with the nurses bullECGbullCulturesBloodandsputumif
appropriate andor check previous orsensitivities
bullRepeatbloods
bull Staywithpatientuntilyouarehappytheyarestable
bull Regularnursingobs(2hourly)
bull KeepawatchfuleyeontheirbloodsCXRetc
CALL FOR SENIOR HELP IF YOU ARE UNSURETHESE PATIENTS CAN DETERIORATE VERY QUICKLY INDEED
Patients with anxiety exacerbatingtheir respiratory disease are otengiven Oramorph by the nursingsta Be wary o this as you dontwant to be causing respiratorydepression in eg COPD patientsAsk a senior i unsure
Is patient on thromboprophylaxisWhat can I givebull ThinkaboutyourchoicesforOxygen
Therapy depending on patientrsquos chronic diseasestatusandABGresult
bullWheezeSalbutamol5mgneb+- atrovent500mcgneb(canbegivenwith O2)bullLRTICAPHAP Antibiotics (check
protocol)bullPulm OedemaFurosemide40mgIV
JVP and ankles
Calves Thighs
Anaphylaxis
Pneumothorax
Comparesatstonormalcomparewithchronicdiseasestatus
Cardiacorrespiratorycause
Ask about ASSOCIATED FEATURES and RISK
FACTORS or
DVTPE
Overload eg recent transusionluid therapy
MI
Infection(hospitalacquired)
Anxiety AsthmaCOPD exacerbation
Recent surgery (atelectasis)
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Initial Assessment
Examination
History
Investigations - depending on scoring parameters and clinical judgement
Plan - very diferent or acutely unwell patients and those who are stable
Medication Review
ATSP Re TACHYCARDIAPALPITATIONS
A V P U
ABCDE ECG
TACHYARRYTHMIAS ARE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY If patient has developed a new tachyarrhythmia
on ECG (SVTFast AF) a senior needs to be involved Make sure you perform the following
Chest and Abdo Exam
Fluidbalance-ispatientdehydrated
Mandatory
bullECG
Consider
bullRoutinebloods+-CULTURESfor
septic screen i spiked temperature bullX-matchifsuspectpatientisbleeding
bullUrineDipstick
1IVaccess+-fluidsandbloods2Followtachycardiaalgorithmifappropriate-seniorshouldreallybeinvolvedinthis3Regularnursingobs(candotemponlyevery30minshalfhourifyouthinkhaveRFsforsepsis)4TreatsuspectedcauseoftenthisisactuallySYMPTOMCONTROLandyoumayfindthatsimple
stable tachycardias resolve once you have the ollowing under controlbull PAIN bull DEHYDRATION
bull AGITATION bull SEPSIS
bull ANXIETY bull VOMITING
IATROGENIC causes o tachycardiabull SALBUTAMOLoverusebull EYEDROPSegPHENYLEPHRINEbull THEOPHYLLINEtoxicitybull DIPYRIDAMOLE
MEDICAL MANAGEMENTbull Considerdigoxin 250mcg in
elderly patients or bisoprolol 25 mgunless otherwise contra indicated (low BP
Asthma) once cause has been identiied(senior discussion)
bullIsthepatientsymptomatic
bullCARDIAC HISTORY
bullPreviouscardiachistoryandRISKFACTORSfor
MIAFArrhythmias
bullPreviousECGs
bullFor arrhythmias IS THIS NEW Assume it is
unless proven otherwise
bullLookatKardexforanyanti-arrhythmic
medications or clues
bullHowmuchteaandcoffeehasthepatienthad
bullHas patient been on any drugs which put thematincreasedriskoftheaboveEgWarfarin
NSAIDs- bleed Should the patient have been onprophylacticLMWH-PE
Possible reasons or simple tachycardia
bull Painbull Anxietybull Sepsisbull Hypovolaemia ndash bleeddehydrationbull PEbull MIbull Medication side FX
EXPOSEor sources o sepsis
PULSEREGULARORIRREGULAR
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You will oten get called to the wards to prescribe drugs or common in-patient complaints
Always eye-ball a patient beore doing so- the nurses may have the diagnosis wrong
DonrsquotforgettocheckforALLERGIESPMHandRENALFUNCTION(ifindicated)LookatKARDEXor any obvious interactions
Most drugs you will prescribe on-call should be written in the PRN or lsquoonce onlyrsquo section i you
do not know the patient
ANALGESIA MEDICATION ROUTE DOSAGE MAXDAY
PARACETAMOL POIV 500mgndash1g QDS
IBUPROFEN PO 200-400mg TDS
DICLOFENACrsquoVoltarolrsquo POIM 50mg TDS
PR 100mg TDS
CO-CODAMOL
(8500OR30500) PO 1-2TABLETS QDS
CO-DYDRAMOL(10500) PO 1-2TABLETS QDS
CODEINEPHOSPHATE POIM 30-60mg QDS
BUSCOPAN POIV 10-20mg QDS
QUININE PO 200mg ON
TRAMADOL PO 50-100mg QDS
MORPHINE IVPO 5-10mg STAT
NB Opiates can cause nauseavomiting and constipation Always Prescribe a PRN antiemetic and simple laxative
ANTI-EMETICS METOCLOPRAMIDErsquoMaxalonrsquo POIMIV 10mg TDS
(dopamineantagonist-worksdirectlyonGIT)
CYCLIZINE POIV 50mg TDS
(antihistaminendashworkscentrally)
PROCHLORPERAZINElsquoStemetilrsquoPO 10- 20mg TDS
lsquoBuccastemrsquo BUCCAL 3-6mg BD
(dopamineantagonist-workscentrallyonchemoreceptortriggerone)
DOMPERIDONE PO 10-20mg QDS
(actscentrallyonchemoreceptortriggerone)
ONDANSETRON POIMIV 8mg TDS
(5HT3 antagonist)
GASTIC REFLUX GAVISCON PO 5-10ml TDS
RANITIDINE PO 150mg BD
OMEPRAzOLE PO 20mg OD
COMMONLY PRESCRIBED DRUGS and doses
Caution NSAIDs in
asthmaPUCRF
Pts with
renal colic
respond
well to PR
dicloenac
Quinineisusedor night-timeleg crampscommon inhospital ptsMake sure youexamine frst- itmay be a DVT
Buscopan is an anti-
spasmodic and works
on smooth muscle
Greatforcramping
abdo pain
You can try most o these
in various combinations i
previous attempts to control
symptoms have ailed
Metoclopramideshould notbe used postGIsurgeryfor
3 days It canalso causesextra-pyramidalreactions andoculogyric
crises Bewareo this thoughthe antidoteis procyclidine5-10mgIVIM
Ondansetron is very
expensive Its otenreserved or chemo
patients donrsquot use it as
rst-line
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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SOB SALBUTAMOL NEB 5mg STATPRN
IPRATROPIUM BROMIDE (Atrovent) NEB 500mcg STATPRN
PREDNISOLONE PO 30-40mg STATOD
(3-5days max)
HYDROCORTISONE IV 200mg STAT(i acute SOB or angiodema)
FUROSEMIDE POIV 40-80mg STAT
ORAMORPH PO 5mg
LAXATIVES
Stimulants SODIUMDOCUSATE PO 50-200mg TDS
BISOCODYL PO 5-10mg BD
SENNA PO TT (15mg) BDTDSOsmotic MOVICOL PO 1-2sachets BDTDS
LACTULOSE PO 15ml BD
I aecal loading GLYCERINESUPPOSITORY PR T STATPRN
PHOSPHATE ENEMA PR T STATPRN
ITCHRASH CHLORPHENAMINE PO 4mg TDS
(alsoknownasldquoPiritonrdquo)
AGITATION DIAzEPAM POSLOWIV 5-10mg
SLEEPLESSNESS ZOPICLONE PO 375-75mg
AGGRESSION HALOPERIDOL CheckBNFforindicationsanddoses
ALCOHOL
WITHDRAWAL CHLORDIAzEPOXIDE(reducingregimen)
Day1and220-30mgQDS
Day3and415mgQDS
Day510mgQDS
Day610mgBD
Day710mgNocte
SIMPLE UTI TRIMETHOPRIM PO 200mg BD
NITROFURANTOIN PO 50mg QDS
CEPHALEXIN PO 500mg BD
FOR ALL OTHER INFECTIONS REFER TO YOUR LOCAL ANTIBIOTIC POLICY-YOUWILLSOONLEARNMOSTOFTHEMOFFBYHEART
Salbutamol causes
tachycardia
Use oramorph with caution in COPD pts It works well in anxious patients to control their breathing
In-hospital patients are oten constipated oten due to decreased activity and medications Try tackling
constipation using dierent pharmacological approaches ie donrsquot Px movicol i already on lactulose
Write in lsquovariable dosersquo section o kardex near the back
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 202418
Wararin
Digoxin
PRESCRIBING OUT OF HOURS
You will oten get bleeped to prescribe wararin or patients you donrsquot know especially over the
weekendevenings i your colleagues havenrsquot done them
CHECK PATIENT IS NOT BLEEDING
Areyouprescribingmaintenanceorloadingdose
LOADING this is the regimen prescribed initially until INR stable and in target range Old school says10mg10mg5mgcheckINR(Day4)
MAINTENANCE usual dose once INR established to keep within target range Check yellow book or
regular prescriptions
bullOnceanINRhasbeenobtainedforoneofyourpatientsmakesureyouprescribethewarfarinfor
about3-4daysthenre-checkMarkopenbracketsonwarfarinchartstoindicatewhenyouwantthe
nextINRtobechecked(usuallybetween3-4daysintheinitialperiodormorefrequentlyifthereare
difculties establishing a maintenance dose)
bullINR is too high (lt4 or lt5 i target is 3-4) - DO NOT OMIT just reduce the dose (1mg) and re-
checkINRatleast48hrsafterasittakesbetween48-72hrsforyourchangetohaveaneect
bull I INR is gt4 (or gt5 i target is 3-4) and patient not actively bleeding prescribe Vitamin K 1mg IV
and OMIT the next dose o wararin
Reason or LT wararin Tx AF 2-3
RecurrentDVT 2-3
PE 2-3
RecurrentPE 3-4
Prostheticheartvalve 3-4
Check kardex or INTERACTIONS
Common onesbull ClarithromycinErythromycin
bull Rifampicin
I actively bleeding check with Senior or advice on urther action
You will occasionally get bleeped to review digoxin levels
Toxicity is very worrying and would normally require the use o lsquoDigibindrsquo which is basically
anantidote for digoxinODYouwillneed toget anECGand assessthepatient clinicallybefore
proceedinggetting senior help
Sub-therapeutic levels are common They are not so worrying but you should clinically assess
the patient in particular their CVS paying particular attention to their pulse as you will denitely get
asked about this i you ask or senior help
I digoxin levels are out o range make sure you check their K+ and keep a regular eye on it as this
needs to be stable or digoxin to be a sae and eective choice o therapy
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 212419
Gentamicin
Usually prescribed in severeneutropenic sepsis (OD regimen) = 5-7mgkgmax480mg
You may get bleeped to check the gentamicin levels o ward patients and subsequently prescribe
the next dose
Theblood levelneedstobe taken6-14hoursafter thestartof thefrst IVI You are basically
looking or the levels to be within therapeutic range I they are not you need to reer to the
Hartord Normogram This is a chart which indicates WHEN the next dose should be according
to how out o range the levels are You DO NOT change the DOSE just the TIMING o the next
one(either2436or48hrslater)Makesureifyouhavebeenaskedtotakethebloodyourself
you note exactly how many hours post IVI the blood has been taken on the blood card it may be
another o your peers who has to review the level
Toxicity may
cause
Deaness
tinnitus
Nystagmus
Vertigo
RenalFailure
Monitor UEs
DAILY
ForpatientswithINFECTIVE ENDOCARDITIS (TDS regimen) = 1mgkg per dose
Therst levelthatneeds toberecordedisafter the3rd4thdoseensuringatleast24hoursof
treatmentisgivenItshouldbetaken1hourpostIVIiethePEAKorPOSTlevelandbebetween
3-5mgL A trough or PRE Dose level is taken approx 1 hour beore any administered dose and
should be lt1mgL The reason or this is that they are on a TDS regimen so renal unction needs
to be closely monitored It is important that gentamicin levels do not rise to toxic amounts
which is more common in patients with renal impairment
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
32
1
06 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Time between start of infusion and sample draw (hours)
Nicolau DP Freeman CD Belliveau PP Nightingale CH Ross JW Quintiliani R Experience with
a once-daily aminoglycoside program administered to 2184 adult patients Antimicrob Agents
Chemo 1995293650-655
Hartford Once Daily Dosing Nomogram
(GentTobra 7mgkg
L e v e l ( m c g m l )
q48h
q36h
q24h
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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General Hints and Tips or seeing patients out o hours
When answering your bleep fnd out
1 Reason or bleep
2Quickbackgroundinfo
3 FurtherrelevantclinicalinfoegOBSERVATIONS and compare these to how they normally runI itrsquos a patient with high EWS just inorm a senior to make them aware and ready or action
4WhattheywantyoutoDO(PURPOSE o call)
5 Ask or the ollowing things to be ready when you arrive
bullNotes
bullKardex
bullObschartnursingle
bullEquipmentegcannulasbloodscatheteretc
6GiveappropriateinstructionsiftheyneedtodoanythingacutelybeforeyouarriveForexamplei
reason or bleep is Haematemesis ask or IV access and bloods to be taken or i a patient has
spiked a temp o gt38˚C get the nurses or night practitioner to do cultures beore you arrive Itsaves a lot o time and afng around once you are on the ward
7 Decide where this lies in your list o priorities or whether it is a job nurse practitioners can do
to help you
NB Try not to have arguments with nurses on the phone some o them are just starting out like
you and may also be petried sometimes they need reassurance too
When you get there
Findthenursewhobleepedyou(orrequestedthebleep)andgetamoredetailedaccountof
whatrsquos going on
Eye-ball the patient beore delving into notes or looking on the computer ollowing the standard
ABCDE assessment It wonrsquot take you long to gure out i they are acutely unwell unstable or
not
Once you have done your initial assessment and any immediate management document what
you have done using a logical and systematic approach This way you wonrsquot orget anything You
will also look really slick and competent plus you might nd you paint yoursel a picture o whatrsquos
going on even i you were clueless initially
Sit down at a computer with the nursing le and medical notes and go straight or the clerking It
should give you a succinct list o PC and other co-morbidities to create a more complete clinical
pictureFlickthroughthewardnotesandndanythingyoucanreaditmaybeofsomeuseLook
at the last entry in particular as there may be a plan o what to do should the situation you have
been bleeped or arises
Check PACS and the lab system or any recent imaging or tests NB ALWAYS compare recent results
to previous ones Just go down the lists looking or cultures unusual blood tests INRs etc and
document what you nd Sometimes the best summaries o a patient are created when someone
manages them on-call Be thorough at the beginning but i you are hard pushed or time reer back to the help sheets- they are designed to make you SAFE not to make you a brilliant diagnostician
whocancowboytheirwaythroughFY1lsquoHousersquostyle
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 232421
HaveagoodbrowsethroughtheKARDEXlookingatwhichmedsmayhavecontributedtothe
situation which may have prevented it i they had been given and which ones you might need
toinitiatetomakesurethepatientisSAFE
Once you have all this inormation create a PROBLEM list and rom this document yourIMPRESSION o the situation Write a PLAN and document whether you involved a senior and
their name and grade Also document the amount o time you were there sometimes you need
tostaywithapatienttoseeifyourtreatmentworkseguidsforlowBPmeanwhileyoucan
scribble down everything yoursquove done to save time
Whenever you are assessing a patient think to yoursel
lsquoWhat do I need to DO to make sure this patient is SAFErsquo I this patient deteriorates or
dies unexpectedly and you were the last doctor to see them you need to make sure your
documentation is adequate Your management appropriate or not will mean nothing i it
has not been written down in the eyes o the law
In summary
bullAnsweryourbleepinasystematicway-itwillhelpyouprioritiseandbecomemoreecient
bullDelegatecertaintaskstonursesdonrsquotbeafraidofaskingthemyouarepartofaTEAM
bullPrioritiseyourjobsanddonrsquotbeafraidtoo-loadsomeontoyourwardSHOYOUaretheone
whogetsbleepedrstsoyouwillbeaskedtodoEVERYTHING
bullWhenyougettoapatient
1 ABCDE approach ALWAYS
2Documentyourinitialassessmentandmanagement 3Reviewthenursingleforobschartuidbalancewarfarinchartsuidprescriptions
4Reviewmedicalnotesandclerkingthensummarise
5ReviewKARDEX
6 Problem list
7 Impression
8 ACTION PLAN (use tick boxes or investigations you have ordered)
9 Keep their details (sticker on handover sheet) and make sure you check on them
later or handover to day team
ALWAYS MAKE SURE YOU ARE SAFE IF IN ANY DOUBT WHATSOEVER YOU MUST INFORMA SENIOR
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 2424
Disclaimer
Copyright
Production
Contacts
The fndings and conclusions in this document are those o the authors who are
responsible or its content All inormation is to be interpreted on an idividual basisin context with the clinical situation to which it reers The inormation is not a
replacement or local guidelines and protocols nor is it a document with any legal
standing No statement in this document can be construed as an ocial position o
the North Western Deanery or NHS Northwest
copyGillianJacksonampFrancesBennett2011
BookdesignedbyAndrewPowellMedicalIllustrationatRoyalBoltonHospitalRef48355
Franmbennettgmailcom
gljacksonhotmailcouk
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 132411
Medication Review
Initial Assessment Examination Possible CAUSES to consider
Investigations-depend on scoring parameters
Medication Review
Plan
History - ALWAYS look in the notes
Impression
ATSP Re HIGH EWS (General Assessment)NB always ask nurses or VALUES OF PARAMETERS and what they are COMPARED TO NORMAL
TrustguidelinesindicateforFY1sEWS3ndashAssessmanageandreassessactionsafter30minutes
EWSgt5ndashSeniormustbeinformedafterinitialassessmentndashattheveryleastjusttomakesuretheyareaware
RR
Sats
HR
BP
Fluid balance
Temp
AMT
BM
Agitationmood
GCS
CHEST-THOROUGH
clinical respiratory exam
is vital to guide urther
management
HS
JVP
Calves
Mucus membranes
CRT
bull PEbull HA Pneumoniabull Failure ndash heart lungsbull MI
bull Decompensated heart ailure
bull Acutedecompensated Renal failure
bull Dehydrationbull Sepsis or inection
bull Perorationbull AAA
bull Peritonitisbull DVT (look for one- a DVT wonrsquot cause high
EWS on its own)bull Source of sepsis (lines cellulitis catheter etc)
A
B
C
D
E
Considerbull CXRbull ABGbull Routinebloods+-CULTURESforsepticscreen
i temp spiked
bull X-matchifsuspectpatientisbleedingbull ECGbull UrineDipstick
ReviewKardexforanyIATROGENIC causes o above eg NSAIDSwararin bleedIsthepatientoversedatedSYMPTOM controlbull Isthepatientinpain- analgesiabull Isthepatientvomiting- antiemetic (IVIM)
bull IsthepatientdehydratedndashIV luidsbull IsthepatientsepticndashWhatisthesource
- Antibiotics (see trust guidance)Should the patient have been on
prophylacticLMWH-PE
Has the patient suered an acute
event
Has anything CHANGED and HOW
WHYhasthishappened
A high EWS can oten resolve with SYMPTOM control Eg bring the BP up and tachyhigh RR mayresolve1 Regular nursing obs2 Treatsuspectedcause3 Strictfluidbalance+-catheterisationifpatientisunwellenough4 Analgesiaandgeneralsymptomcontrol5 Reviewyourtreatmentaction-hasithadaneffectSenior review i worried
SEPTIC SCREEN
bull CXRbull UrineDipstick bull Cultures Blood Urine (MSU) Sputum
Stoolbull Swabs rom likely sources eg wound bedsore throat eye cannula catheterdrain site
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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Initial Assessment
Investigations
Plan
Medication Review
Examination
History
ATSP Re HYPERKALAEMIA (stable patient)
A V P U
ABCDE ECG
CHEST and CVS
Hydration
Unwellorstable
Fluidbalance
- Is this acute
- Is it a chronic accumulation
- Does the patient have CRF
- CARDIAC history
- LOOK at FLUID Px charts
- Is patient diabetic
- Symptoms eg palpitationsdizziness
bull ECG
bull ABG - helpul i you suspect a spurious
result
bull BloodsndashRepeatsampleifunsureof
accuracy o hyperkalaemia eg haemolysis
Hyperkalaemia treatment
bull Iflt7andWITHOUTECGchanges
Insulin and dextrose IVI- reer to local trust policy or exact instructions I unable to ind then
10unitsactrapidin50mlof50dextroseover10mins
bull Ifgt65WITHECGchanges
Salbutamol 5mg neb
Insulin and dextroseIVIthenINFORMASENIORaspatientmaywellneed
Calcium gluconate10mlof10IVover5minforcardiacprotectionEnsurepatientison
cardiac monitoring Calcium resonium PO15mgQDSCausesconstipationsowriteupalaxativePRN
Hold medications as appropriate (see above)
REPEAT BLOODS post treatment
bull Diuretics-K+sparingorlosingbull ACEA2RBinbitorsegramipril
losartan
bull NSAIDS
bull IVFluids
bull PotassiumsupplementsIVPO
bull Nutritionaldrinks
ECG
ECGchangesinhyperkalaemia
bullArrythmias
bullProlongedPRintervalwithflattened
Pwaves
bullWideQRSwithslurrySTsegment
bullTalltentedTTraves
I patient is symptomaticunstable this is a medical EMERGENCY and needs a senior doctor involved
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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Initial Assessment
Assessment o uid balance
Examination
Investigations
History
Plan
ATSP Re LOW URINE OUTPUT (catheterised patient)
ABCDE
CATHETER- IS IT BLOCKED
1Checktheuidchartandworkouttotalinputandoutput(usuallyover24hrsbutpatientis commonly post-op so calculate rom the time since they returned rom theatre i this is the case)2Remembertheurineoutputshouldbe05mlkghrDonrsquot orget to account or parenteral eeds stoma output and insensible losses
Fluid balance over 4 hours eg post opInput 500ml Output Urine 100ml Insensiblelosses 200ml Stoma 500mlTOTAL 500ml TOTAL 800ml
FLUID BALANCE=-300mliepatientisDRY
CHEST-isthepatientuidoverloadedABDO EXAM bullTenderUrinaryretentionNotepost-opileuscancauseurinaryretention bullStomasitendashisitinfectedLook or acute serious pathologies and try to correct these
bullAlwaysremembertolookatthenotes This problem is commonly seen in post op
surgical patientsbullCheckwhichoperationtheyrsquovehad and any important details on the op notes
beore you speak to senior docbullEnsurethatthepatientisnotuid restrictedegCCFascites
Consider
bullBloods-FBCandUampEstomonitorrenalfunction bullAXR bullDipstickurineMSUorCSU bullStoolsample(Cdiifonabx) bullSepticscreenDiscuss the need or imaging with senior i suspecting intra-abdominal sepsis
bullOftenallthatrsquosneededisauid challenge o 500ml saline particularly i the patient is dry (negative uidbalance)Getnursestorunitthroughstatandcheckopnomorethan1hrlaterIfpatientissimply
dehydrated their urine op should have picked up rom this CAUTION IN CCFCRF patients
bullCorrectunderlyingcauseoncediagnosedbullMonitorBPampurineOP(maintainurineopto05mgkghranddocumentthisinstruction)bullConsiderdiuretics(statdose40mgfurosemideIV) i you think the patient is uid overloaded (usually with positiveuidbalance)howeverusewithcautionandalwayscheckpreviousU+ErsquosConsultwithseniordoc
beore doing this you could easily exacerbate the problem
Think about RISK FACTORS orbullDehydrationLookforpotentialuidlosseseg
vomiting diarrhoea poor oral intake high stomaoutput
bullUrinaryobstructionegnatureofopco-morbiditiesbullInfectionSepsisbullDrugseganticholinergics
SEPTIC
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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Make a very quick decision as to whether or not you are confdent in treating this patient on your own
Patients who are short o breath can deteriorate very quickly indeed Call or a Senior immediately i you are unsure
Medication Review
Examination
History
Investigations- dependingon scoring parameters
Plan
Medication Review
ATSP Re SHORTNESS OF BREATH
A V P U
ABCDE
OXYGEN (highowinitially)ABG
THOROUGH exam is vital to guide management
Hydration assessment
- Onset
- Duration
- Exacerbating or relieving actors
- Check clerking proorma or
co-morbidities
bullABGndashimmediatelythenrepeatbullCXRCheckmostrecentoneDonrsquot
be araid to repeat CXR i things havechanged clinically Order a portable ilm
i you eel the patient is too unstable to betransported - discuss this with the nurses bullECGbullCulturesBloodandsputumif
appropriate andor check previous orsensitivities
bullRepeatbloods
bull Staywithpatientuntilyouarehappytheyarestable
bull Regularnursingobs(2hourly)
bull KeepawatchfuleyeontheirbloodsCXRetc
CALL FOR SENIOR HELP IF YOU ARE UNSURETHESE PATIENTS CAN DETERIORATE VERY QUICKLY INDEED
Patients with anxiety exacerbatingtheir respiratory disease are otengiven Oramorph by the nursingsta Be wary o this as you dontwant to be causing respiratorydepression in eg COPD patientsAsk a senior i unsure
Is patient on thromboprophylaxisWhat can I givebull ThinkaboutyourchoicesforOxygen
Therapy depending on patientrsquos chronic diseasestatusandABGresult
bullWheezeSalbutamol5mgneb+- atrovent500mcgneb(canbegivenwith O2)bullLRTICAPHAP Antibiotics (check
protocol)bullPulm OedemaFurosemide40mgIV
JVP and ankles
Calves Thighs
Anaphylaxis
Pneumothorax
Comparesatstonormalcomparewithchronicdiseasestatus
Cardiacorrespiratorycause
Ask about ASSOCIATED FEATURES and RISK
FACTORS or
DVTPE
Overload eg recent transusionluid therapy
MI
Infection(hospitalacquired)
Anxiety AsthmaCOPD exacerbation
Recent surgery (atelectasis)
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
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Initial Assessment
Examination
History
Investigations - depending on scoring parameters and clinical judgement
Plan - very diferent or acutely unwell patients and those who are stable
Medication Review
ATSP Re TACHYCARDIAPALPITATIONS
A V P U
ABCDE ECG
TACHYARRYTHMIAS ARE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY If patient has developed a new tachyarrhythmia
on ECG (SVTFast AF) a senior needs to be involved Make sure you perform the following
Chest and Abdo Exam
Fluidbalance-ispatientdehydrated
Mandatory
bullECG
Consider
bullRoutinebloods+-CULTURESfor
septic screen i spiked temperature bullX-matchifsuspectpatientisbleeding
bullUrineDipstick
1IVaccess+-fluidsandbloods2Followtachycardiaalgorithmifappropriate-seniorshouldreallybeinvolvedinthis3Regularnursingobs(candotemponlyevery30minshalfhourifyouthinkhaveRFsforsepsis)4TreatsuspectedcauseoftenthisisactuallySYMPTOMCONTROLandyoumayfindthatsimple
stable tachycardias resolve once you have the ollowing under controlbull PAIN bull DEHYDRATION
bull AGITATION bull SEPSIS
bull ANXIETY bull VOMITING
IATROGENIC causes o tachycardiabull SALBUTAMOLoverusebull EYEDROPSegPHENYLEPHRINEbull THEOPHYLLINEtoxicitybull DIPYRIDAMOLE
MEDICAL MANAGEMENTbull Considerdigoxin 250mcg in
elderly patients or bisoprolol 25 mgunless otherwise contra indicated (low BP
Asthma) once cause has been identiied(senior discussion)
bullIsthepatientsymptomatic
bullCARDIAC HISTORY
bullPreviouscardiachistoryandRISKFACTORSfor
MIAFArrhythmias
bullPreviousECGs
bullFor arrhythmias IS THIS NEW Assume it is
unless proven otherwise
bullLookatKardexforanyanti-arrhythmic
medications or clues
bullHowmuchteaandcoffeehasthepatienthad
bullHas patient been on any drugs which put thematincreasedriskoftheaboveEgWarfarin
NSAIDs- bleed Should the patient have been onprophylacticLMWH-PE
Possible reasons or simple tachycardia
bull Painbull Anxietybull Sepsisbull Hypovolaemia ndash bleeddehydrationbull PEbull MIbull Medication side FX
EXPOSEor sources o sepsis
PULSEREGULARORIRREGULAR
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 182416
You will oten get called to the wards to prescribe drugs or common in-patient complaints
Always eye-ball a patient beore doing so- the nurses may have the diagnosis wrong
DonrsquotforgettocheckforALLERGIESPMHandRENALFUNCTION(ifindicated)LookatKARDEXor any obvious interactions
Most drugs you will prescribe on-call should be written in the PRN or lsquoonce onlyrsquo section i you
do not know the patient
ANALGESIA MEDICATION ROUTE DOSAGE MAXDAY
PARACETAMOL POIV 500mgndash1g QDS
IBUPROFEN PO 200-400mg TDS
DICLOFENACrsquoVoltarolrsquo POIM 50mg TDS
PR 100mg TDS
CO-CODAMOL
(8500OR30500) PO 1-2TABLETS QDS
CO-DYDRAMOL(10500) PO 1-2TABLETS QDS
CODEINEPHOSPHATE POIM 30-60mg QDS
BUSCOPAN POIV 10-20mg QDS
QUININE PO 200mg ON
TRAMADOL PO 50-100mg QDS
MORPHINE IVPO 5-10mg STAT
NB Opiates can cause nauseavomiting and constipation Always Prescribe a PRN antiemetic and simple laxative
ANTI-EMETICS METOCLOPRAMIDErsquoMaxalonrsquo POIMIV 10mg TDS
(dopamineantagonist-worksdirectlyonGIT)
CYCLIZINE POIV 50mg TDS
(antihistaminendashworkscentrally)
PROCHLORPERAZINElsquoStemetilrsquoPO 10- 20mg TDS
lsquoBuccastemrsquo BUCCAL 3-6mg BD
(dopamineantagonist-workscentrallyonchemoreceptortriggerone)
DOMPERIDONE PO 10-20mg QDS
(actscentrallyonchemoreceptortriggerone)
ONDANSETRON POIMIV 8mg TDS
(5HT3 antagonist)
GASTIC REFLUX GAVISCON PO 5-10ml TDS
RANITIDINE PO 150mg BD
OMEPRAzOLE PO 20mg OD
COMMONLY PRESCRIBED DRUGS and doses
Caution NSAIDs in
asthmaPUCRF
Pts with
renal colic
respond
well to PR
dicloenac
Quinineisusedor night-timeleg crampscommon inhospital ptsMake sure youexamine frst- itmay be a DVT
Buscopan is an anti-
spasmodic and works
on smooth muscle
Greatforcramping
abdo pain
You can try most o these
in various combinations i
previous attempts to control
symptoms have ailed
Metoclopramideshould notbe used postGIsurgeryfor
3 days It canalso causesextra-pyramidalreactions andoculogyric
crises Bewareo this thoughthe antidoteis procyclidine5-10mgIVIM
Ondansetron is very
expensive Its otenreserved or chemo
patients donrsquot use it as
rst-line
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 192417
SOB SALBUTAMOL NEB 5mg STATPRN
IPRATROPIUM BROMIDE (Atrovent) NEB 500mcg STATPRN
PREDNISOLONE PO 30-40mg STATOD
(3-5days max)
HYDROCORTISONE IV 200mg STAT(i acute SOB or angiodema)
FUROSEMIDE POIV 40-80mg STAT
ORAMORPH PO 5mg
LAXATIVES
Stimulants SODIUMDOCUSATE PO 50-200mg TDS
BISOCODYL PO 5-10mg BD
SENNA PO TT (15mg) BDTDSOsmotic MOVICOL PO 1-2sachets BDTDS
LACTULOSE PO 15ml BD
I aecal loading GLYCERINESUPPOSITORY PR T STATPRN
PHOSPHATE ENEMA PR T STATPRN
ITCHRASH CHLORPHENAMINE PO 4mg TDS
(alsoknownasldquoPiritonrdquo)
AGITATION DIAzEPAM POSLOWIV 5-10mg
SLEEPLESSNESS ZOPICLONE PO 375-75mg
AGGRESSION HALOPERIDOL CheckBNFforindicationsanddoses
ALCOHOL
WITHDRAWAL CHLORDIAzEPOXIDE(reducingregimen)
Day1and220-30mgQDS
Day3and415mgQDS
Day510mgQDS
Day610mgBD
Day710mgNocte
SIMPLE UTI TRIMETHOPRIM PO 200mg BD
NITROFURANTOIN PO 50mg QDS
CEPHALEXIN PO 500mg BD
FOR ALL OTHER INFECTIONS REFER TO YOUR LOCAL ANTIBIOTIC POLICY-YOUWILLSOONLEARNMOSTOFTHEMOFFBYHEART
Salbutamol causes
tachycardia
Use oramorph with caution in COPD pts It works well in anxious patients to control their breathing
In-hospital patients are oten constipated oten due to decreased activity and medications Try tackling
constipation using dierent pharmacological approaches ie donrsquot Px movicol i already on lactulose
Write in lsquovariable dosersquo section o kardex near the back
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 202418
Wararin
Digoxin
PRESCRIBING OUT OF HOURS
You will oten get bleeped to prescribe wararin or patients you donrsquot know especially over the
weekendevenings i your colleagues havenrsquot done them
CHECK PATIENT IS NOT BLEEDING
Areyouprescribingmaintenanceorloadingdose
LOADING this is the regimen prescribed initially until INR stable and in target range Old school says10mg10mg5mgcheckINR(Day4)
MAINTENANCE usual dose once INR established to keep within target range Check yellow book or
regular prescriptions
bullOnceanINRhasbeenobtainedforoneofyourpatientsmakesureyouprescribethewarfarinfor
about3-4daysthenre-checkMarkopenbracketsonwarfarinchartstoindicatewhenyouwantthe
nextINRtobechecked(usuallybetween3-4daysintheinitialperiodormorefrequentlyifthereare
difculties establishing a maintenance dose)
bullINR is too high (lt4 or lt5 i target is 3-4) - DO NOT OMIT just reduce the dose (1mg) and re-
checkINRatleast48hrsafterasittakesbetween48-72hrsforyourchangetohaveaneect
bull I INR is gt4 (or gt5 i target is 3-4) and patient not actively bleeding prescribe Vitamin K 1mg IV
and OMIT the next dose o wararin
Reason or LT wararin Tx AF 2-3
RecurrentDVT 2-3
PE 2-3
RecurrentPE 3-4
Prostheticheartvalve 3-4
Check kardex or INTERACTIONS
Common onesbull ClarithromycinErythromycin
bull Rifampicin
I actively bleeding check with Senior or advice on urther action
You will occasionally get bleeped to review digoxin levels
Toxicity is very worrying and would normally require the use o lsquoDigibindrsquo which is basically
anantidote for digoxinODYouwillneed toget anECGand assessthepatient clinicallybefore
proceedinggetting senior help
Sub-therapeutic levels are common They are not so worrying but you should clinically assess
the patient in particular their CVS paying particular attention to their pulse as you will denitely get
asked about this i you ask or senior help
I digoxin levels are out o range make sure you check their K+ and keep a regular eye on it as this
needs to be stable or digoxin to be a sae and eective choice o therapy
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 212419
Gentamicin
Usually prescribed in severeneutropenic sepsis (OD regimen) = 5-7mgkgmax480mg
You may get bleeped to check the gentamicin levels o ward patients and subsequently prescribe
the next dose
Theblood levelneedstobe taken6-14hoursafter thestartof thefrst IVI You are basically
looking or the levels to be within therapeutic range I they are not you need to reer to the
Hartord Normogram This is a chart which indicates WHEN the next dose should be according
to how out o range the levels are You DO NOT change the DOSE just the TIMING o the next
one(either2436or48hrslater)Makesureifyouhavebeenaskedtotakethebloodyourself
you note exactly how many hours post IVI the blood has been taken on the blood card it may be
another o your peers who has to review the level
Toxicity may
cause
Deaness
tinnitus
Nystagmus
Vertigo
RenalFailure
Monitor UEs
DAILY
ForpatientswithINFECTIVE ENDOCARDITIS (TDS regimen) = 1mgkg per dose
Therst levelthatneeds toberecordedisafter the3rd4thdoseensuringatleast24hoursof
treatmentisgivenItshouldbetaken1hourpostIVIiethePEAKorPOSTlevelandbebetween
3-5mgL A trough or PRE Dose level is taken approx 1 hour beore any administered dose and
should be lt1mgL The reason or this is that they are on a TDS regimen so renal unction needs
to be closely monitored It is important that gentamicin levels do not rise to toxic amounts
which is more common in patients with renal impairment
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
32
1
06 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Time between start of infusion and sample draw (hours)
Nicolau DP Freeman CD Belliveau PP Nightingale CH Ross JW Quintiliani R Experience with
a once-daily aminoglycoside program administered to 2184 adult patients Antimicrob Agents
Chemo 1995293650-655
Hartford Once Daily Dosing Nomogram
(GentTobra 7mgkg
L e v e l ( m c g m l )
q48h
q36h
q24h
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 222420
General Hints and Tips or seeing patients out o hours
When answering your bleep fnd out
1 Reason or bleep
2Quickbackgroundinfo
3 FurtherrelevantclinicalinfoegOBSERVATIONS and compare these to how they normally runI itrsquos a patient with high EWS just inorm a senior to make them aware and ready or action
4WhattheywantyoutoDO(PURPOSE o call)
5 Ask or the ollowing things to be ready when you arrive
bullNotes
bullKardex
bullObschartnursingle
bullEquipmentegcannulasbloodscatheteretc
6GiveappropriateinstructionsiftheyneedtodoanythingacutelybeforeyouarriveForexamplei
reason or bleep is Haematemesis ask or IV access and bloods to be taken or i a patient has
spiked a temp o gt38˚C get the nurses or night practitioner to do cultures beore you arrive Itsaves a lot o time and afng around once you are on the ward
7 Decide where this lies in your list o priorities or whether it is a job nurse practitioners can do
to help you
NB Try not to have arguments with nurses on the phone some o them are just starting out like
you and may also be petried sometimes they need reassurance too
When you get there
Findthenursewhobleepedyou(orrequestedthebleep)andgetamoredetailedaccountof
whatrsquos going on
Eye-ball the patient beore delving into notes or looking on the computer ollowing the standard
ABCDE assessment It wonrsquot take you long to gure out i they are acutely unwell unstable or
not
Once you have done your initial assessment and any immediate management document what
you have done using a logical and systematic approach This way you wonrsquot orget anything You
will also look really slick and competent plus you might nd you paint yoursel a picture o whatrsquos
going on even i you were clueless initially
Sit down at a computer with the nursing le and medical notes and go straight or the clerking It
should give you a succinct list o PC and other co-morbidities to create a more complete clinical
pictureFlickthroughthewardnotesandndanythingyoucanreaditmaybeofsomeuseLook
at the last entry in particular as there may be a plan o what to do should the situation you have
been bleeped or arises
Check PACS and the lab system or any recent imaging or tests NB ALWAYS compare recent results
to previous ones Just go down the lists looking or cultures unusual blood tests INRs etc and
document what you nd Sometimes the best summaries o a patient are created when someone
manages them on-call Be thorough at the beginning but i you are hard pushed or time reer back to the help sheets- they are designed to make you SAFE not to make you a brilliant diagnostician
whocancowboytheirwaythroughFY1lsquoHousersquostyle
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 232421
HaveagoodbrowsethroughtheKARDEXlookingatwhichmedsmayhavecontributedtothe
situation which may have prevented it i they had been given and which ones you might need
toinitiatetomakesurethepatientisSAFE
Once you have all this inormation create a PROBLEM list and rom this document yourIMPRESSION o the situation Write a PLAN and document whether you involved a senior and
their name and grade Also document the amount o time you were there sometimes you need
tostaywithapatienttoseeifyourtreatmentworkseguidsforlowBPmeanwhileyoucan
scribble down everything yoursquove done to save time
Whenever you are assessing a patient think to yoursel
lsquoWhat do I need to DO to make sure this patient is SAFErsquo I this patient deteriorates or
dies unexpectedly and you were the last doctor to see them you need to make sure your
documentation is adequate Your management appropriate or not will mean nothing i it
has not been written down in the eyes o the law
In summary
bullAnsweryourbleepinasystematicway-itwillhelpyouprioritiseandbecomemoreecient
bullDelegatecertaintaskstonursesdonrsquotbeafraidofaskingthemyouarepartofaTEAM
bullPrioritiseyourjobsanddonrsquotbeafraidtoo-loadsomeontoyourwardSHOYOUaretheone
whogetsbleepedrstsoyouwillbeaskedtodoEVERYTHING
bullWhenyougettoapatient
1 ABCDE approach ALWAYS
2Documentyourinitialassessmentandmanagement 3Reviewthenursingleforobschartuidbalancewarfarinchartsuidprescriptions
4Reviewmedicalnotesandclerkingthensummarise
5ReviewKARDEX
6 Problem list
7 Impression
8 ACTION PLAN (use tick boxes or investigations you have ordered)
9 Keep their details (sticker on handover sheet) and make sure you check on them
later or handover to day team
ALWAYS MAKE SURE YOU ARE SAFE IF IN ANY DOUBT WHATSOEVER YOU MUST INFORMA SENIOR
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 2424
Disclaimer
Copyright
Production
Contacts
The fndings and conclusions in this document are those o the authors who are
responsible or its content All inormation is to be interpreted on an idividual basisin context with the clinical situation to which it reers The inormation is not a
replacement or local guidelines and protocols nor is it a document with any legal
standing No statement in this document can be construed as an ocial position o
the North Western Deanery or NHS Northwest
copyGillianJacksonampFrancesBennett2011
BookdesignedbyAndrewPowellMedicalIllustrationatRoyalBoltonHospitalRef48355
Franmbennettgmailcom
gljacksonhotmailcouk
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 142412
Initial Assessment
Investigations
Plan
Medication Review
Examination
History
ATSP Re HYPERKALAEMIA (stable patient)
A V P U
ABCDE ECG
CHEST and CVS
Hydration
Unwellorstable
Fluidbalance
- Is this acute
- Is it a chronic accumulation
- Does the patient have CRF
- CARDIAC history
- LOOK at FLUID Px charts
- Is patient diabetic
- Symptoms eg palpitationsdizziness
bull ECG
bull ABG - helpul i you suspect a spurious
result
bull BloodsndashRepeatsampleifunsureof
accuracy o hyperkalaemia eg haemolysis
Hyperkalaemia treatment
bull Iflt7andWITHOUTECGchanges
Insulin and dextrose IVI- reer to local trust policy or exact instructions I unable to ind then
10unitsactrapidin50mlof50dextroseover10mins
bull Ifgt65WITHECGchanges
Salbutamol 5mg neb
Insulin and dextroseIVIthenINFORMASENIORaspatientmaywellneed
Calcium gluconate10mlof10IVover5minforcardiacprotectionEnsurepatientison
cardiac monitoring Calcium resonium PO15mgQDSCausesconstipationsowriteupalaxativePRN
Hold medications as appropriate (see above)
REPEAT BLOODS post treatment
bull Diuretics-K+sparingorlosingbull ACEA2RBinbitorsegramipril
losartan
bull NSAIDS
bull IVFluids
bull PotassiumsupplementsIVPO
bull Nutritionaldrinks
ECG
ECGchangesinhyperkalaemia
bullArrythmias
bullProlongedPRintervalwithflattened
Pwaves
bullWideQRSwithslurrySTsegment
bullTalltentedTTraves
I patient is symptomaticunstable this is a medical EMERGENCY and needs a senior doctor involved
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 152413
Initial Assessment
Assessment o uid balance
Examination
Investigations
History
Plan
ATSP Re LOW URINE OUTPUT (catheterised patient)
ABCDE
CATHETER- IS IT BLOCKED
1Checktheuidchartandworkouttotalinputandoutput(usuallyover24hrsbutpatientis commonly post-op so calculate rom the time since they returned rom theatre i this is the case)2Remembertheurineoutputshouldbe05mlkghrDonrsquot orget to account or parenteral eeds stoma output and insensible losses
Fluid balance over 4 hours eg post opInput 500ml Output Urine 100ml Insensiblelosses 200ml Stoma 500mlTOTAL 500ml TOTAL 800ml
FLUID BALANCE=-300mliepatientisDRY
CHEST-isthepatientuidoverloadedABDO EXAM bullTenderUrinaryretentionNotepost-opileuscancauseurinaryretention bullStomasitendashisitinfectedLook or acute serious pathologies and try to correct these
bullAlwaysremembertolookatthenotes This problem is commonly seen in post op
surgical patientsbullCheckwhichoperationtheyrsquovehad and any important details on the op notes
beore you speak to senior docbullEnsurethatthepatientisnotuid restrictedegCCFascites
Consider
bullBloods-FBCandUampEstomonitorrenalfunction bullAXR bullDipstickurineMSUorCSU bullStoolsample(Cdiifonabx) bullSepticscreenDiscuss the need or imaging with senior i suspecting intra-abdominal sepsis
bullOftenallthatrsquosneededisauid challenge o 500ml saline particularly i the patient is dry (negative uidbalance)Getnursestorunitthroughstatandcheckopnomorethan1hrlaterIfpatientissimply
dehydrated their urine op should have picked up rom this CAUTION IN CCFCRF patients
bullCorrectunderlyingcauseoncediagnosedbullMonitorBPampurineOP(maintainurineopto05mgkghranddocumentthisinstruction)bullConsiderdiuretics(statdose40mgfurosemideIV) i you think the patient is uid overloaded (usually with positiveuidbalance)howeverusewithcautionandalwayscheckpreviousU+ErsquosConsultwithseniordoc
beore doing this you could easily exacerbate the problem
Think about RISK FACTORS orbullDehydrationLookforpotentialuidlosseseg
vomiting diarrhoea poor oral intake high stomaoutput
bullUrinaryobstructionegnatureofopco-morbiditiesbullInfectionSepsisbullDrugseganticholinergics
SEPTIC
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 162414
Make a very quick decision as to whether or not you are confdent in treating this patient on your own
Patients who are short o breath can deteriorate very quickly indeed Call or a Senior immediately i you are unsure
Medication Review
Examination
History
Investigations- dependingon scoring parameters
Plan
Medication Review
ATSP Re SHORTNESS OF BREATH
A V P U
ABCDE
OXYGEN (highowinitially)ABG
THOROUGH exam is vital to guide management
Hydration assessment
- Onset
- Duration
- Exacerbating or relieving actors
- Check clerking proorma or
co-morbidities
bullABGndashimmediatelythenrepeatbullCXRCheckmostrecentoneDonrsquot
be araid to repeat CXR i things havechanged clinically Order a portable ilm
i you eel the patient is too unstable to betransported - discuss this with the nurses bullECGbullCulturesBloodandsputumif
appropriate andor check previous orsensitivities
bullRepeatbloods
bull Staywithpatientuntilyouarehappytheyarestable
bull Regularnursingobs(2hourly)
bull KeepawatchfuleyeontheirbloodsCXRetc
CALL FOR SENIOR HELP IF YOU ARE UNSURETHESE PATIENTS CAN DETERIORATE VERY QUICKLY INDEED
Patients with anxiety exacerbatingtheir respiratory disease are otengiven Oramorph by the nursingsta Be wary o this as you dontwant to be causing respiratorydepression in eg COPD patientsAsk a senior i unsure
Is patient on thromboprophylaxisWhat can I givebull ThinkaboutyourchoicesforOxygen
Therapy depending on patientrsquos chronic diseasestatusandABGresult
bullWheezeSalbutamol5mgneb+- atrovent500mcgneb(canbegivenwith O2)bullLRTICAPHAP Antibiotics (check
protocol)bullPulm OedemaFurosemide40mgIV
JVP and ankles
Calves Thighs
Anaphylaxis
Pneumothorax
Comparesatstonormalcomparewithchronicdiseasestatus
Cardiacorrespiratorycause
Ask about ASSOCIATED FEATURES and RISK
FACTORS or
DVTPE
Overload eg recent transusionluid therapy
MI
Infection(hospitalacquired)
Anxiety AsthmaCOPD exacerbation
Recent surgery (atelectasis)
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 172415
Initial Assessment
Examination
History
Investigations - depending on scoring parameters and clinical judgement
Plan - very diferent or acutely unwell patients and those who are stable
Medication Review
ATSP Re TACHYCARDIAPALPITATIONS
A V P U
ABCDE ECG
TACHYARRYTHMIAS ARE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY If patient has developed a new tachyarrhythmia
on ECG (SVTFast AF) a senior needs to be involved Make sure you perform the following
Chest and Abdo Exam
Fluidbalance-ispatientdehydrated
Mandatory
bullECG
Consider
bullRoutinebloods+-CULTURESfor
septic screen i spiked temperature bullX-matchifsuspectpatientisbleeding
bullUrineDipstick
1IVaccess+-fluidsandbloods2Followtachycardiaalgorithmifappropriate-seniorshouldreallybeinvolvedinthis3Regularnursingobs(candotemponlyevery30minshalfhourifyouthinkhaveRFsforsepsis)4TreatsuspectedcauseoftenthisisactuallySYMPTOMCONTROLandyoumayfindthatsimple
stable tachycardias resolve once you have the ollowing under controlbull PAIN bull DEHYDRATION
bull AGITATION bull SEPSIS
bull ANXIETY bull VOMITING
IATROGENIC causes o tachycardiabull SALBUTAMOLoverusebull EYEDROPSegPHENYLEPHRINEbull THEOPHYLLINEtoxicitybull DIPYRIDAMOLE
MEDICAL MANAGEMENTbull Considerdigoxin 250mcg in
elderly patients or bisoprolol 25 mgunless otherwise contra indicated (low BP
Asthma) once cause has been identiied(senior discussion)
bullIsthepatientsymptomatic
bullCARDIAC HISTORY
bullPreviouscardiachistoryandRISKFACTORSfor
MIAFArrhythmias
bullPreviousECGs
bullFor arrhythmias IS THIS NEW Assume it is
unless proven otherwise
bullLookatKardexforanyanti-arrhythmic
medications or clues
bullHowmuchteaandcoffeehasthepatienthad
bullHas patient been on any drugs which put thematincreasedriskoftheaboveEgWarfarin
NSAIDs- bleed Should the patient have been onprophylacticLMWH-PE
Possible reasons or simple tachycardia
bull Painbull Anxietybull Sepsisbull Hypovolaemia ndash bleeddehydrationbull PEbull MIbull Medication side FX
EXPOSEor sources o sepsis
PULSEREGULARORIRREGULAR
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 182416
You will oten get called to the wards to prescribe drugs or common in-patient complaints
Always eye-ball a patient beore doing so- the nurses may have the diagnosis wrong
DonrsquotforgettocheckforALLERGIESPMHandRENALFUNCTION(ifindicated)LookatKARDEXor any obvious interactions
Most drugs you will prescribe on-call should be written in the PRN or lsquoonce onlyrsquo section i you
do not know the patient
ANALGESIA MEDICATION ROUTE DOSAGE MAXDAY
PARACETAMOL POIV 500mgndash1g QDS
IBUPROFEN PO 200-400mg TDS
DICLOFENACrsquoVoltarolrsquo POIM 50mg TDS
PR 100mg TDS
CO-CODAMOL
(8500OR30500) PO 1-2TABLETS QDS
CO-DYDRAMOL(10500) PO 1-2TABLETS QDS
CODEINEPHOSPHATE POIM 30-60mg QDS
BUSCOPAN POIV 10-20mg QDS
QUININE PO 200mg ON
TRAMADOL PO 50-100mg QDS
MORPHINE IVPO 5-10mg STAT
NB Opiates can cause nauseavomiting and constipation Always Prescribe a PRN antiemetic and simple laxative
ANTI-EMETICS METOCLOPRAMIDErsquoMaxalonrsquo POIMIV 10mg TDS
(dopamineantagonist-worksdirectlyonGIT)
CYCLIZINE POIV 50mg TDS
(antihistaminendashworkscentrally)
PROCHLORPERAZINElsquoStemetilrsquoPO 10- 20mg TDS
lsquoBuccastemrsquo BUCCAL 3-6mg BD
(dopamineantagonist-workscentrallyonchemoreceptortriggerone)
DOMPERIDONE PO 10-20mg QDS
(actscentrallyonchemoreceptortriggerone)
ONDANSETRON POIMIV 8mg TDS
(5HT3 antagonist)
GASTIC REFLUX GAVISCON PO 5-10ml TDS
RANITIDINE PO 150mg BD
OMEPRAzOLE PO 20mg OD
COMMONLY PRESCRIBED DRUGS and doses
Caution NSAIDs in
asthmaPUCRF
Pts with
renal colic
respond
well to PR
dicloenac
Quinineisusedor night-timeleg crampscommon inhospital ptsMake sure youexamine frst- itmay be a DVT
Buscopan is an anti-
spasmodic and works
on smooth muscle
Greatforcramping
abdo pain
You can try most o these
in various combinations i
previous attempts to control
symptoms have ailed
Metoclopramideshould notbe used postGIsurgeryfor
3 days It canalso causesextra-pyramidalreactions andoculogyric
crises Bewareo this thoughthe antidoteis procyclidine5-10mgIVIM
Ondansetron is very
expensive Its otenreserved or chemo
patients donrsquot use it as
rst-line
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 192417
SOB SALBUTAMOL NEB 5mg STATPRN
IPRATROPIUM BROMIDE (Atrovent) NEB 500mcg STATPRN
PREDNISOLONE PO 30-40mg STATOD
(3-5days max)
HYDROCORTISONE IV 200mg STAT(i acute SOB or angiodema)
FUROSEMIDE POIV 40-80mg STAT
ORAMORPH PO 5mg
LAXATIVES
Stimulants SODIUMDOCUSATE PO 50-200mg TDS
BISOCODYL PO 5-10mg BD
SENNA PO TT (15mg) BDTDSOsmotic MOVICOL PO 1-2sachets BDTDS
LACTULOSE PO 15ml BD
I aecal loading GLYCERINESUPPOSITORY PR T STATPRN
PHOSPHATE ENEMA PR T STATPRN
ITCHRASH CHLORPHENAMINE PO 4mg TDS
(alsoknownasldquoPiritonrdquo)
AGITATION DIAzEPAM POSLOWIV 5-10mg
SLEEPLESSNESS ZOPICLONE PO 375-75mg
AGGRESSION HALOPERIDOL CheckBNFforindicationsanddoses
ALCOHOL
WITHDRAWAL CHLORDIAzEPOXIDE(reducingregimen)
Day1and220-30mgQDS
Day3and415mgQDS
Day510mgQDS
Day610mgBD
Day710mgNocte
SIMPLE UTI TRIMETHOPRIM PO 200mg BD
NITROFURANTOIN PO 50mg QDS
CEPHALEXIN PO 500mg BD
FOR ALL OTHER INFECTIONS REFER TO YOUR LOCAL ANTIBIOTIC POLICY-YOUWILLSOONLEARNMOSTOFTHEMOFFBYHEART
Salbutamol causes
tachycardia
Use oramorph with caution in COPD pts It works well in anxious patients to control their breathing
In-hospital patients are oten constipated oten due to decreased activity and medications Try tackling
constipation using dierent pharmacological approaches ie donrsquot Px movicol i already on lactulose
Write in lsquovariable dosersquo section o kardex near the back
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 202418
Wararin
Digoxin
PRESCRIBING OUT OF HOURS
You will oten get bleeped to prescribe wararin or patients you donrsquot know especially over the
weekendevenings i your colleagues havenrsquot done them
CHECK PATIENT IS NOT BLEEDING
Areyouprescribingmaintenanceorloadingdose
LOADING this is the regimen prescribed initially until INR stable and in target range Old school says10mg10mg5mgcheckINR(Day4)
MAINTENANCE usual dose once INR established to keep within target range Check yellow book or
regular prescriptions
bullOnceanINRhasbeenobtainedforoneofyourpatientsmakesureyouprescribethewarfarinfor
about3-4daysthenre-checkMarkopenbracketsonwarfarinchartstoindicatewhenyouwantthe
nextINRtobechecked(usuallybetween3-4daysintheinitialperiodormorefrequentlyifthereare
difculties establishing a maintenance dose)
bullINR is too high (lt4 or lt5 i target is 3-4) - DO NOT OMIT just reduce the dose (1mg) and re-
checkINRatleast48hrsafterasittakesbetween48-72hrsforyourchangetohaveaneect
bull I INR is gt4 (or gt5 i target is 3-4) and patient not actively bleeding prescribe Vitamin K 1mg IV
and OMIT the next dose o wararin
Reason or LT wararin Tx AF 2-3
RecurrentDVT 2-3
PE 2-3
RecurrentPE 3-4
Prostheticheartvalve 3-4
Check kardex or INTERACTIONS
Common onesbull ClarithromycinErythromycin
bull Rifampicin
I actively bleeding check with Senior or advice on urther action
You will occasionally get bleeped to review digoxin levels
Toxicity is very worrying and would normally require the use o lsquoDigibindrsquo which is basically
anantidote for digoxinODYouwillneed toget anECGand assessthepatient clinicallybefore
proceedinggetting senior help
Sub-therapeutic levels are common They are not so worrying but you should clinically assess
the patient in particular their CVS paying particular attention to their pulse as you will denitely get
asked about this i you ask or senior help
I digoxin levels are out o range make sure you check their K+ and keep a regular eye on it as this
needs to be stable or digoxin to be a sae and eective choice o therapy
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 212419
Gentamicin
Usually prescribed in severeneutropenic sepsis (OD regimen) = 5-7mgkgmax480mg
You may get bleeped to check the gentamicin levels o ward patients and subsequently prescribe
the next dose
Theblood levelneedstobe taken6-14hoursafter thestartof thefrst IVI You are basically
looking or the levels to be within therapeutic range I they are not you need to reer to the
Hartord Normogram This is a chart which indicates WHEN the next dose should be according
to how out o range the levels are You DO NOT change the DOSE just the TIMING o the next
one(either2436or48hrslater)Makesureifyouhavebeenaskedtotakethebloodyourself
you note exactly how many hours post IVI the blood has been taken on the blood card it may be
another o your peers who has to review the level
Toxicity may
cause
Deaness
tinnitus
Nystagmus
Vertigo
RenalFailure
Monitor UEs
DAILY
ForpatientswithINFECTIVE ENDOCARDITIS (TDS regimen) = 1mgkg per dose
Therst levelthatneeds toberecordedisafter the3rd4thdoseensuringatleast24hoursof
treatmentisgivenItshouldbetaken1hourpostIVIiethePEAKorPOSTlevelandbebetween
3-5mgL A trough or PRE Dose level is taken approx 1 hour beore any administered dose and
should be lt1mgL The reason or this is that they are on a TDS regimen so renal unction needs
to be closely monitored It is important that gentamicin levels do not rise to toxic amounts
which is more common in patients with renal impairment
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
32
1
06 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Time between start of infusion and sample draw (hours)
Nicolau DP Freeman CD Belliveau PP Nightingale CH Ross JW Quintiliani R Experience with
a once-daily aminoglycoside program administered to 2184 adult patients Antimicrob Agents
Chemo 1995293650-655
Hartford Once Daily Dosing Nomogram
(GentTobra 7mgkg
L e v e l ( m c g m l )
q48h
q36h
q24h
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 222420
General Hints and Tips or seeing patients out o hours
When answering your bleep fnd out
1 Reason or bleep
2Quickbackgroundinfo
3 FurtherrelevantclinicalinfoegOBSERVATIONS and compare these to how they normally runI itrsquos a patient with high EWS just inorm a senior to make them aware and ready or action
4WhattheywantyoutoDO(PURPOSE o call)
5 Ask or the ollowing things to be ready when you arrive
bullNotes
bullKardex
bullObschartnursingle
bullEquipmentegcannulasbloodscatheteretc
6GiveappropriateinstructionsiftheyneedtodoanythingacutelybeforeyouarriveForexamplei
reason or bleep is Haematemesis ask or IV access and bloods to be taken or i a patient has
spiked a temp o gt38˚C get the nurses or night practitioner to do cultures beore you arrive Itsaves a lot o time and afng around once you are on the ward
7 Decide where this lies in your list o priorities or whether it is a job nurse practitioners can do
to help you
NB Try not to have arguments with nurses on the phone some o them are just starting out like
you and may also be petried sometimes they need reassurance too
When you get there
Findthenursewhobleepedyou(orrequestedthebleep)andgetamoredetailedaccountof
whatrsquos going on
Eye-ball the patient beore delving into notes or looking on the computer ollowing the standard
ABCDE assessment It wonrsquot take you long to gure out i they are acutely unwell unstable or
not
Once you have done your initial assessment and any immediate management document what
you have done using a logical and systematic approach This way you wonrsquot orget anything You
will also look really slick and competent plus you might nd you paint yoursel a picture o whatrsquos
going on even i you were clueless initially
Sit down at a computer with the nursing le and medical notes and go straight or the clerking It
should give you a succinct list o PC and other co-morbidities to create a more complete clinical
pictureFlickthroughthewardnotesandndanythingyoucanreaditmaybeofsomeuseLook
at the last entry in particular as there may be a plan o what to do should the situation you have
been bleeped or arises
Check PACS and the lab system or any recent imaging or tests NB ALWAYS compare recent results
to previous ones Just go down the lists looking or cultures unusual blood tests INRs etc and
document what you nd Sometimes the best summaries o a patient are created when someone
manages them on-call Be thorough at the beginning but i you are hard pushed or time reer back to the help sheets- they are designed to make you SAFE not to make you a brilliant diagnostician
whocancowboytheirwaythroughFY1lsquoHousersquostyle
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 232421
HaveagoodbrowsethroughtheKARDEXlookingatwhichmedsmayhavecontributedtothe
situation which may have prevented it i they had been given and which ones you might need
toinitiatetomakesurethepatientisSAFE
Once you have all this inormation create a PROBLEM list and rom this document yourIMPRESSION o the situation Write a PLAN and document whether you involved a senior and
their name and grade Also document the amount o time you were there sometimes you need
tostaywithapatienttoseeifyourtreatmentworkseguidsforlowBPmeanwhileyoucan
scribble down everything yoursquove done to save time
Whenever you are assessing a patient think to yoursel
lsquoWhat do I need to DO to make sure this patient is SAFErsquo I this patient deteriorates or
dies unexpectedly and you were the last doctor to see them you need to make sure your
documentation is adequate Your management appropriate or not will mean nothing i it
has not been written down in the eyes o the law
In summary
bullAnsweryourbleepinasystematicway-itwillhelpyouprioritiseandbecomemoreecient
bullDelegatecertaintaskstonursesdonrsquotbeafraidofaskingthemyouarepartofaTEAM
bullPrioritiseyourjobsanddonrsquotbeafraidtoo-loadsomeontoyourwardSHOYOUaretheone
whogetsbleepedrstsoyouwillbeaskedtodoEVERYTHING
bullWhenyougettoapatient
1 ABCDE approach ALWAYS
2Documentyourinitialassessmentandmanagement 3Reviewthenursingleforobschartuidbalancewarfarinchartsuidprescriptions
4Reviewmedicalnotesandclerkingthensummarise
5ReviewKARDEX
6 Problem list
7 Impression
8 ACTION PLAN (use tick boxes or investigations you have ordered)
9 Keep their details (sticker on handover sheet) and make sure you check on them
later or handover to day team
ALWAYS MAKE SURE YOU ARE SAFE IF IN ANY DOUBT WHATSOEVER YOU MUST INFORMA SENIOR
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 2424
Disclaimer
Copyright
Production
Contacts
The fndings and conclusions in this document are those o the authors who are
responsible or its content All inormation is to be interpreted on an idividual basisin context with the clinical situation to which it reers The inormation is not a
replacement or local guidelines and protocols nor is it a document with any legal
standing No statement in this document can be construed as an ocial position o
the North Western Deanery or NHS Northwest
copyGillianJacksonampFrancesBennett2011
BookdesignedbyAndrewPowellMedicalIllustrationatRoyalBoltonHospitalRef48355
Franmbennettgmailcom
gljacksonhotmailcouk
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 152413
Initial Assessment
Assessment o uid balance
Examination
Investigations
History
Plan
ATSP Re LOW URINE OUTPUT (catheterised patient)
ABCDE
CATHETER- IS IT BLOCKED
1Checktheuidchartandworkouttotalinputandoutput(usuallyover24hrsbutpatientis commonly post-op so calculate rom the time since they returned rom theatre i this is the case)2Remembertheurineoutputshouldbe05mlkghrDonrsquot orget to account or parenteral eeds stoma output and insensible losses
Fluid balance over 4 hours eg post opInput 500ml Output Urine 100ml Insensiblelosses 200ml Stoma 500mlTOTAL 500ml TOTAL 800ml
FLUID BALANCE=-300mliepatientisDRY
CHEST-isthepatientuidoverloadedABDO EXAM bullTenderUrinaryretentionNotepost-opileuscancauseurinaryretention bullStomasitendashisitinfectedLook or acute serious pathologies and try to correct these
bullAlwaysremembertolookatthenotes This problem is commonly seen in post op
surgical patientsbullCheckwhichoperationtheyrsquovehad and any important details on the op notes
beore you speak to senior docbullEnsurethatthepatientisnotuid restrictedegCCFascites
Consider
bullBloods-FBCandUampEstomonitorrenalfunction bullAXR bullDipstickurineMSUorCSU bullStoolsample(Cdiifonabx) bullSepticscreenDiscuss the need or imaging with senior i suspecting intra-abdominal sepsis
bullOftenallthatrsquosneededisauid challenge o 500ml saline particularly i the patient is dry (negative uidbalance)Getnursestorunitthroughstatandcheckopnomorethan1hrlaterIfpatientissimply
dehydrated their urine op should have picked up rom this CAUTION IN CCFCRF patients
bullCorrectunderlyingcauseoncediagnosedbullMonitorBPampurineOP(maintainurineopto05mgkghranddocumentthisinstruction)bullConsiderdiuretics(statdose40mgfurosemideIV) i you think the patient is uid overloaded (usually with positiveuidbalance)howeverusewithcautionandalwayscheckpreviousU+ErsquosConsultwithseniordoc
beore doing this you could easily exacerbate the problem
Think about RISK FACTORS orbullDehydrationLookforpotentialuidlosseseg
vomiting diarrhoea poor oral intake high stomaoutput
bullUrinaryobstructionegnatureofopco-morbiditiesbullInfectionSepsisbullDrugseganticholinergics
SEPTIC
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 162414
Make a very quick decision as to whether or not you are confdent in treating this patient on your own
Patients who are short o breath can deteriorate very quickly indeed Call or a Senior immediately i you are unsure
Medication Review
Examination
History
Investigations- dependingon scoring parameters
Plan
Medication Review
ATSP Re SHORTNESS OF BREATH
A V P U
ABCDE
OXYGEN (highowinitially)ABG
THOROUGH exam is vital to guide management
Hydration assessment
- Onset
- Duration
- Exacerbating or relieving actors
- Check clerking proorma or
co-morbidities
bullABGndashimmediatelythenrepeatbullCXRCheckmostrecentoneDonrsquot
be araid to repeat CXR i things havechanged clinically Order a portable ilm
i you eel the patient is too unstable to betransported - discuss this with the nurses bullECGbullCulturesBloodandsputumif
appropriate andor check previous orsensitivities
bullRepeatbloods
bull Staywithpatientuntilyouarehappytheyarestable
bull Regularnursingobs(2hourly)
bull KeepawatchfuleyeontheirbloodsCXRetc
CALL FOR SENIOR HELP IF YOU ARE UNSURETHESE PATIENTS CAN DETERIORATE VERY QUICKLY INDEED
Patients with anxiety exacerbatingtheir respiratory disease are otengiven Oramorph by the nursingsta Be wary o this as you dontwant to be causing respiratorydepression in eg COPD patientsAsk a senior i unsure
Is patient on thromboprophylaxisWhat can I givebull ThinkaboutyourchoicesforOxygen
Therapy depending on patientrsquos chronic diseasestatusandABGresult
bullWheezeSalbutamol5mgneb+- atrovent500mcgneb(canbegivenwith O2)bullLRTICAPHAP Antibiotics (check
protocol)bullPulm OedemaFurosemide40mgIV
JVP and ankles
Calves Thighs
Anaphylaxis
Pneumothorax
Comparesatstonormalcomparewithchronicdiseasestatus
Cardiacorrespiratorycause
Ask about ASSOCIATED FEATURES and RISK
FACTORS or
DVTPE
Overload eg recent transusionluid therapy
MI
Infection(hospitalacquired)
Anxiety AsthmaCOPD exacerbation
Recent surgery (atelectasis)
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 172415
Initial Assessment
Examination
History
Investigations - depending on scoring parameters and clinical judgement
Plan - very diferent or acutely unwell patients and those who are stable
Medication Review
ATSP Re TACHYCARDIAPALPITATIONS
A V P U
ABCDE ECG
TACHYARRYTHMIAS ARE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY If patient has developed a new tachyarrhythmia
on ECG (SVTFast AF) a senior needs to be involved Make sure you perform the following
Chest and Abdo Exam
Fluidbalance-ispatientdehydrated
Mandatory
bullECG
Consider
bullRoutinebloods+-CULTURESfor
septic screen i spiked temperature bullX-matchifsuspectpatientisbleeding
bullUrineDipstick
1IVaccess+-fluidsandbloods2Followtachycardiaalgorithmifappropriate-seniorshouldreallybeinvolvedinthis3Regularnursingobs(candotemponlyevery30minshalfhourifyouthinkhaveRFsforsepsis)4TreatsuspectedcauseoftenthisisactuallySYMPTOMCONTROLandyoumayfindthatsimple
stable tachycardias resolve once you have the ollowing under controlbull PAIN bull DEHYDRATION
bull AGITATION bull SEPSIS
bull ANXIETY bull VOMITING
IATROGENIC causes o tachycardiabull SALBUTAMOLoverusebull EYEDROPSegPHENYLEPHRINEbull THEOPHYLLINEtoxicitybull DIPYRIDAMOLE
MEDICAL MANAGEMENTbull Considerdigoxin 250mcg in
elderly patients or bisoprolol 25 mgunless otherwise contra indicated (low BP
Asthma) once cause has been identiied(senior discussion)
bullIsthepatientsymptomatic
bullCARDIAC HISTORY
bullPreviouscardiachistoryandRISKFACTORSfor
MIAFArrhythmias
bullPreviousECGs
bullFor arrhythmias IS THIS NEW Assume it is
unless proven otherwise
bullLookatKardexforanyanti-arrhythmic
medications or clues
bullHowmuchteaandcoffeehasthepatienthad
bullHas patient been on any drugs which put thematincreasedriskoftheaboveEgWarfarin
NSAIDs- bleed Should the patient have been onprophylacticLMWH-PE
Possible reasons or simple tachycardia
bull Painbull Anxietybull Sepsisbull Hypovolaemia ndash bleeddehydrationbull PEbull MIbull Medication side FX
EXPOSEor sources o sepsis
PULSEREGULARORIRREGULAR
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 182416
You will oten get called to the wards to prescribe drugs or common in-patient complaints
Always eye-ball a patient beore doing so- the nurses may have the diagnosis wrong
DonrsquotforgettocheckforALLERGIESPMHandRENALFUNCTION(ifindicated)LookatKARDEXor any obvious interactions
Most drugs you will prescribe on-call should be written in the PRN or lsquoonce onlyrsquo section i you
do not know the patient
ANALGESIA MEDICATION ROUTE DOSAGE MAXDAY
PARACETAMOL POIV 500mgndash1g QDS
IBUPROFEN PO 200-400mg TDS
DICLOFENACrsquoVoltarolrsquo POIM 50mg TDS
PR 100mg TDS
CO-CODAMOL
(8500OR30500) PO 1-2TABLETS QDS
CO-DYDRAMOL(10500) PO 1-2TABLETS QDS
CODEINEPHOSPHATE POIM 30-60mg QDS
BUSCOPAN POIV 10-20mg QDS
QUININE PO 200mg ON
TRAMADOL PO 50-100mg QDS
MORPHINE IVPO 5-10mg STAT
NB Opiates can cause nauseavomiting and constipation Always Prescribe a PRN antiemetic and simple laxative
ANTI-EMETICS METOCLOPRAMIDErsquoMaxalonrsquo POIMIV 10mg TDS
(dopamineantagonist-worksdirectlyonGIT)
CYCLIZINE POIV 50mg TDS
(antihistaminendashworkscentrally)
PROCHLORPERAZINElsquoStemetilrsquoPO 10- 20mg TDS
lsquoBuccastemrsquo BUCCAL 3-6mg BD
(dopamineantagonist-workscentrallyonchemoreceptortriggerone)
DOMPERIDONE PO 10-20mg QDS
(actscentrallyonchemoreceptortriggerone)
ONDANSETRON POIMIV 8mg TDS
(5HT3 antagonist)
GASTIC REFLUX GAVISCON PO 5-10ml TDS
RANITIDINE PO 150mg BD
OMEPRAzOLE PO 20mg OD
COMMONLY PRESCRIBED DRUGS and doses
Caution NSAIDs in
asthmaPUCRF
Pts with
renal colic
respond
well to PR
dicloenac
Quinineisusedor night-timeleg crampscommon inhospital ptsMake sure youexamine frst- itmay be a DVT
Buscopan is an anti-
spasmodic and works
on smooth muscle
Greatforcramping
abdo pain
You can try most o these
in various combinations i
previous attempts to control
symptoms have ailed
Metoclopramideshould notbe used postGIsurgeryfor
3 days It canalso causesextra-pyramidalreactions andoculogyric
crises Bewareo this thoughthe antidoteis procyclidine5-10mgIVIM
Ondansetron is very
expensive Its otenreserved or chemo
patients donrsquot use it as
rst-line
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 192417
SOB SALBUTAMOL NEB 5mg STATPRN
IPRATROPIUM BROMIDE (Atrovent) NEB 500mcg STATPRN
PREDNISOLONE PO 30-40mg STATOD
(3-5days max)
HYDROCORTISONE IV 200mg STAT(i acute SOB or angiodema)
FUROSEMIDE POIV 40-80mg STAT
ORAMORPH PO 5mg
LAXATIVES
Stimulants SODIUMDOCUSATE PO 50-200mg TDS
BISOCODYL PO 5-10mg BD
SENNA PO TT (15mg) BDTDSOsmotic MOVICOL PO 1-2sachets BDTDS
LACTULOSE PO 15ml BD
I aecal loading GLYCERINESUPPOSITORY PR T STATPRN
PHOSPHATE ENEMA PR T STATPRN
ITCHRASH CHLORPHENAMINE PO 4mg TDS
(alsoknownasldquoPiritonrdquo)
AGITATION DIAzEPAM POSLOWIV 5-10mg
SLEEPLESSNESS ZOPICLONE PO 375-75mg
AGGRESSION HALOPERIDOL CheckBNFforindicationsanddoses
ALCOHOL
WITHDRAWAL CHLORDIAzEPOXIDE(reducingregimen)
Day1and220-30mgQDS
Day3and415mgQDS
Day510mgQDS
Day610mgBD
Day710mgNocte
SIMPLE UTI TRIMETHOPRIM PO 200mg BD
NITROFURANTOIN PO 50mg QDS
CEPHALEXIN PO 500mg BD
FOR ALL OTHER INFECTIONS REFER TO YOUR LOCAL ANTIBIOTIC POLICY-YOUWILLSOONLEARNMOSTOFTHEMOFFBYHEART
Salbutamol causes
tachycardia
Use oramorph with caution in COPD pts It works well in anxious patients to control their breathing
In-hospital patients are oten constipated oten due to decreased activity and medications Try tackling
constipation using dierent pharmacological approaches ie donrsquot Px movicol i already on lactulose
Write in lsquovariable dosersquo section o kardex near the back
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 202418
Wararin
Digoxin
PRESCRIBING OUT OF HOURS
You will oten get bleeped to prescribe wararin or patients you donrsquot know especially over the
weekendevenings i your colleagues havenrsquot done them
CHECK PATIENT IS NOT BLEEDING
Areyouprescribingmaintenanceorloadingdose
LOADING this is the regimen prescribed initially until INR stable and in target range Old school says10mg10mg5mgcheckINR(Day4)
MAINTENANCE usual dose once INR established to keep within target range Check yellow book or
regular prescriptions
bullOnceanINRhasbeenobtainedforoneofyourpatientsmakesureyouprescribethewarfarinfor
about3-4daysthenre-checkMarkopenbracketsonwarfarinchartstoindicatewhenyouwantthe
nextINRtobechecked(usuallybetween3-4daysintheinitialperiodormorefrequentlyifthereare
difculties establishing a maintenance dose)
bullINR is too high (lt4 or lt5 i target is 3-4) - DO NOT OMIT just reduce the dose (1mg) and re-
checkINRatleast48hrsafterasittakesbetween48-72hrsforyourchangetohaveaneect
bull I INR is gt4 (or gt5 i target is 3-4) and patient not actively bleeding prescribe Vitamin K 1mg IV
and OMIT the next dose o wararin
Reason or LT wararin Tx AF 2-3
RecurrentDVT 2-3
PE 2-3
RecurrentPE 3-4
Prostheticheartvalve 3-4
Check kardex or INTERACTIONS
Common onesbull ClarithromycinErythromycin
bull Rifampicin
I actively bleeding check with Senior or advice on urther action
You will occasionally get bleeped to review digoxin levels
Toxicity is very worrying and would normally require the use o lsquoDigibindrsquo which is basically
anantidote for digoxinODYouwillneed toget anECGand assessthepatient clinicallybefore
proceedinggetting senior help
Sub-therapeutic levels are common They are not so worrying but you should clinically assess
the patient in particular their CVS paying particular attention to their pulse as you will denitely get
asked about this i you ask or senior help
I digoxin levels are out o range make sure you check their K+ and keep a regular eye on it as this
needs to be stable or digoxin to be a sae and eective choice o therapy
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 212419
Gentamicin
Usually prescribed in severeneutropenic sepsis (OD regimen) = 5-7mgkgmax480mg
You may get bleeped to check the gentamicin levels o ward patients and subsequently prescribe
the next dose
Theblood levelneedstobe taken6-14hoursafter thestartof thefrst IVI You are basically
looking or the levels to be within therapeutic range I they are not you need to reer to the
Hartord Normogram This is a chart which indicates WHEN the next dose should be according
to how out o range the levels are You DO NOT change the DOSE just the TIMING o the next
one(either2436or48hrslater)Makesureifyouhavebeenaskedtotakethebloodyourself
you note exactly how many hours post IVI the blood has been taken on the blood card it may be
another o your peers who has to review the level
Toxicity may
cause
Deaness
tinnitus
Nystagmus
Vertigo
RenalFailure
Monitor UEs
DAILY
ForpatientswithINFECTIVE ENDOCARDITIS (TDS regimen) = 1mgkg per dose
Therst levelthatneeds toberecordedisafter the3rd4thdoseensuringatleast24hoursof
treatmentisgivenItshouldbetaken1hourpostIVIiethePEAKorPOSTlevelandbebetween
3-5mgL A trough or PRE Dose level is taken approx 1 hour beore any administered dose and
should be lt1mgL The reason or this is that they are on a TDS regimen so renal unction needs
to be closely monitored It is important that gentamicin levels do not rise to toxic amounts
which is more common in patients with renal impairment
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
32
1
06 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Time between start of infusion and sample draw (hours)
Nicolau DP Freeman CD Belliveau PP Nightingale CH Ross JW Quintiliani R Experience with
a once-daily aminoglycoside program administered to 2184 adult patients Antimicrob Agents
Chemo 1995293650-655
Hartford Once Daily Dosing Nomogram
(GentTobra 7mgkg
L e v e l ( m c g m l )
q48h
q36h
q24h
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 222420
General Hints and Tips or seeing patients out o hours
When answering your bleep fnd out
1 Reason or bleep
2Quickbackgroundinfo
3 FurtherrelevantclinicalinfoegOBSERVATIONS and compare these to how they normally runI itrsquos a patient with high EWS just inorm a senior to make them aware and ready or action
4WhattheywantyoutoDO(PURPOSE o call)
5 Ask or the ollowing things to be ready when you arrive
bullNotes
bullKardex
bullObschartnursingle
bullEquipmentegcannulasbloodscatheteretc
6GiveappropriateinstructionsiftheyneedtodoanythingacutelybeforeyouarriveForexamplei
reason or bleep is Haematemesis ask or IV access and bloods to be taken or i a patient has
spiked a temp o gt38˚C get the nurses or night practitioner to do cultures beore you arrive Itsaves a lot o time and afng around once you are on the ward
7 Decide where this lies in your list o priorities or whether it is a job nurse practitioners can do
to help you
NB Try not to have arguments with nurses on the phone some o them are just starting out like
you and may also be petried sometimes they need reassurance too
When you get there
Findthenursewhobleepedyou(orrequestedthebleep)andgetamoredetailedaccountof
whatrsquos going on
Eye-ball the patient beore delving into notes or looking on the computer ollowing the standard
ABCDE assessment It wonrsquot take you long to gure out i they are acutely unwell unstable or
not
Once you have done your initial assessment and any immediate management document what
you have done using a logical and systematic approach This way you wonrsquot orget anything You
will also look really slick and competent plus you might nd you paint yoursel a picture o whatrsquos
going on even i you were clueless initially
Sit down at a computer with the nursing le and medical notes and go straight or the clerking It
should give you a succinct list o PC and other co-morbidities to create a more complete clinical
pictureFlickthroughthewardnotesandndanythingyoucanreaditmaybeofsomeuseLook
at the last entry in particular as there may be a plan o what to do should the situation you have
been bleeped or arises
Check PACS and the lab system or any recent imaging or tests NB ALWAYS compare recent results
to previous ones Just go down the lists looking or cultures unusual blood tests INRs etc and
document what you nd Sometimes the best summaries o a patient are created when someone
manages them on-call Be thorough at the beginning but i you are hard pushed or time reer back to the help sheets- they are designed to make you SAFE not to make you a brilliant diagnostician
whocancowboytheirwaythroughFY1lsquoHousersquostyle
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 232421
HaveagoodbrowsethroughtheKARDEXlookingatwhichmedsmayhavecontributedtothe
situation which may have prevented it i they had been given and which ones you might need
toinitiatetomakesurethepatientisSAFE
Once you have all this inormation create a PROBLEM list and rom this document yourIMPRESSION o the situation Write a PLAN and document whether you involved a senior and
their name and grade Also document the amount o time you were there sometimes you need
tostaywithapatienttoseeifyourtreatmentworkseguidsforlowBPmeanwhileyoucan
scribble down everything yoursquove done to save time
Whenever you are assessing a patient think to yoursel
lsquoWhat do I need to DO to make sure this patient is SAFErsquo I this patient deteriorates or
dies unexpectedly and you were the last doctor to see them you need to make sure your
documentation is adequate Your management appropriate or not will mean nothing i it
has not been written down in the eyes o the law
In summary
bullAnsweryourbleepinasystematicway-itwillhelpyouprioritiseandbecomemoreecient
bullDelegatecertaintaskstonursesdonrsquotbeafraidofaskingthemyouarepartofaTEAM
bullPrioritiseyourjobsanddonrsquotbeafraidtoo-loadsomeontoyourwardSHOYOUaretheone
whogetsbleepedrstsoyouwillbeaskedtodoEVERYTHING
bullWhenyougettoapatient
1 ABCDE approach ALWAYS
2Documentyourinitialassessmentandmanagement 3Reviewthenursingleforobschartuidbalancewarfarinchartsuidprescriptions
4Reviewmedicalnotesandclerkingthensummarise
5ReviewKARDEX
6 Problem list
7 Impression
8 ACTION PLAN (use tick boxes or investigations you have ordered)
9 Keep their details (sticker on handover sheet) and make sure you check on them
later or handover to day team
ALWAYS MAKE SURE YOU ARE SAFE IF IN ANY DOUBT WHATSOEVER YOU MUST INFORMA SENIOR
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 2424
Disclaimer
Copyright
Production
Contacts
The fndings and conclusions in this document are those o the authors who are
responsible or its content All inormation is to be interpreted on an idividual basisin context with the clinical situation to which it reers The inormation is not a
replacement or local guidelines and protocols nor is it a document with any legal
standing No statement in this document can be construed as an ocial position o
the North Western Deanery or NHS Northwest
copyGillianJacksonampFrancesBennett2011
BookdesignedbyAndrewPowellMedicalIllustrationatRoyalBoltonHospitalRef48355
Franmbennettgmailcom
gljacksonhotmailcouk
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 162414
Make a very quick decision as to whether or not you are confdent in treating this patient on your own
Patients who are short o breath can deteriorate very quickly indeed Call or a Senior immediately i you are unsure
Medication Review
Examination
History
Investigations- dependingon scoring parameters
Plan
Medication Review
ATSP Re SHORTNESS OF BREATH
A V P U
ABCDE
OXYGEN (highowinitially)ABG
THOROUGH exam is vital to guide management
Hydration assessment
- Onset
- Duration
- Exacerbating or relieving actors
- Check clerking proorma or
co-morbidities
bullABGndashimmediatelythenrepeatbullCXRCheckmostrecentoneDonrsquot
be araid to repeat CXR i things havechanged clinically Order a portable ilm
i you eel the patient is too unstable to betransported - discuss this with the nurses bullECGbullCulturesBloodandsputumif
appropriate andor check previous orsensitivities
bullRepeatbloods
bull Staywithpatientuntilyouarehappytheyarestable
bull Regularnursingobs(2hourly)
bull KeepawatchfuleyeontheirbloodsCXRetc
CALL FOR SENIOR HELP IF YOU ARE UNSURETHESE PATIENTS CAN DETERIORATE VERY QUICKLY INDEED
Patients with anxiety exacerbatingtheir respiratory disease are otengiven Oramorph by the nursingsta Be wary o this as you dontwant to be causing respiratorydepression in eg COPD patientsAsk a senior i unsure
Is patient on thromboprophylaxisWhat can I givebull ThinkaboutyourchoicesforOxygen
Therapy depending on patientrsquos chronic diseasestatusandABGresult
bullWheezeSalbutamol5mgneb+- atrovent500mcgneb(canbegivenwith O2)bullLRTICAPHAP Antibiotics (check
protocol)bullPulm OedemaFurosemide40mgIV
JVP and ankles
Calves Thighs
Anaphylaxis
Pneumothorax
Comparesatstonormalcomparewithchronicdiseasestatus
Cardiacorrespiratorycause
Ask about ASSOCIATED FEATURES and RISK
FACTORS or
DVTPE
Overload eg recent transusionluid therapy
MI
Infection(hospitalacquired)
Anxiety AsthmaCOPD exacerbation
Recent surgery (atelectasis)
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 172415
Initial Assessment
Examination
History
Investigations - depending on scoring parameters and clinical judgement
Plan - very diferent or acutely unwell patients and those who are stable
Medication Review
ATSP Re TACHYCARDIAPALPITATIONS
A V P U
ABCDE ECG
TACHYARRYTHMIAS ARE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY If patient has developed a new tachyarrhythmia
on ECG (SVTFast AF) a senior needs to be involved Make sure you perform the following
Chest and Abdo Exam
Fluidbalance-ispatientdehydrated
Mandatory
bullECG
Consider
bullRoutinebloods+-CULTURESfor
septic screen i spiked temperature bullX-matchifsuspectpatientisbleeding
bullUrineDipstick
1IVaccess+-fluidsandbloods2Followtachycardiaalgorithmifappropriate-seniorshouldreallybeinvolvedinthis3Regularnursingobs(candotemponlyevery30minshalfhourifyouthinkhaveRFsforsepsis)4TreatsuspectedcauseoftenthisisactuallySYMPTOMCONTROLandyoumayfindthatsimple
stable tachycardias resolve once you have the ollowing under controlbull PAIN bull DEHYDRATION
bull AGITATION bull SEPSIS
bull ANXIETY bull VOMITING
IATROGENIC causes o tachycardiabull SALBUTAMOLoverusebull EYEDROPSegPHENYLEPHRINEbull THEOPHYLLINEtoxicitybull DIPYRIDAMOLE
MEDICAL MANAGEMENTbull Considerdigoxin 250mcg in
elderly patients or bisoprolol 25 mgunless otherwise contra indicated (low BP
Asthma) once cause has been identiied(senior discussion)
bullIsthepatientsymptomatic
bullCARDIAC HISTORY
bullPreviouscardiachistoryandRISKFACTORSfor
MIAFArrhythmias
bullPreviousECGs
bullFor arrhythmias IS THIS NEW Assume it is
unless proven otherwise
bullLookatKardexforanyanti-arrhythmic
medications or clues
bullHowmuchteaandcoffeehasthepatienthad
bullHas patient been on any drugs which put thematincreasedriskoftheaboveEgWarfarin
NSAIDs- bleed Should the patient have been onprophylacticLMWH-PE
Possible reasons or simple tachycardia
bull Painbull Anxietybull Sepsisbull Hypovolaemia ndash bleeddehydrationbull PEbull MIbull Medication side FX
EXPOSEor sources o sepsis
PULSEREGULARORIRREGULAR
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 182416
You will oten get called to the wards to prescribe drugs or common in-patient complaints
Always eye-ball a patient beore doing so- the nurses may have the diagnosis wrong
DonrsquotforgettocheckforALLERGIESPMHandRENALFUNCTION(ifindicated)LookatKARDEXor any obvious interactions
Most drugs you will prescribe on-call should be written in the PRN or lsquoonce onlyrsquo section i you
do not know the patient
ANALGESIA MEDICATION ROUTE DOSAGE MAXDAY
PARACETAMOL POIV 500mgndash1g QDS
IBUPROFEN PO 200-400mg TDS
DICLOFENACrsquoVoltarolrsquo POIM 50mg TDS
PR 100mg TDS
CO-CODAMOL
(8500OR30500) PO 1-2TABLETS QDS
CO-DYDRAMOL(10500) PO 1-2TABLETS QDS
CODEINEPHOSPHATE POIM 30-60mg QDS
BUSCOPAN POIV 10-20mg QDS
QUININE PO 200mg ON
TRAMADOL PO 50-100mg QDS
MORPHINE IVPO 5-10mg STAT
NB Opiates can cause nauseavomiting and constipation Always Prescribe a PRN antiemetic and simple laxative
ANTI-EMETICS METOCLOPRAMIDErsquoMaxalonrsquo POIMIV 10mg TDS
(dopamineantagonist-worksdirectlyonGIT)
CYCLIZINE POIV 50mg TDS
(antihistaminendashworkscentrally)
PROCHLORPERAZINElsquoStemetilrsquoPO 10- 20mg TDS
lsquoBuccastemrsquo BUCCAL 3-6mg BD
(dopamineantagonist-workscentrallyonchemoreceptortriggerone)
DOMPERIDONE PO 10-20mg QDS
(actscentrallyonchemoreceptortriggerone)
ONDANSETRON POIMIV 8mg TDS
(5HT3 antagonist)
GASTIC REFLUX GAVISCON PO 5-10ml TDS
RANITIDINE PO 150mg BD
OMEPRAzOLE PO 20mg OD
COMMONLY PRESCRIBED DRUGS and doses
Caution NSAIDs in
asthmaPUCRF
Pts with
renal colic
respond
well to PR
dicloenac
Quinineisusedor night-timeleg crampscommon inhospital ptsMake sure youexamine frst- itmay be a DVT
Buscopan is an anti-
spasmodic and works
on smooth muscle
Greatforcramping
abdo pain
You can try most o these
in various combinations i
previous attempts to control
symptoms have ailed
Metoclopramideshould notbe used postGIsurgeryfor
3 days It canalso causesextra-pyramidalreactions andoculogyric
crises Bewareo this thoughthe antidoteis procyclidine5-10mgIVIM
Ondansetron is very
expensive Its otenreserved or chemo
patients donrsquot use it as
rst-line
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 192417
SOB SALBUTAMOL NEB 5mg STATPRN
IPRATROPIUM BROMIDE (Atrovent) NEB 500mcg STATPRN
PREDNISOLONE PO 30-40mg STATOD
(3-5days max)
HYDROCORTISONE IV 200mg STAT(i acute SOB or angiodema)
FUROSEMIDE POIV 40-80mg STAT
ORAMORPH PO 5mg
LAXATIVES
Stimulants SODIUMDOCUSATE PO 50-200mg TDS
BISOCODYL PO 5-10mg BD
SENNA PO TT (15mg) BDTDSOsmotic MOVICOL PO 1-2sachets BDTDS
LACTULOSE PO 15ml BD
I aecal loading GLYCERINESUPPOSITORY PR T STATPRN
PHOSPHATE ENEMA PR T STATPRN
ITCHRASH CHLORPHENAMINE PO 4mg TDS
(alsoknownasldquoPiritonrdquo)
AGITATION DIAzEPAM POSLOWIV 5-10mg
SLEEPLESSNESS ZOPICLONE PO 375-75mg
AGGRESSION HALOPERIDOL CheckBNFforindicationsanddoses
ALCOHOL
WITHDRAWAL CHLORDIAzEPOXIDE(reducingregimen)
Day1and220-30mgQDS
Day3and415mgQDS
Day510mgQDS
Day610mgBD
Day710mgNocte
SIMPLE UTI TRIMETHOPRIM PO 200mg BD
NITROFURANTOIN PO 50mg QDS
CEPHALEXIN PO 500mg BD
FOR ALL OTHER INFECTIONS REFER TO YOUR LOCAL ANTIBIOTIC POLICY-YOUWILLSOONLEARNMOSTOFTHEMOFFBYHEART
Salbutamol causes
tachycardia
Use oramorph with caution in COPD pts It works well in anxious patients to control their breathing
In-hospital patients are oten constipated oten due to decreased activity and medications Try tackling
constipation using dierent pharmacological approaches ie donrsquot Px movicol i already on lactulose
Write in lsquovariable dosersquo section o kardex near the back
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 202418
Wararin
Digoxin
PRESCRIBING OUT OF HOURS
You will oten get bleeped to prescribe wararin or patients you donrsquot know especially over the
weekendevenings i your colleagues havenrsquot done them
CHECK PATIENT IS NOT BLEEDING
Areyouprescribingmaintenanceorloadingdose
LOADING this is the regimen prescribed initially until INR stable and in target range Old school says10mg10mg5mgcheckINR(Day4)
MAINTENANCE usual dose once INR established to keep within target range Check yellow book or
regular prescriptions
bullOnceanINRhasbeenobtainedforoneofyourpatientsmakesureyouprescribethewarfarinfor
about3-4daysthenre-checkMarkopenbracketsonwarfarinchartstoindicatewhenyouwantthe
nextINRtobechecked(usuallybetween3-4daysintheinitialperiodormorefrequentlyifthereare
difculties establishing a maintenance dose)
bullINR is too high (lt4 or lt5 i target is 3-4) - DO NOT OMIT just reduce the dose (1mg) and re-
checkINRatleast48hrsafterasittakesbetween48-72hrsforyourchangetohaveaneect
bull I INR is gt4 (or gt5 i target is 3-4) and patient not actively bleeding prescribe Vitamin K 1mg IV
and OMIT the next dose o wararin
Reason or LT wararin Tx AF 2-3
RecurrentDVT 2-3
PE 2-3
RecurrentPE 3-4
Prostheticheartvalve 3-4
Check kardex or INTERACTIONS
Common onesbull ClarithromycinErythromycin
bull Rifampicin
I actively bleeding check with Senior or advice on urther action
You will occasionally get bleeped to review digoxin levels
Toxicity is very worrying and would normally require the use o lsquoDigibindrsquo which is basically
anantidote for digoxinODYouwillneed toget anECGand assessthepatient clinicallybefore
proceedinggetting senior help
Sub-therapeutic levels are common They are not so worrying but you should clinically assess
the patient in particular their CVS paying particular attention to their pulse as you will denitely get
asked about this i you ask or senior help
I digoxin levels are out o range make sure you check their K+ and keep a regular eye on it as this
needs to be stable or digoxin to be a sae and eective choice o therapy
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 212419
Gentamicin
Usually prescribed in severeneutropenic sepsis (OD regimen) = 5-7mgkgmax480mg
You may get bleeped to check the gentamicin levels o ward patients and subsequently prescribe
the next dose
Theblood levelneedstobe taken6-14hoursafter thestartof thefrst IVI You are basically
looking or the levels to be within therapeutic range I they are not you need to reer to the
Hartord Normogram This is a chart which indicates WHEN the next dose should be according
to how out o range the levels are You DO NOT change the DOSE just the TIMING o the next
one(either2436or48hrslater)Makesureifyouhavebeenaskedtotakethebloodyourself
you note exactly how many hours post IVI the blood has been taken on the blood card it may be
another o your peers who has to review the level
Toxicity may
cause
Deaness
tinnitus
Nystagmus
Vertigo
RenalFailure
Monitor UEs
DAILY
ForpatientswithINFECTIVE ENDOCARDITIS (TDS regimen) = 1mgkg per dose
Therst levelthatneeds toberecordedisafter the3rd4thdoseensuringatleast24hoursof
treatmentisgivenItshouldbetaken1hourpostIVIiethePEAKorPOSTlevelandbebetween
3-5mgL A trough or PRE Dose level is taken approx 1 hour beore any administered dose and
should be lt1mgL The reason or this is that they are on a TDS regimen so renal unction needs
to be closely monitored It is important that gentamicin levels do not rise to toxic amounts
which is more common in patients with renal impairment
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
32
1
06 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Time between start of infusion and sample draw (hours)
Nicolau DP Freeman CD Belliveau PP Nightingale CH Ross JW Quintiliani R Experience with
a once-daily aminoglycoside program administered to 2184 adult patients Antimicrob Agents
Chemo 1995293650-655
Hartford Once Daily Dosing Nomogram
(GentTobra 7mgkg
L e v e l ( m c g m l )
q48h
q36h
q24h
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 222420
General Hints and Tips or seeing patients out o hours
When answering your bleep fnd out
1 Reason or bleep
2Quickbackgroundinfo
3 FurtherrelevantclinicalinfoegOBSERVATIONS and compare these to how they normally runI itrsquos a patient with high EWS just inorm a senior to make them aware and ready or action
4WhattheywantyoutoDO(PURPOSE o call)
5 Ask or the ollowing things to be ready when you arrive
bullNotes
bullKardex
bullObschartnursingle
bullEquipmentegcannulasbloodscatheteretc
6GiveappropriateinstructionsiftheyneedtodoanythingacutelybeforeyouarriveForexamplei
reason or bleep is Haematemesis ask or IV access and bloods to be taken or i a patient has
spiked a temp o gt38˚C get the nurses or night practitioner to do cultures beore you arrive Itsaves a lot o time and afng around once you are on the ward
7 Decide where this lies in your list o priorities or whether it is a job nurse practitioners can do
to help you
NB Try not to have arguments with nurses on the phone some o them are just starting out like
you and may also be petried sometimes they need reassurance too
When you get there
Findthenursewhobleepedyou(orrequestedthebleep)andgetamoredetailedaccountof
whatrsquos going on
Eye-ball the patient beore delving into notes or looking on the computer ollowing the standard
ABCDE assessment It wonrsquot take you long to gure out i they are acutely unwell unstable or
not
Once you have done your initial assessment and any immediate management document what
you have done using a logical and systematic approach This way you wonrsquot orget anything You
will also look really slick and competent plus you might nd you paint yoursel a picture o whatrsquos
going on even i you were clueless initially
Sit down at a computer with the nursing le and medical notes and go straight or the clerking It
should give you a succinct list o PC and other co-morbidities to create a more complete clinical
pictureFlickthroughthewardnotesandndanythingyoucanreaditmaybeofsomeuseLook
at the last entry in particular as there may be a plan o what to do should the situation you have
been bleeped or arises
Check PACS and the lab system or any recent imaging or tests NB ALWAYS compare recent results
to previous ones Just go down the lists looking or cultures unusual blood tests INRs etc and
document what you nd Sometimes the best summaries o a patient are created when someone
manages them on-call Be thorough at the beginning but i you are hard pushed or time reer back to the help sheets- they are designed to make you SAFE not to make you a brilliant diagnostician
whocancowboytheirwaythroughFY1lsquoHousersquostyle
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 232421
HaveagoodbrowsethroughtheKARDEXlookingatwhichmedsmayhavecontributedtothe
situation which may have prevented it i they had been given and which ones you might need
toinitiatetomakesurethepatientisSAFE
Once you have all this inormation create a PROBLEM list and rom this document yourIMPRESSION o the situation Write a PLAN and document whether you involved a senior and
their name and grade Also document the amount o time you were there sometimes you need
tostaywithapatienttoseeifyourtreatmentworkseguidsforlowBPmeanwhileyoucan
scribble down everything yoursquove done to save time
Whenever you are assessing a patient think to yoursel
lsquoWhat do I need to DO to make sure this patient is SAFErsquo I this patient deteriorates or
dies unexpectedly and you were the last doctor to see them you need to make sure your
documentation is adequate Your management appropriate or not will mean nothing i it
has not been written down in the eyes o the law
In summary
bullAnsweryourbleepinasystematicway-itwillhelpyouprioritiseandbecomemoreecient
bullDelegatecertaintaskstonursesdonrsquotbeafraidofaskingthemyouarepartofaTEAM
bullPrioritiseyourjobsanddonrsquotbeafraidtoo-loadsomeontoyourwardSHOYOUaretheone
whogetsbleepedrstsoyouwillbeaskedtodoEVERYTHING
bullWhenyougettoapatient
1 ABCDE approach ALWAYS
2Documentyourinitialassessmentandmanagement 3Reviewthenursingleforobschartuidbalancewarfarinchartsuidprescriptions
4Reviewmedicalnotesandclerkingthensummarise
5ReviewKARDEX
6 Problem list
7 Impression
8 ACTION PLAN (use tick boxes or investigations you have ordered)
9 Keep their details (sticker on handover sheet) and make sure you check on them
later or handover to day team
ALWAYS MAKE SURE YOU ARE SAFE IF IN ANY DOUBT WHATSOEVER YOU MUST INFORMA SENIOR
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 2424
Disclaimer
Copyright
Production
Contacts
The fndings and conclusions in this document are those o the authors who are
responsible or its content All inormation is to be interpreted on an idividual basisin context with the clinical situation to which it reers The inormation is not a
replacement or local guidelines and protocols nor is it a document with any legal
standing No statement in this document can be construed as an ocial position o
the North Western Deanery or NHS Northwest
copyGillianJacksonampFrancesBennett2011
BookdesignedbyAndrewPowellMedicalIllustrationatRoyalBoltonHospitalRef48355
Franmbennettgmailcom
gljacksonhotmailcouk
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 172415
Initial Assessment
Examination
History
Investigations - depending on scoring parameters and clinical judgement
Plan - very diferent or acutely unwell patients and those who are stable
Medication Review
ATSP Re TACHYCARDIAPALPITATIONS
A V P U
ABCDE ECG
TACHYARRYTHMIAS ARE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY If patient has developed a new tachyarrhythmia
on ECG (SVTFast AF) a senior needs to be involved Make sure you perform the following
Chest and Abdo Exam
Fluidbalance-ispatientdehydrated
Mandatory
bullECG
Consider
bullRoutinebloods+-CULTURESfor
septic screen i spiked temperature bullX-matchifsuspectpatientisbleeding
bullUrineDipstick
1IVaccess+-fluidsandbloods2Followtachycardiaalgorithmifappropriate-seniorshouldreallybeinvolvedinthis3Regularnursingobs(candotemponlyevery30minshalfhourifyouthinkhaveRFsforsepsis)4TreatsuspectedcauseoftenthisisactuallySYMPTOMCONTROLandyoumayfindthatsimple
stable tachycardias resolve once you have the ollowing under controlbull PAIN bull DEHYDRATION
bull AGITATION bull SEPSIS
bull ANXIETY bull VOMITING
IATROGENIC causes o tachycardiabull SALBUTAMOLoverusebull EYEDROPSegPHENYLEPHRINEbull THEOPHYLLINEtoxicitybull DIPYRIDAMOLE
MEDICAL MANAGEMENTbull Considerdigoxin 250mcg in
elderly patients or bisoprolol 25 mgunless otherwise contra indicated (low BP
Asthma) once cause has been identiied(senior discussion)
bullIsthepatientsymptomatic
bullCARDIAC HISTORY
bullPreviouscardiachistoryandRISKFACTORSfor
MIAFArrhythmias
bullPreviousECGs
bullFor arrhythmias IS THIS NEW Assume it is
unless proven otherwise
bullLookatKardexforanyanti-arrhythmic
medications or clues
bullHowmuchteaandcoffeehasthepatienthad
bullHas patient been on any drugs which put thematincreasedriskoftheaboveEgWarfarin
NSAIDs- bleed Should the patient have been onprophylacticLMWH-PE
Possible reasons or simple tachycardia
bull Painbull Anxietybull Sepsisbull Hypovolaemia ndash bleeddehydrationbull PEbull MIbull Medication side FX
EXPOSEor sources o sepsis
PULSEREGULARORIRREGULAR
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 182416
You will oten get called to the wards to prescribe drugs or common in-patient complaints
Always eye-ball a patient beore doing so- the nurses may have the diagnosis wrong
DonrsquotforgettocheckforALLERGIESPMHandRENALFUNCTION(ifindicated)LookatKARDEXor any obvious interactions
Most drugs you will prescribe on-call should be written in the PRN or lsquoonce onlyrsquo section i you
do not know the patient
ANALGESIA MEDICATION ROUTE DOSAGE MAXDAY
PARACETAMOL POIV 500mgndash1g QDS
IBUPROFEN PO 200-400mg TDS
DICLOFENACrsquoVoltarolrsquo POIM 50mg TDS
PR 100mg TDS
CO-CODAMOL
(8500OR30500) PO 1-2TABLETS QDS
CO-DYDRAMOL(10500) PO 1-2TABLETS QDS
CODEINEPHOSPHATE POIM 30-60mg QDS
BUSCOPAN POIV 10-20mg QDS
QUININE PO 200mg ON
TRAMADOL PO 50-100mg QDS
MORPHINE IVPO 5-10mg STAT
NB Opiates can cause nauseavomiting and constipation Always Prescribe a PRN antiemetic and simple laxative
ANTI-EMETICS METOCLOPRAMIDErsquoMaxalonrsquo POIMIV 10mg TDS
(dopamineantagonist-worksdirectlyonGIT)
CYCLIZINE POIV 50mg TDS
(antihistaminendashworkscentrally)
PROCHLORPERAZINElsquoStemetilrsquoPO 10- 20mg TDS
lsquoBuccastemrsquo BUCCAL 3-6mg BD
(dopamineantagonist-workscentrallyonchemoreceptortriggerone)
DOMPERIDONE PO 10-20mg QDS
(actscentrallyonchemoreceptortriggerone)
ONDANSETRON POIMIV 8mg TDS
(5HT3 antagonist)
GASTIC REFLUX GAVISCON PO 5-10ml TDS
RANITIDINE PO 150mg BD
OMEPRAzOLE PO 20mg OD
COMMONLY PRESCRIBED DRUGS and doses
Caution NSAIDs in
asthmaPUCRF
Pts with
renal colic
respond
well to PR
dicloenac
Quinineisusedor night-timeleg crampscommon inhospital ptsMake sure youexamine frst- itmay be a DVT
Buscopan is an anti-
spasmodic and works
on smooth muscle
Greatforcramping
abdo pain
You can try most o these
in various combinations i
previous attempts to control
symptoms have ailed
Metoclopramideshould notbe used postGIsurgeryfor
3 days It canalso causesextra-pyramidalreactions andoculogyric
crises Bewareo this thoughthe antidoteis procyclidine5-10mgIVIM
Ondansetron is very
expensive Its otenreserved or chemo
patients donrsquot use it as
rst-line
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 192417
SOB SALBUTAMOL NEB 5mg STATPRN
IPRATROPIUM BROMIDE (Atrovent) NEB 500mcg STATPRN
PREDNISOLONE PO 30-40mg STATOD
(3-5days max)
HYDROCORTISONE IV 200mg STAT(i acute SOB or angiodema)
FUROSEMIDE POIV 40-80mg STAT
ORAMORPH PO 5mg
LAXATIVES
Stimulants SODIUMDOCUSATE PO 50-200mg TDS
BISOCODYL PO 5-10mg BD
SENNA PO TT (15mg) BDTDSOsmotic MOVICOL PO 1-2sachets BDTDS
LACTULOSE PO 15ml BD
I aecal loading GLYCERINESUPPOSITORY PR T STATPRN
PHOSPHATE ENEMA PR T STATPRN
ITCHRASH CHLORPHENAMINE PO 4mg TDS
(alsoknownasldquoPiritonrdquo)
AGITATION DIAzEPAM POSLOWIV 5-10mg
SLEEPLESSNESS ZOPICLONE PO 375-75mg
AGGRESSION HALOPERIDOL CheckBNFforindicationsanddoses
ALCOHOL
WITHDRAWAL CHLORDIAzEPOXIDE(reducingregimen)
Day1and220-30mgQDS
Day3and415mgQDS
Day510mgQDS
Day610mgBD
Day710mgNocte
SIMPLE UTI TRIMETHOPRIM PO 200mg BD
NITROFURANTOIN PO 50mg QDS
CEPHALEXIN PO 500mg BD
FOR ALL OTHER INFECTIONS REFER TO YOUR LOCAL ANTIBIOTIC POLICY-YOUWILLSOONLEARNMOSTOFTHEMOFFBYHEART
Salbutamol causes
tachycardia
Use oramorph with caution in COPD pts It works well in anxious patients to control their breathing
In-hospital patients are oten constipated oten due to decreased activity and medications Try tackling
constipation using dierent pharmacological approaches ie donrsquot Px movicol i already on lactulose
Write in lsquovariable dosersquo section o kardex near the back
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 202418
Wararin
Digoxin
PRESCRIBING OUT OF HOURS
You will oten get bleeped to prescribe wararin or patients you donrsquot know especially over the
weekendevenings i your colleagues havenrsquot done them
CHECK PATIENT IS NOT BLEEDING
Areyouprescribingmaintenanceorloadingdose
LOADING this is the regimen prescribed initially until INR stable and in target range Old school says10mg10mg5mgcheckINR(Day4)
MAINTENANCE usual dose once INR established to keep within target range Check yellow book or
regular prescriptions
bullOnceanINRhasbeenobtainedforoneofyourpatientsmakesureyouprescribethewarfarinfor
about3-4daysthenre-checkMarkopenbracketsonwarfarinchartstoindicatewhenyouwantthe
nextINRtobechecked(usuallybetween3-4daysintheinitialperiodormorefrequentlyifthereare
difculties establishing a maintenance dose)
bullINR is too high (lt4 or lt5 i target is 3-4) - DO NOT OMIT just reduce the dose (1mg) and re-
checkINRatleast48hrsafterasittakesbetween48-72hrsforyourchangetohaveaneect
bull I INR is gt4 (or gt5 i target is 3-4) and patient not actively bleeding prescribe Vitamin K 1mg IV
and OMIT the next dose o wararin
Reason or LT wararin Tx AF 2-3
RecurrentDVT 2-3
PE 2-3
RecurrentPE 3-4
Prostheticheartvalve 3-4
Check kardex or INTERACTIONS
Common onesbull ClarithromycinErythromycin
bull Rifampicin
I actively bleeding check with Senior or advice on urther action
You will occasionally get bleeped to review digoxin levels
Toxicity is very worrying and would normally require the use o lsquoDigibindrsquo which is basically
anantidote for digoxinODYouwillneed toget anECGand assessthepatient clinicallybefore
proceedinggetting senior help
Sub-therapeutic levels are common They are not so worrying but you should clinically assess
the patient in particular their CVS paying particular attention to their pulse as you will denitely get
asked about this i you ask or senior help
I digoxin levels are out o range make sure you check their K+ and keep a regular eye on it as this
needs to be stable or digoxin to be a sae and eective choice o therapy
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 212419
Gentamicin
Usually prescribed in severeneutropenic sepsis (OD regimen) = 5-7mgkgmax480mg
You may get bleeped to check the gentamicin levels o ward patients and subsequently prescribe
the next dose
Theblood levelneedstobe taken6-14hoursafter thestartof thefrst IVI You are basically
looking or the levels to be within therapeutic range I they are not you need to reer to the
Hartord Normogram This is a chart which indicates WHEN the next dose should be according
to how out o range the levels are You DO NOT change the DOSE just the TIMING o the next
one(either2436or48hrslater)Makesureifyouhavebeenaskedtotakethebloodyourself
you note exactly how many hours post IVI the blood has been taken on the blood card it may be
another o your peers who has to review the level
Toxicity may
cause
Deaness
tinnitus
Nystagmus
Vertigo
RenalFailure
Monitor UEs
DAILY
ForpatientswithINFECTIVE ENDOCARDITIS (TDS regimen) = 1mgkg per dose
Therst levelthatneeds toberecordedisafter the3rd4thdoseensuringatleast24hoursof
treatmentisgivenItshouldbetaken1hourpostIVIiethePEAKorPOSTlevelandbebetween
3-5mgL A trough or PRE Dose level is taken approx 1 hour beore any administered dose and
should be lt1mgL The reason or this is that they are on a TDS regimen so renal unction needs
to be closely monitored It is important that gentamicin levels do not rise to toxic amounts
which is more common in patients with renal impairment
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
32
1
06 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Time between start of infusion and sample draw (hours)
Nicolau DP Freeman CD Belliveau PP Nightingale CH Ross JW Quintiliani R Experience with
a once-daily aminoglycoside program administered to 2184 adult patients Antimicrob Agents
Chemo 1995293650-655
Hartford Once Daily Dosing Nomogram
(GentTobra 7mgkg
L e v e l ( m c g m l )
q48h
q36h
q24h
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 222420
General Hints and Tips or seeing patients out o hours
When answering your bleep fnd out
1 Reason or bleep
2Quickbackgroundinfo
3 FurtherrelevantclinicalinfoegOBSERVATIONS and compare these to how they normally runI itrsquos a patient with high EWS just inorm a senior to make them aware and ready or action
4WhattheywantyoutoDO(PURPOSE o call)
5 Ask or the ollowing things to be ready when you arrive
bullNotes
bullKardex
bullObschartnursingle
bullEquipmentegcannulasbloodscatheteretc
6GiveappropriateinstructionsiftheyneedtodoanythingacutelybeforeyouarriveForexamplei
reason or bleep is Haematemesis ask or IV access and bloods to be taken or i a patient has
spiked a temp o gt38˚C get the nurses or night practitioner to do cultures beore you arrive Itsaves a lot o time and afng around once you are on the ward
7 Decide where this lies in your list o priorities or whether it is a job nurse practitioners can do
to help you
NB Try not to have arguments with nurses on the phone some o them are just starting out like
you and may also be petried sometimes they need reassurance too
When you get there
Findthenursewhobleepedyou(orrequestedthebleep)andgetamoredetailedaccountof
whatrsquos going on
Eye-ball the patient beore delving into notes or looking on the computer ollowing the standard
ABCDE assessment It wonrsquot take you long to gure out i they are acutely unwell unstable or
not
Once you have done your initial assessment and any immediate management document what
you have done using a logical and systematic approach This way you wonrsquot orget anything You
will also look really slick and competent plus you might nd you paint yoursel a picture o whatrsquos
going on even i you were clueless initially
Sit down at a computer with the nursing le and medical notes and go straight or the clerking It
should give you a succinct list o PC and other co-morbidities to create a more complete clinical
pictureFlickthroughthewardnotesandndanythingyoucanreaditmaybeofsomeuseLook
at the last entry in particular as there may be a plan o what to do should the situation you have
been bleeped or arises
Check PACS and the lab system or any recent imaging or tests NB ALWAYS compare recent results
to previous ones Just go down the lists looking or cultures unusual blood tests INRs etc and
document what you nd Sometimes the best summaries o a patient are created when someone
manages them on-call Be thorough at the beginning but i you are hard pushed or time reer back to the help sheets- they are designed to make you SAFE not to make you a brilliant diagnostician
whocancowboytheirwaythroughFY1lsquoHousersquostyle
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 232421
HaveagoodbrowsethroughtheKARDEXlookingatwhichmedsmayhavecontributedtothe
situation which may have prevented it i they had been given and which ones you might need
toinitiatetomakesurethepatientisSAFE
Once you have all this inormation create a PROBLEM list and rom this document yourIMPRESSION o the situation Write a PLAN and document whether you involved a senior and
their name and grade Also document the amount o time you were there sometimes you need
tostaywithapatienttoseeifyourtreatmentworkseguidsforlowBPmeanwhileyoucan
scribble down everything yoursquove done to save time
Whenever you are assessing a patient think to yoursel
lsquoWhat do I need to DO to make sure this patient is SAFErsquo I this patient deteriorates or
dies unexpectedly and you were the last doctor to see them you need to make sure your
documentation is adequate Your management appropriate or not will mean nothing i it
has not been written down in the eyes o the law
In summary
bullAnsweryourbleepinasystematicway-itwillhelpyouprioritiseandbecomemoreecient
bullDelegatecertaintaskstonursesdonrsquotbeafraidofaskingthemyouarepartofaTEAM
bullPrioritiseyourjobsanddonrsquotbeafraidtoo-loadsomeontoyourwardSHOYOUaretheone
whogetsbleepedrstsoyouwillbeaskedtodoEVERYTHING
bullWhenyougettoapatient
1 ABCDE approach ALWAYS
2Documentyourinitialassessmentandmanagement 3Reviewthenursingleforobschartuidbalancewarfarinchartsuidprescriptions
4Reviewmedicalnotesandclerkingthensummarise
5ReviewKARDEX
6 Problem list
7 Impression
8 ACTION PLAN (use tick boxes or investigations you have ordered)
9 Keep their details (sticker on handover sheet) and make sure you check on them
later or handover to day team
ALWAYS MAKE SURE YOU ARE SAFE IF IN ANY DOUBT WHATSOEVER YOU MUST INFORMA SENIOR
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 2424
Disclaimer
Copyright
Production
Contacts
The fndings and conclusions in this document are those o the authors who are
responsible or its content All inormation is to be interpreted on an idividual basisin context with the clinical situation to which it reers The inormation is not a
replacement or local guidelines and protocols nor is it a document with any legal
standing No statement in this document can be construed as an ocial position o
the North Western Deanery or NHS Northwest
copyGillianJacksonampFrancesBennett2011
BookdesignedbyAndrewPowellMedicalIllustrationatRoyalBoltonHospitalRef48355
Franmbennettgmailcom
gljacksonhotmailcouk
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 182416
You will oten get called to the wards to prescribe drugs or common in-patient complaints
Always eye-ball a patient beore doing so- the nurses may have the diagnosis wrong
DonrsquotforgettocheckforALLERGIESPMHandRENALFUNCTION(ifindicated)LookatKARDEXor any obvious interactions
Most drugs you will prescribe on-call should be written in the PRN or lsquoonce onlyrsquo section i you
do not know the patient
ANALGESIA MEDICATION ROUTE DOSAGE MAXDAY
PARACETAMOL POIV 500mgndash1g QDS
IBUPROFEN PO 200-400mg TDS
DICLOFENACrsquoVoltarolrsquo POIM 50mg TDS
PR 100mg TDS
CO-CODAMOL
(8500OR30500) PO 1-2TABLETS QDS
CO-DYDRAMOL(10500) PO 1-2TABLETS QDS
CODEINEPHOSPHATE POIM 30-60mg QDS
BUSCOPAN POIV 10-20mg QDS
QUININE PO 200mg ON
TRAMADOL PO 50-100mg QDS
MORPHINE IVPO 5-10mg STAT
NB Opiates can cause nauseavomiting and constipation Always Prescribe a PRN antiemetic and simple laxative
ANTI-EMETICS METOCLOPRAMIDErsquoMaxalonrsquo POIMIV 10mg TDS
(dopamineantagonist-worksdirectlyonGIT)
CYCLIZINE POIV 50mg TDS
(antihistaminendashworkscentrally)
PROCHLORPERAZINElsquoStemetilrsquoPO 10- 20mg TDS
lsquoBuccastemrsquo BUCCAL 3-6mg BD
(dopamineantagonist-workscentrallyonchemoreceptortriggerone)
DOMPERIDONE PO 10-20mg QDS
(actscentrallyonchemoreceptortriggerone)
ONDANSETRON POIMIV 8mg TDS
(5HT3 antagonist)
GASTIC REFLUX GAVISCON PO 5-10ml TDS
RANITIDINE PO 150mg BD
OMEPRAzOLE PO 20mg OD
COMMONLY PRESCRIBED DRUGS and doses
Caution NSAIDs in
asthmaPUCRF
Pts with
renal colic
respond
well to PR
dicloenac
Quinineisusedor night-timeleg crampscommon inhospital ptsMake sure youexamine frst- itmay be a DVT
Buscopan is an anti-
spasmodic and works
on smooth muscle
Greatforcramping
abdo pain
You can try most o these
in various combinations i
previous attempts to control
symptoms have ailed
Metoclopramideshould notbe used postGIsurgeryfor
3 days It canalso causesextra-pyramidalreactions andoculogyric
crises Bewareo this thoughthe antidoteis procyclidine5-10mgIVIM
Ondansetron is very
expensive Its otenreserved or chemo
patients donrsquot use it as
rst-line
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 192417
SOB SALBUTAMOL NEB 5mg STATPRN
IPRATROPIUM BROMIDE (Atrovent) NEB 500mcg STATPRN
PREDNISOLONE PO 30-40mg STATOD
(3-5days max)
HYDROCORTISONE IV 200mg STAT(i acute SOB or angiodema)
FUROSEMIDE POIV 40-80mg STAT
ORAMORPH PO 5mg
LAXATIVES
Stimulants SODIUMDOCUSATE PO 50-200mg TDS
BISOCODYL PO 5-10mg BD
SENNA PO TT (15mg) BDTDSOsmotic MOVICOL PO 1-2sachets BDTDS
LACTULOSE PO 15ml BD
I aecal loading GLYCERINESUPPOSITORY PR T STATPRN
PHOSPHATE ENEMA PR T STATPRN
ITCHRASH CHLORPHENAMINE PO 4mg TDS
(alsoknownasldquoPiritonrdquo)
AGITATION DIAzEPAM POSLOWIV 5-10mg
SLEEPLESSNESS ZOPICLONE PO 375-75mg
AGGRESSION HALOPERIDOL CheckBNFforindicationsanddoses
ALCOHOL
WITHDRAWAL CHLORDIAzEPOXIDE(reducingregimen)
Day1and220-30mgQDS
Day3and415mgQDS
Day510mgQDS
Day610mgBD
Day710mgNocte
SIMPLE UTI TRIMETHOPRIM PO 200mg BD
NITROFURANTOIN PO 50mg QDS
CEPHALEXIN PO 500mg BD
FOR ALL OTHER INFECTIONS REFER TO YOUR LOCAL ANTIBIOTIC POLICY-YOUWILLSOONLEARNMOSTOFTHEMOFFBYHEART
Salbutamol causes
tachycardia
Use oramorph with caution in COPD pts It works well in anxious patients to control their breathing
In-hospital patients are oten constipated oten due to decreased activity and medications Try tackling
constipation using dierent pharmacological approaches ie donrsquot Px movicol i already on lactulose
Write in lsquovariable dosersquo section o kardex near the back
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 202418
Wararin
Digoxin
PRESCRIBING OUT OF HOURS
You will oten get bleeped to prescribe wararin or patients you donrsquot know especially over the
weekendevenings i your colleagues havenrsquot done them
CHECK PATIENT IS NOT BLEEDING
Areyouprescribingmaintenanceorloadingdose
LOADING this is the regimen prescribed initially until INR stable and in target range Old school says10mg10mg5mgcheckINR(Day4)
MAINTENANCE usual dose once INR established to keep within target range Check yellow book or
regular prescriptions
bullOnceanINRhasbeenobtainedforoneofyourpatientsmakesureyouprescribethewarfarinfor
about3-4daysthenre-checkMarkopenbracketsonwarfarinchartstoindicatewhenyouwantthe
nextINRtobechecked(usuallybetween3-4daysintheinitialperiodormorefrequentlyifthereare
difculties establishing a maintenance dose)
bullINR is too high (lt4 or lt5 i target is 3-4) - DO NOT OMIT just reduce the dose (1mg) and re-
checkINRatleast48hrsafterasittakesbetween48-72hrsforyourchangetohaveaneect
bull I INR is gt4 (or gt5 i target is 3-4) and patient not actively bleeding prescribe Vitamin K 1mg IV
and OMIT the next dose o wararin
Reason or LT wararin Tx AF 2-3
RecurrentDVT 2-3
PE 2-3
RecurrentPE 3-4
Prostheticheartvalve 3-4
Check kardex or INTERACTIONS
Common onesbull ClarithromycinErythromycin
bull Rifampicin
I actively bleeding check with Senior or advice on urther action
You will occasionally get bleeped to review digoxin levels
Toxicity is very worrying and would normally require the use o lsquoDigibindrsquo which is basically
anantidote for digoxinODYouwillneed toget anECGand assessthepatient clinicallybefore
proceedinggetting senior help
Sub-therapeutic levels are common They are not so worrying but you should clinically assess
the patient in particular their CVS paying particular attention to their pulse as you will denitely get
asked about this i you ask or senior help
I digoxin levels are out o range make sure you check their K+ and keep a regular eye on it as this
needs to be stable or digoxin to be a sae and eective choice o therapy
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 212419
Gentamicin
Usually prescribed in severeneutropenic sepsis (OD regimen) = 5-7mgkgmax480mg
You may get bleeped to check the gentamicin levels o ward patients and subsequently prescribe
the next dose
Theblood levelneedstobe taken6-14hoursafter thestartof thefrst IVI You are basically
looking or the levels to be within therapeutic range I they are not you need to reer to the
Hartord Normogram This is a chart which indicates WHEN the next dose should be according
to how out o range the levels are You DO NOT change the DOSE just the TIMING o the next
one(either2436or48hrslater)Makesureifyouhavebeenaskedtotakethebloodyourself
you note exactly how many hours post IVI the blood has been taken on the blood card it may be
another o your peers who has to review the level
Toxicity may
cause
Deaness
tinnitus
Nystagmus
Vertigo
RenalFailure
Monitor UEs
DAILY
ForpatientswithINFECTIVE ENDOCARDITIS (TDS regimen) = 1mgkg per dose
Therst levelthatneeds toberecordedisafter the3rd4thdoseensuringatleast24hoursof
treatmentisgivenItshouldbetaken1hourpostIVIiethePEAKorPOSTlevelandbebetween
3-5mgL A trough or PRE Dose level is taken approx 1 hour beore any administered dose and
should be lt1mgL The reason or this is that they are on a TDS regimen so renal unction needs
to be closely monitored It is important that gentamicin levels do not rise to toxic amounts
which is more common in patients with renal impairment
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
32
1
06 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Time between start of infusion and sample draw (hours)
Nicolau DP Freeman CD Belliveau PP Nightingale CH Ross JW Quintiliani R Experience with
a once-daily aminoglycoside program administered to 2184 adult patients Antimicrob Agents
Chemo 1995293650-655
Hartford Once Daily Dosing Nomogram
(GentTobra 7mgkg
L e v e l ( m c g m l )
q48h
q36h
q24h
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 222420
General Hints and Tips or seeing patients out o hours
When answering your bleep fnd out
1 Reason or bleep
2Quickbackgroundinfo
3 FurtherrelevantclinicalinfoegOBSERVATIONS and compare these to how they normally runI itrsquos a patient with high EWS just inorm a senior to make them aware and ready or action
4WhattheywantyoutoDO(PURPOSE o call)
5 Ask or the ollowing things to be ready when you arrive
bullNotes
bullKardex
bullObschartnursingle
bullEquipmentegcannulasbloodscatheteretc
6GiveappropriateinstructionsiftheyneedtodoanythingacutelybeforeyouarriveForexamplei
reason or bleep is Haematemesis ask or IV access and bloods to be taken or i a patient has
spiked a temp o gt38˚C get the nurses or night practitioner to do cultures beore you arrive Itsaves a lot o time and afng around once you are on the ward
7 Decide where this lies in your list o priorities or whether it is a job nurse practitioners can do
to help you
NB Try not to have arguments with nurses on the phone some o them are just starting out like
you and may also be petried sometimes they need reassurance too
When you get there
Findthenursewhobleepedyou(orrequestedthebleep)andgetamoredetailedaccountof
whatrsquos going on
Eye-ball the patient beore delving into notes or looking on the computer ollowing the standard
ABCDE assessment It wonrsquot take you long to gure out i they are acutely unwell unstable or
not
Once you have done your initial assessment and any immediate management document what
you have done using a logical and systematic approach This way you wonrsquot orget anything You
will also look really slick and competent plus you might nd you paint yoursel a picture o whatrsquos
going on even i you were clueless initially
Sit down at a computer with the nursing le and medical notes and go straight or the clerking It
should give you a succinct list o PC and other co-morbidities to create a more complete clinical
pictureFlickthroughthewardnotesandndanythingyoucanreaditmaybeofsomeuseLook
at the last entry in particular as there may be a plan o what to do should the situation you have
been bleeped or arises
Check PACS and the lab system or any recent imaging or tests NB ALWAYS compare recent results
to previous ones Just go down the lists looking or cultures unusual blood tests INRs etc and
document what you nd Sometimes the best summaries o a patient are created when someone
manages them on-call Be thorough at the beginning but i you are hard pushed or time reer back to the help sheets- they are designed to make you SAFE not to make you a brilliant diagnostician
whocancowboytheirwaythroughFY1lsquoHousersquostyle
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 232421
HaveagoodbrowsethroughtheKARDEXlookingatwhichmedsmayhavecontributedtothe
situation which may have prevented it i they had been given and which ones you might need
toinitiatetomakesurethepatientisSAFE
Once you have all this inormation create a PROBLEM list and rom this document yourIMPRESSION o the situation Write a PLAN and document whether you involved a senior and
their name and grade Also document the amount o time you were there sometimes you need
tostaywithapatienttoseeifyourtreatmentworkseguidsforlowBPmeanwhileyoucan
scribble down everything yoursquove done to save time
Whenever you are assessing a patient think to yoursel
lsquoWhat do I need to DO to make sure this patient is SAFErsquo I this patient deteriorates or
dies unexpectedly and you were the last doctor to see them you need to make sure your
documentation is adequate Your management appropriate or not will mean nothing i it
has not been written down in the eyes o the law
In summary
bullAnsweryourbleepinasystematicway-itwillhelpyouprioritiseandbecomemoreecient
bullDelegatecertaintaskstonursesdonrsquotbeafraidofaskingthemyouarepartofaTEAM
bullPrioritiseyourjobsanddonrsquotbeafraidtoo-loadsomeontoyourwardSHOYOUaretheone
whogetsbleepedrstsoyouwillbeaskedtodoEVERYTHING
bullWhenyougettoapatient
1 ABCDE approach ALWAYS
2Documentyourinitialassessmentandmanagement 3Reviewthenursingleforobschartuidbalancewarfarinchartsuidprescriptions
4Reviewmedicalnotesandclerkingthensummarise
5ReviewKARDEX
6 Problem list
7 Impression
8 ACTION PLAN (use tick boxes or investigations you have ordered)
9 Keep their details (sticker on handover sheet) and make sure you check on them
later or handover to day team
ALWAYS MAKE SURE YOU ARE SAFE IF IN ANY DOUBT WHATSOEVER YOU MUST INFORMA SENIOR
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 2424
Disclaimer
Copyright
Production
Contacts
The fndings and conclusions in this document are those o the authors who are
responsible or its content All inormation is to be interpreted on an idividual basisin context with the clinical situation to which it reers The inormation is not a
replacement or local guidelines and protocols nor is it a document with any legal
standing No statement in this document can be construed as an ocial position o
the North Western Deanery or NHS Northwest
copyGillianJacksonampFrancesBennett2011
BookdesignedbyAndrewPowellMedicalIllustrationatRoyalBoltonHospitalRef48355
Franmbennettgmailcom
gljacksonhotmailcouk
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 192417
SOB SALBUTAMOL NEB 5mg STATPRN
IPRATROPIUM BROMIDE (Atrovent) NEB 500mcg STATPRN
PREDNISOLONE PO 30-40mg STATOD
(3-5days max)
HYDROCORTISONE IV 200mg STAT(i acute SOB or angiodema)
FUROSEMIDE POIV 40-80mg STAT
ORAMORPH PO 5mg
LAXATIVES
Stimulants SODIUMDOCUSATE PO 50-200mg TDS
BISOCODYL PO 5-10mg BD
SENNA PO TT (15mg) BDTDSOsmotic MOVICOL PO 1-2sachets BDTDS
LACTULOSE PO 15ml BD
I aecal loading GLYCERINESUPPOSITORY PR T STATPRN
PHOSPHATE ENEMA PR T STATPRN
ITCHRASH CHLORPHENAMINE PO 4mg TDS
(alsoknownasldquoPiritonrdquo)
AGITATION DIAzEPAM POSLOWIV 5-10mg
SLEEPLESSNESS ZOPICLONE PO 375-75mg
AGGRESSION HALOPERIDOL CheckBNFforindicationsanddoses
ALCOHOL
WITHDRAWAL CHLORDIAzEPOXIDE(reducingregimen)
Day1and220-30mgQDS
Day3and415mgQDS
Day510mgQDS
Day610mgBD
Day710mgNocte
SIMPLE UTI TRIMETHOPRIM PO 200mg BD
NITROFURANTOIN PO 50mg QDS
CEPHALEXIN PO 500mg BD
FOR ALL OTHER INFECTIONS REFER TO YOUR LOCAL ANTIBIOTIC POLICY-YOUWILLSOONLEARNMOSTOFTHEMOFFBYHEART
Salbutamol causes
tachycardia
Use oramorph with caution in COPD pts It works well in anxious patients to control their breathing
In-hospital patients are oten constipated oten due to decreased activity and medications Try tackling
constipation using dierent pharmacological approaches ie donrsquot Px movicol i already on lactulose
Write in lsquovariable dosersquo section o kardex near the back
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 202418
Wararin
Digoxin
PRESCRIBING OUT OF HOURS
You will oten get bleeped to prescribe wararin or patients you donrsquot know especially over the
weekendevenings i your colleagues havenrsquot done them
CHECK PATIENT IS NOT BLEEDING
Areyouprescribingmaintenanceorloadingdose
LOADING this is the regimen prescribed initially until INR stable and in target range Old school says10mg10mg5mgcheckINR(Day4)
MAINTENANCE usual dose once INR established to keep within target range Check yellow book or
regular prescriptions
bullOnceanINRhasbeenobtainedforoneofyourpatientsmakesureyouprescribethewarfarinfor
about3-4daysthenre-checkMarkopenbracketsonwarfarinchartstoindicatewhenyouwantthe
nextINRtobechecked(usuallybetween3-4daysintheinitialperiodormorefrequentlyifthereare
difculties establishing a maintenance dose)
bullINR is too high (lt4 or lt5 i target is 3-4) - DO NOT OMIT just reduce the dose (1mg) and re-
checkINRatleast48hrsafterasittakesbetween48-72hrsforyourchangetohaveaneect
bull I INR is gt4 (or gt5 i target is 3-4) and patient not actively bleeding prescribe Vitamin K 1mg IV
and OMIT the next dose o wararin
Reason or LT wararin Tx AF 2-3
RecurrentDVT 2-3
PE 2-3
RecurrentPE 3-4
Prostheticheartvalve 3-4
Check kardex or INTERACTIONS
Common onesbull ClarithromycinErythromycin
bull Rifampicin
I actively bleeding check with Senior or advice on urther action
You will occasionally get bleeped to review digoxin levels
Toxicity is very worrying and would normally require the use o lsquoDigibindrsquo which is basically
anantidote for digoxinODYouwillneed toget anECGand assessthepatient clinicallybefore
proceedinggetting senior help
Sub-therapeutic levels are common They are not so worrying but you should clinically assess
the patient in particular their CVS paying particular attention to their pulse as you will denitely get
asked about this i you ask or senior help
I digoxin levels are out o range make sure you check their K+ and keep a regular eye on it as this
needs to be stable or digoxin to be a sae and eective choice o therapy
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 212419
Gentamicin
Usually prescribed in severeneutropenic sepsis (OD regimen) = 5-7mgkgmax480mg
You may get bleeped to check the gentamicin levels o ward patients and subsequently prescribe
the next dose
Theblood levelneedstobe taken6-14hoursafter thestartof thefrst IVI You are basically
looking or the levels to be within therapeutic range I they are not you need to reer to the
Hartord Normogram This is a chart which indicates WHEN the next dose should be according
to how out o range the levels are You DO NOT change the DOSE just the TIMING o the next
one(either2436or48hrslater)Makesureifyouhavebeenaskedtotakethebloodyourself
you note exactly how many hours post IVI the blood has been taken on the blood card it may be
another o your peers who has to review the level
Toxicity may
cause
Deaness
tinnitus
Nystagmus
Vertigo
RenalFailure
Monitor UEs
DAILY
ForpatientswithINFECTIVE ENDOCARDITIS (TDS regimen) = 1mgkg per dose
Therst levelthatneeds toberecordedisafter the3rd4thdoseensuringatleast24hoursof
treatmentisgivenItshouldbetaken1hourpostIVIiethePEAKorPOSTlevelandbebetween
3-5mgL A trough or PRE Dose level is taken approx 1 hour beore any administered dose and
should be lt1mgL The reason or this is that they are on a TDS regimen so renal unction needs
to be closely monitored It is important that gentamicin levels do not rise to toxic amounts
which is more common in patients with renal impairment
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
32
1
06 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Time between start of infusion and sample draw (hours)
Nicolau DP Freeman CD Belliveau PP Nightingale CH Ross JW Quintiliani R Experience with
a once-daily aminoglycoside program administered to 2184 adult patients Antimicrob Agents
Chemo 1995293650-655
Hartford Once Daily Dosing Nomogram
(GentTobra 7mgkg
L e v e l ( m c g m l )
q48h
q36h
q24h
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 222420
General Hints and Tips or seeing patients out o hours
When answering your bleep fnd out
1 Reason or bleep
2Quickbackgroundinfo
3 FurtherrelevantclinicalinfoegOBSERVATIONS and compare these to how they normally runI itrsquos a patient with high EWS just inorm a senior to make them aware and ready or action
4WhattheywantyoutoDO(PURPOSE o call)
5 Ask or the ollowing things to be ready when you arrive
bullNotes
bullKardex
bullObschartnursingle
bullEquipmentegcannulasbloodscatheteretc
6GiveappropriateinstructionsiftheyneedtodoanythingacutelybeforeyouarriveForexamplei
reason or bleep is Haematemesis ask or IV access and bloods to be taken or i a patient has
spiked a temp o gt38˚C get the nurses or night practitioner to do cultures beore you arrive Itsaves a lot o time and afng around once you are on the ward
7 Decide where this lies in your list o priorities or whether it is a job nurse practitioners can do
to help you
NB Try not to have arguments with nurses on the phone some o them are just starting out like
you and may also be petried sometimes they need reassurance too
When you get there
Findthenursewhobleepedyou(orrequestedthebleep)andgetamoredetailedaccountof
whatrsquos going on
Eye-ball the patient beore delving into notes or looking on the computer ollowing the standard
ABCDE assessment It wonrsquot take you long to gure out i they are acutely unwell unstable or
not
Once you have done your initial assessment and any immediate management document what
you have done using a logical and systematic approach This way you wonrsquot orget anything You
will also look really slick and competent plus you might nd you paint yoursel a picture o whatrsquos
going on even i you were clueless initially
Sit down at a computer with the nursing le and medical notes and go straight or the clerking It
should give you a succinct list o PC and other co-morbidities to create a more complete clinical
pictureFlickthroughthewardnotesandndanythingyoucanreaditmaybeofsomeuseLook
at the last entry in particular as there may be a plan o what to do should the situation you have
been bleeped or arises
Check PACS and the lab system or any recent imaging or tests NB ALWAYS compare recent results
to previous ones Just go down the lists looking or cultures unusual blood tests INRs etc and
document what you nd Sometimes the best summaries o a patient are created when someone
manages them on-call Be thorough at the beginning but i you are hard pushed or time reer back to the help sheets- they are designed to make you SAFE not to make you a brilliant diagnostician
whocancowboytheirwaythroughFY1lsquoHousersquostyle
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 232421
HaveagoodbrowsethroughtheKARDEXlookingatwhichmedsmayhavecontributedtothe
situation which may have prevented it i they had been given and which ones you might need
toinitiatetomakesurethepatientisSAFE
Once you have all this inormation create a PROBLEM list and rom this document yourIMPRESSION o the situation Write a PLAN and document whether you involved a senior and
their name and grade Also document the amount o time you were there sometimes you need
tostaywithapatienttoseeifyourtreatmentworkseguidsforlowBPmeanwhileyoucan
scribble down everything yoursquove done to save time
Whenever you are assessing a patient think to yoursel
lsquoWhat do I need to DO to make sure this patient is SAFErsquo I this patient deteriorates or
dies unexpectedly and you were the last doctor to see them you need to make sure your
documentation is adequate Your management appropriate or not will mean nothing i it
has not been written down in the eyes o the law
In summary
bullAnsweryourbleepinasystematicway-itwillhelpyouprioritiseandbecomemoreecient
bullDelegatecertaintaskstonursesdonrsquotbeafraidofaskingthemyouarepartofaTEAM
bullPrioritiseyourjobsanddonrsquotbeafraidtoo-loadsomeontoyourwardSHOYOUaretheone
whogetsbleepedrstsoyouwillbeaskedtodoEVERYTHING
bullWhenyougettoapatient
1 ABCDE approach ALWAYS
2Documentyourinitialassessmentandmanagement 3Reviewthenursingleforobschartuidbalancewarfarinchartsuidprescriptions
4Reviewmedicalnotesandclerkingthensummarise
5ReviewKARDEX
6 Problem list
7 Impression
8 ACTION PLAN (use tick boxes or investigations you have ordered)
9 Keep their details (sticker on handover sheet) and make sure you check on them
later or handover to day team
ALWAYS MAKE SURE YOU ARE SAFE IF IN ANY DOUBT WHATSOEVER YOU MUST INFORMA SENIOR
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 2424
Disclaimer
Copyright
Production
Contacts
The fndings and conclusions in this document are those o the authors who are
responsible or its content All inormation is to be interpreted on an idividual basisin context with the clinical situation to which it reers The inormation is not a
replacement or local guidelines and protocols nor is it a document with any legal
standing No statement in this document can be construed as an ocial position o
the North Western Deanery or NHS Northwest
copyGillianJacksonampFrancesBennett2011
BookdesignedbyAndrewPowellMedicalIllustrationatRoyalBoltonHospitalRef48355
Franmbennettgmailcom
gljacksonhotmailcouk
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 202418
Wararin
Digoxin
PRESCRIBING OUT OF HOURS
You will oten get bleeped to prescribe wararin or patients you donrsquot know especially over the
weekendevenings i your colleagues havenrsquot done them
CHECK PATIENT IS NOT BLEEDING
Areyouprescribingmaintenanceorloadingdose
LOADING this is the regimen prescribed initially until INR stable and in target range Old school says10mg10mg5mgcheckINR(Day4)
MAINTENANCE usual dose once INR established to keep within target range Check yellow book or
regular prescriptions
bullOnceanINRhasbeenobtainedforoneofyourpatientsmakesureyouprescribethewarfarinfor
about3-4daysthenre-checkMarkopenbracketsonwarfarinchartstoindicatewhenyouwantthe
nextINRtobechecked(usuallybetween3-4daysintheinitialperiodormorefrequentlyifthereare
difculties establishing a maintenance dose)
bullINR is too high (lt4 or lt5 i target is 3-4) - DO NOT OMIT just reduce the dose (1mg) and re-
checkINRatleast48hrsafterasittakesbetween48-72hrsforyourchangetohaveaneect
bull I INR is gt4 (or gt5 i target is 3-4) and patient not actively bleeding prescribe Vitamin K 1mg IV
and OMIT the next dose o wararin
Reason or LT wararin Tx AF 2-3
RecurrentDVT 2-3
PE 2-3
RecurrentPE 3-4
Prostheticheartvalve 3-4
Check kardex or INTERACTIONS
Common onesbull ClarithromycinErythromycin
bull Rifampicin
I actively bleeding check with Senior or advice on urther action
You will occasionally get bleeped to review digoxin levels
Toxicity is very worrying and would normally require the use o lsquoDigibindrsquo which is basically
anantidote for digoxinODYouwillneed toget anECGand assessthepatient clinicallybefore
proceedinggetting senior help
Sub-therapeutic levels are common They are not so worrying but you should clinically assess
the patient in particular their CVS paying particular attention to their pulse as you will denitely get
asked about this i you ask or senior help
I digoxin levels are out o range make sure you check their K+ and keep a regular eye on it as this
needs to be stable or digoxin to be a sae and eective choice o therapy
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 212419
Gentamicin
Usually prescribed in severeneutropenic sepsis (OD regimen) = 5-7mgkgmax480mg
You may get bleeped to check the gentamicin levels o ward patients and subsequently prescribe
the next dose
Theblood levelneedstobe taken6-14hoursafter thestartof thefrst IVI You are basically
looking or the levels to be within therapeutic range I they are not you need to reer to the
Hartord Normogram This is a chart which indicates WHEN the next dose should be according
to how out o range the levels are You DO NOT change the DOSE just the TIMING o the next
one(either2436or48hrslater)Makesureifyouhavebeenaskedtotakethebloodyourself
you note exactly how many hours post IVI the blood has been taken on the blood card it may be
another o your peers who has to review the level
Toxicity may
cause
Deaness
tinnitus
Nystagmus
Vertigo
RenalFailure
Monitor UEs
DAILY
ForpatientswithINFECTIVE ENDOCARDITIS (TDS regimen) = 1mgkg per dose
Therst levelthatneeds toberecordedisafter the3rd4thdoseensuringatleast24hoursof
treatmentisgivenItshouldbetaken1hourpostIVIiethePEAKorPOSTlevelandbebetween
3-5mgL A trough or PRE Dose level is taken approx 1 hour beore any administered dose and
should be lt1mgL The reason or this is that they are on a TDS regimen so renal unction needs
to be closely monitored It is important that gentamicin levels do not rise to toxic amounts
which is more common in patients with renal impairment
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
32
1
06 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Time between start of infusion and sample draw (hours)
Nicolau DP Freeman CD Belliveau PP Nightingale CH Ross JW Quintiliani R Experience with
a once-daily aminoglycoside program administered to 2184 adult patients Antimicrob Agents
Chemo 1995293650-655
Hartford Once Daily Dosing Nomogram
(GentTobra 7mgkg
L e v e l ( m c g m l )
q48h
q36h
q24h
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 222420
General Hints and Tips or seeing patients out o hours
When answering your bleep fnd out
1 Reason or bleep
2Quickbackgroundinfo
3 FurtherrelevantclinicalinfoegOBSERVATIONS and compare these to how they normally runI itrsquos a patient with high EWS just inorm a senior to make them aware and ready or action
4WhattheywantyoutoDO(PURPOSE o call)
5 Ask or the ollowing things to be ready when you arrive
bullNotes
bullKardex
bullObschartnursingle
bullEquipmentegcannulasbloodscatheteretc
6GiveappropriateinstructionsiftheyneedtodoanythingacutelybeforeyouarriveForexamplei
reason or bleep is Haematemesis ask or IV access and bloods to be taken or i a patient has
spiked a temp o gt38˚C get the nurses or night practitioner to do cultures beore you arrive Itsaves a lot o time and afng around once you are on the ward
7 Decide where this lies in your list o priorities or whether it is a job nurse practitioners can do
to help you
NB Try not to have arguments with nurses on the phone some o them are just starting out like
you and may also be petried sometimes they need reassurance too
When you get there
Findthenursewhobleepedyou(orrequestedthebleep)andgetamoredetailedaccountof
whatrsquos going on
Eye-ball the patient beore delving into notes or looking on the computer ollowing the standard
ABCDE assessment It wonrsquot take you long to gure out i they are acutely unwell unstable or
not
Once you have done your initial assessment and any immediate management document what
you have done using a logical and systematic approach This way you wonrsquot orget anything You
will also look really slick and competent plus you might nd you paint yoursel a picture o whatrsquos
going on even i you were clueless initially
Sit down at a computer with the nursing le and medical notes and go straight or the clerking It
should give you a succinct list o PC and other co-morbidities to create a more complete clinical
pictureFlickthroughthewardnotesandndanythingyoucanreaditmaybeofsomeuseLook
at the last entry in particular as there may be a plan o what to do should the situation you have
been bleeped or arises
Check PACS and the lab system or any recent imaging or tests NB ALWAYS compare recent results
to previous ones Just go down the lists looking or cultures unusual blood tests INRs etc and
document what you nd Sometimes the best summaries o a patient are created when someone
manages them on-call Be thorough at the beginning but i you are hard pushed or time reer back to the help sheets- they are designed to make you SAFE not to make you a brilliant diagnostician
whocancowboytheirwaythroughFY1lsquoHousersquostyle
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 232421
HaveagoodbrowsethroughtheKARDEXlookingatwhichmedsmayhavecontributedtothe
situation which may have prevented it i they had been given and which ones you might need
toinitiatetomakesurethepatientisSAFE
Once you have all this inormation create a PROBLEM list and rom this document yourIMPRESSION o the situation Write a PLAN and document whether you involved a senior and
their name and grade Also document the amount o time you were there sometimes you need
tostaywithapatienttoseeifyourtreatmentworkseguidsforlowBPmeanwhileyoucan
scribble down everything yoursquove done to save time
Whenever you are assessing a patient think to yoursel
lsquoWhat do I need to DO to make sure this patient is SAFErsquo I this patient deteriorates or
dies unexpectedly and you were the last doctor to see them you need to make sure your
documentation is adequate Your management appropriate or not will mean nothing i it
has not been written down in the eyes o the law
In summary
bullAnsweryourbleepinasystematicway-itwillhelpyouprioritiseandbecomemoreecient
bullDelegatecertaintaskstonursesdonrsquotbeafraidofaskingthemyouarepartofaTEAM
bullPrioritiseyourjobsanddonrsquotbeafraidtoo-loadsomeontoyourwardSHOYOUaretheone
whogetsbleepedrstsoyouwillbeaskedtodoEVERYTHING
bullWhenyougettoapatient
1 ABCDE approach ALWAYS
2Documentyourinitialassessmentandmanagement 3Reviewthenursingleforobschartuidbalancewarfarinchartsuidprescriptions
4Reviewmedicalnotesandclerkingthensummarise
5ReviewKARDEX
6 Problem list
7 Impression
8 ACTION PLAN (use tick boxes or investigations you have ordered)
9 Keep their details (sticker on handover sheet) and make sure you check on them
later or handover to day team
ALWAYS MAKE SURE YOU ARE SAFE IF IN ANY DOUBT WHATSOEVER YOU MUST INFORMA SENIOR
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 2424
Disclaimer
Copyright
Production
Contacts
The fndings and conclusions in this document are those o the authors who are
responsible or its content All inormation is to be interpreted on an idividual basisin context with the clinical situation to which it reers The inormation is not a
replacement or local guidelines and protocols nor is it a document with any legal
standing No statement in this document can be construed as an ocial position o
the North Western Deanery or NHS Northwest
copyGillianJacksonampFrancesBennett2011
BookdesignedbyAndrewPowellMedicalIllustrationatRoyalBoltonHospitalRef48355
Franmbennettgmailcom
gljacksonhotmailcouk
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 212419
Gentamicin
Usually prescribed in severeneutropenic sepsis (OD regimen) = 5-7mgkgmax480mg
You may get bleeped to check the gentamicin levels o ward patients and subsequently prescribe
the next dose
Theblood levelneedstobe taken6-14hoursafter thestartof thefrst IVI You are basically
looking or the levels to be within therapeutic range I they are not you need to reer to the
Hartord Normogram This is a chart which indicates WHEN the next dose should be according
to how out o range the levels are You DO NOT change the DOSE just the TIMING o the next
one(either2436or48hrslater)Makesureifyouhavebeenaskedtotakethebloodyourself
you note exactly how many hours post IVI the blood has been taken on the blood card it may be
another o your peers who has to review the level
Toxicity may
cause
Deaness
tinnitus
Nystagmus
Vertigo
RenalFailure
Monitor UEs
DAILY
ForpatientswithINFECTIVE ENDOCARDITIS (TDS regimen) = 1mgkg per dose
Therst levelthatneeds toberecordedisafter the3rd4thdoseensuringatleast24hoursof
treatmentisgivenItshouldbetaken1hourpostIVIiethePEAKorPOSTlevelandbebetween
3-5mgL A trough or PRE Dose level is taken approx 1 hour beore any administered dose and
should be lt1mgL The reason or this is that they are on a TDS regimen so renal unction needs
to be closely monitored It is important that gentamicin levels do not rise to toxic amounts
which is more common in patients with renal impairment
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
32
1
06 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Time between start of infusion and sample draw (hours)
Nicolau DP Freeman CD Belliveau PP Nightingale CH Ross JW Quintiliani R Experience with
a once-daily aminoglycoside program administered to 2184 adult patients Antimicrob Agents
Chemo 1995293650-655
Hartford Once Daily Dosing Nomogram
(GentTobra 7mgkg
L e v e l ( m c g m l )
q48h
q36h
q24h
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 222420
General Hints and Tips or seeing patients out o hours
When answering your bleep fnd out
1 Reason or bleep
2Quickbackgroundinfo
3 FurtherrelevantclinicalinfoegOBSERVATIONS and compare these to how they normally runI itrsquos a patient with high EWS just inorm a senior to make them aware and ready or action
4WhattheywantyoutoDO(PURPOSE o call)
5 Ask or the ollowing things to be ready when you arrive
bullNotes
bullKardex
bullObschartnursingle
bullEquipmentegcannulasbloodscatheteretc
6GiveappropriateinstructionsiftheyneedtodoanythingacutelybeforeyouarriveForexamplei
reason or bleep is Haematemesis ask or IV access and bloods to be taken or i a patient has
spiked a temp o gt38˚C get the nurses or night practitioner to do cultures beore you arrive Itsaves a lot o time and afng around once you are on the ward
7 Decide where this lies in your list o priorities or whether it is a job nurse practitioners can do
to help you
NB Try not to have arguments with nurses on the phone some o them are just starting out like
you and may also be petried sometimes they need reassurance too
When you get there
Findthenursewhobleepedyou(orrequestedthebleep)andgetamoredetailedaccountof
whatrsquos going on
Eye-ball the patient beore delving into notes or looking on the computer ollowing the standard
ABCDE assessment It wonrsquot take you long to gure out i they are acutely unwell unstable or
not
Once you have done your initial assessment and any immediate management document what
you have done using a logical and systematic approach This way you wonrsquot orget anything You
will also look really slick and competent plus you might nd you paint yoursel a picture o whatrsquos
going on even i you were clueless initially
Sit down at a computer with the nursing le and medical notes and go straight or the clerking It
should give you a succinct list o PC and other co-morbidities to create a more complete clinical
pictureFlickthroughthewardnotesandndanythingyoucanreaditmaybeofsomeuseLook
at the last entry in particular as there may be a plan o what to do should the situation you have
been bleeped or arises
Check PACS and the lab system or any recent imaging or tests NB ALWAYS compare recent results
to previous ones Just go down the lists looking or cultures unusual blood tests INRs etc and
document what you nd Sometimes the best summaries o a patient are created when someone
manages them on-call Be thorough at the beginning but i you are hard pushed or time reer back to the help sheets- they are designed to make you SAFE not to make you a brilliant diagnostician
whocancowboytheirwaythroughFY1lsquoHousersquostyle
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 232421
HaveagoodbrowsethroughtheKARDEXlookingatwhichmedsmayhavecontributedtothe
situation which may have prevented it i they had been given and which ones you might need
toinitiatetomakesurethepatientisSAFE
Once you have all this inormation create a PROBLEM list and rom this document yourIMPRESSION o the situation Write a PLAN and document whether you involved a senior and
their name and grade Also document the amount o time you were there sometimes you need
tostaywithapatienttoseeifyourtreatmentworkseguidsforlowBPmeanwhileyoucan
scribble down everything yoursquove done to save time
Whenever you are assessing a patient think to yoursel
lsquoWhat do I need to DO to make sure this patient is SAFErsquo I this patient deteriorates or
dies unexpectedly and you were the last doctor to see them you need to make sure your
documentation is adequate Your management appropriate or not will mean nothing i it
has not been written down in the eyes o the law
In summary
bullAnsweryourbleepinasystematicway-itwillhelpyouprioritiseandbecomemoreecient
bullDelegatecertaintaskstonursesdonrsquotbeafraidofaskingthemyouarepartofaTEAM
bullPrioritiseyourjobsanddonrsquotbeafraidtoo-loadsomeontoyourwardSHOYOUaretheone
whogetsbleepedrstsoyouwillbeaskedtodoEVERYTHING
bullWhenyougettoapatient
1 ABCDE approach ALWAYS
2Documentyourinitialassessmentandmanagement 3Reviewthenursingleforobschartuidbalancewarfarinchartsuidprescriptions
4Reviewmedicalnotesandclerkingthensummarise
5ReviewKARDEX
6 Problem list
7 Impression
8 ACTION PLAN (use tick boxes or investigations you have ordered)
9 Keep their details (sticker on handover sheet) and make sure you check on them
later or handover to day team
ALWAYS MAKE SURE YOU ARE SAFE IF IN ANY DOUBT WHATSOEVER YOU MUST INFORMA SENIOR
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 2424
Disclaimer
Copyright
Production
Contacts
The fndings and conclusions in this document are those o the authors who are
responsible or its content All inormation is to be interpreted on an idividual basisin context with the clinical situation to which it reers The inormation is not a
replacement or local guidelines and protocols nor is it a document with any legal
standing No statement in this document can be construed as an ocial position o
the North Western Deanery or NHS Northwest
copyGillianJacksonampFrancesBennett2011
BookdesignedbyAndrewPowellMedicalIllustrationatRoyalBoltonHospitalRef48355
Franmbennettgmailcom
gljacksonhotmailcouk
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 222420
General Hints and Tips or seeing patients out o hours
When answering your bleep fnd out
1 Reason or bleep
2Quickbackgroundinfo
3 FurtherrelevantclinicalinfoegOBSERVATIONS and compare these to how they normally runI itrsquos a patient with high EWS just inorm a senior to make them aware and ready or action
4WhattheywantyoutoDO(PURPOSE o call)
5 Ask or the ollowing things to be ready when you arrive
bullNotes
bullKardex
bullObschartnursingle
bullEquipmentegcannulasbloodscatheteretc
6GiveappropriateinstructionsiftheyneedtodoanythingacutelybeforeyouarriveForexamplei
reason or bleep is Haematemesis ask or IV access and bloods to be taken or i a patient has
spiked a temp o gt38˚C get the nurses or night practitioner to do cultures beore you arrive Itsaves a lot o time and afng around once you are on the ward
7 Decide where this lies in your list o priorities or whether it is a job nurse practitioners can do
to help you
NB Try not to have arguments with nurses on the phone some o them are just starting out like
you and may also be petried sometimes they need reassurance too
When you get there
Findthenursewhobleepedyou(orrequestedthebleep)andgetamoredetailedaccountof
whatrsquos going on
Eye-ball the patient beore delving into notes or looking on the computer ollowing the standard
ABCDE assessment It wonrsquot take you long to gure out i they are acutely unwell unstable or
not
Once you have done your initial assessment and any immediate management document what
you have done using a logical and systematic approach This way you wonrsquot orget anything You
will also look really slick and competent plus you might nd you paint yoursel a picture o whatrsquos
going on even i you were clueless initially
Sit down at a computer with the nursing le and medical notes and go straight or the clerking It
should give you a succinct list o PC and other co-morbidities to create a more complete clinical
pictureFlickthroughthewardnotesandndanythingyoucanreaditmaybeofsomeuseLook
at the last entry in particular as there may be a plan o what to do should the situation you have
been bleeped or arises
Check PACS and the lab system or any recent imaging or tests NB ALWAYS compare recent results
to previous ones Just go down the lists looking or cultures unusual blood tests INRs etc and
document what you nd Sometimes the best summaries o a patient are created when someone
manages them on-call Be thorough at the beginning but i you are hard pushed or time reer back to the help sheets- they are designed to make you SAFE not to make you a brilliant diagnostician
whocancowboytheirwaythroughFY1lsquoHousersquostyle
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 232421
HaveagoodbrowsethroughtheKARDEXlookingatwhichmedsmayhavecontributedtothe
situation which may have prevented it i they had been given and which ones you might need
toinitiatetomakesurethepatientisSAFE
Once you have all this inormation create a PROBLEM list and rom this document yourIMPRESSION o the situation Write a PLAN and document whether you involved a senior and
their name and grade Also document the amount o time you were there sometimes you need
tostaywithapatienttoseeifyourtreatmentworkseguidsforlowBPmeanwhileyoucan
scribble down everything yoursquove done to save time
Whenever you are assessing a patient think to yoursel
lsquoWhat do I need to DO to make sure this patient is SAFErsquo I this patient deteriorates or
dies unexpectedly and you were the last doctor to see them you need to make sure your
documentation is adequate Your management appropriate or not will mean nothing i it
has not been written down in the eyes o the law
In summary
bullAnsweryourbleepinasystematicway-itwillhelpyouprioritiseandbecomemoreecient
bullDelegatecertaintaskstonursesdonrsquotbeafraidofaskingthemyouarepartofaTEAM
bullPrioritiseyourjobsanddonrsquotbeafraidtoo-loadsomeontoyourwardSHOYOUaretheone
whogetsbleepedrstsoyouwillbeaskedtodoEVERYTHING
bullWhenyougettoapatient
1 ABCDE approach ALWAYS
2Documentyourinitialassessmentandmanagement 3Reviewthenursingleforobschartuidbalancewarfarinchartsuidprescriptions
4Reviewmedicalnotesandclerkingthensummarise
5ReviewKARDEX
6 Problem list
7 Impression
8 ACTION PLAN (use tick boxes or investigations you have ordered)
9 Keep their details (sticker on handover sheet) and make sure you check on them
later or handover to day team
ALWAYS MAKE SURE YOU ARE SAFE IF IN ANY DOUBT WHATSOEVER YOU MUST INFORMA SENIOR
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 2424
Disclaimer
Copyright
Production
Contacts
The fndings and conclusions in this document are those o the authors who are
responsible or its content All inormation is to be interpreted on an idividual basisin context with the clinical situation to which it reers The inormation is not a
replacement or local guidelines and protocols nor is it a document with any legal
standing No statement in this document can be construed as an ocial position o
the North Western Deanery or NHS Northwest
copyGillianJacksonampFrancesBennett2011
BookdesignedbyAndrewPowellMedicalIllustrationatRoyalBoltonHospitalRef48355
Franmbennettgmailcom
gljacksonhotmailcouk
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 232421
HaveagoodbrowsethroughtheKARDEXlookingatwhichmedsmayhavecontributedtothe
situation which may have prevented it i they had been given and which ones you might need
toinitiatetomakesurethepatientisSAFE
Once you have all this inormation create a PROBLEM list and rom this document yourIMPRESSION o the situation Write a PLAN and document whether you involved a senior and
their name and grade Also document the amount o time you were there sometimes you need
tostaywithapatienttoseeifyourtreatmentworkseguidsforlowBPmeanwhileyoucan
scribble down everything yoursquove done to save time
Whenever you are assessing a patient think to yoursel
lsquoWhat do I need to DO to make sure this patient is SAFErsquo I this patient deteriorates or
dies unexpectedly and you were the last doctor to see them you need to make sure your
documentation is adequate Your management appropriate or not will mean nothing i it
has not been written down in the eyes o the law
In summary
bullAnsweryourbleepinasystematicway-itwillhelpyouprioritiseandbecomemoreecient
bullDelegatecertaintaskstonursesdonrsquotbeafraidofaskingthemyouarepartofaTEAM
bullPrioritiseyourjobsanddonrsquotbeafraidtoo-loadsomeontoyourwardSHOYOUaretheone
whogetsbleepedrstsoyouwillbeaskedtodoEVERYTHING
bullWhenyougettoapatient
1 ABCDE approach ALWAYS
2Documentyourinitialassessmentandmanagement 3Reviewthenursingleforobschartuidbalancewarfarinchartsuidprescriptions
4Reviewmedicalnotesandclerkingthensummarise
5ReviewKARDEX
6 Problem list
7 Impression
8 ACTION PLAN (use tick boxes or investigations you have ordered)
9 Keep their details (sticker on handover sheet) and make sure you check on them
later or handover to day team
ALWAYS MAKE SURE YOU ARE SAFE IF IN ANY DOUBT WHATSOEVER YOU MUST INFORMA SENIOR
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 2424
Disclaimer
Copyright
Production
Contacts
The fndings and conclusions in this document are those o the authors who are
responsible or its content All inormation is to be interpreted on an idividual basisin context with the clinical situation to which it reers The inormation is not a
replacement or local guidelines and protocols nor is it a document with any legal
standing No statement in this document can be construed as an ocial position o
the North Western Deanery or NHS Northwest
copyGillianJacksonampFrancesBennett2011
BookdesignedbyAndrewPowellMedicalIllustrationatRoyalBoltonHospitalRef48355
Franmbennettgmailcom
gljacksonhotmailcouk
7292019 ATSP (asked to see patient) Booklet
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullatsp-asked-to-see-patient-booklet 2424
Disclaimer
Copyright
Production
Contacts
The fndings and conclusions in this document are those o the authors who are
responsible or its content All inormation is to be interpreted on an idividual basisin context with the clinical situation to which it reers The inormation is not a
replacement or local guidelines and protocols nor is it a document with any legal
standing No statement in this document can be construed as an ocial position o
the North Western Deanery or NHS Northwest
copyGillianJacksonampFrancesBennett2011
BookdesignedbyAndrewPowellMedicalIllustrationatRoyalBoltonHospitalRef48355
Franmbennettgmailcom
gljacksonhotmailcouk