Critical Care - Lab Exercise
Critical Care - Lab Exercise
Completion requirements
**LAB EXERCISE TITLE & INFORMATION**
* Title: Critical Care Simulation Exercise: Managing Acute Hypotension in a Trauma Patient
* Duration: 2-3 hours
* Group size: 4-6 students
* Difficulty level: STEP3
**LEARNING OBJECTIVES**
1. Perform a thorough assessment of a trauma patient with acute hypotension.
2. Administer fluids and vasopressors to manage blood pressure.
3. Interpret laboratory results, including complete blood count (CBC), electrolytes, and liver function tests.
4. Use ultrasound guidance for central line placement.
5. Identify and manage potential causes of hypotension, such as bleeding or sepsis.
6. Develop a plan for further testing and treatment.
7. Demonstrate effective communication with the healthcare team to ensure patient care.
8. Analyze data to optimize treatment outcomes.
**BACKGROUND & THEORY**
Critical care is a specialized area of medicine that focuses on providing high-level care to patients who are critically ill or injured. Acute hypotension is a common complication in trauma patients, and managing it effectively is crucial for preventing organ dysfunction and death. This lab exercise will simulate the challenges of critical care management in a real-world setting.
The expected outcomes of this lab exercise include:
* Effective assessment and management of acute hypotension
* Ability to interpret laboratory results and develop a plan for further testing and treatment
* Demonstration of effective communication with the healthcare team
**MATERIALS & EQUIPMENT**
* Patient simulator or mannequin (e.g., SimMan 3X)
* Vital sign monitors (e.g., pulse oximeter, blood pressure monitor)
* Laboratory equipment (e.g., CBC machine, electrolyte analyzer)
* Ultrasound machine
* Central line equipment (e.g., guidewire, catheter)
* Vasopressor medication
* Fluids and IV solutions
* Stethoscope and blood pressure cuff
* Blood sampling tubes and needles
* Medical charting software or paper charts
* Phone and intercom for communication with the healthcare team
**PROCEDURE / PROTOCOL**
1. Introduction and briefing (10 minutes)
* Review patient history and current status
* Explain lab exercise objectives and expectations
2. Patient assessment (20 minutes)
* Perform a thorough physical examination, including vital signs and laboratory tests
* Assess mental status and cognitive function
3. Fluid administration (15 minutes)
* Administer fluids to improve blood pressure
* Monitor fluid response and adjust as needed
4. Vasopressor administration (15 minutes)
* Administer vasopressors to maintain blood pressure
* Monitor blood pressure and adjust medication as needed
5. Ultrasound guidance for central line placement (20 minutes)
* Use ultrasound to place a central line in the patient's neck or chest
* Verify proper placement with fluoroscopy or ultrasound
6. Laboratory result interpretation (15 minutes)
* Interpret laboratory results, including CBC, electrolytes, and liver function tests
* Develop a plan for further testing and treatment
7. Development of a care plan (20 minutes)
* Develop a plan for patient care, including further testing and treatment
* Communicate with the healthcare team to ensure patient safety
8. Conclusion and debriefing (10 minutes)
* Review lab exercise objectives and outcomes
* Discuss common errors and how to avoid them
**DATA COLLECTION & ANALYSIS**
* Vital sign data:
+ Blood pressure
+ Pulse rate
+ Respiratory rate
* Laboratory results:
+ Complete blood count (CBC)
+ Electrolyte panel
+ Liver function tests
* Central line placement data:
+ Time elapsed before successful placement
+ Number of attempts required to place the central line
* Fluid administration data:
+ Amount of fluid administered
+ Blood pressure response
* Vasopressor administration data:
+ Dosage and frequency
+ Blood pressure response
**CLINICAL CORRELATIONS**
This lab exercise is clinically relevant because it simulates the challenges of managing acute hypotension in a trauma patient. Critical care providers must be able to assess, manage, and optimize blood pressure to prevent organ dysfunction and death.
Common errors that can occur during this lab exercise include:
* Failure to properly administer fluids or vasopressors
* Misinterpretation of laboratory results
* Inadequate communication with the healthcare team
To avoid these errors, it is essential to follow established protocols and guidelines for critical care management.
**POST-LAB QUESTIONS**
1. What are the potential causes of acute hypotension in a trauma patient?
2. How do you assess blood pressure in a critically ill patient?
3. What are the benefits and risks of using vasopressors to manage blood pressure?
4. How do you interpret laboratory results, including CBC, electrolytes, and liver function tests?
5. What is the importance of communication with the healthcare team during critical care management?
6. What are some common errors that can occur during fluid administration or vasopressor administration?
7. How do you develop a plan for patient care in a critical care setting?
**ASSESSMENT CRITERIA**
* Checklist of skills demonstrated:
+ Patient assessment
+ Fluid and vasopressor administration
+ Laboratory result interpretation
+ Central line placement
+ Development of a care plan
* Grading rubric:
+ Effective communication with the healthcare team (20 points)
+ Ability to interpret laboratory results (15 points)
+ Proper administration of fluids and vasopressors (15 points)
+ Successful central line placement (10 points)
+ Development of a comprehensive care plan (10 points)
* Common mistakes to watch for:
+ Failure to properly administer fluids or vasopressors
+ Misinterpretation of laboratory results
+ Inadequate communication with the healthcare team
**REFERENCES & RESOURCES**
* American College of Critical Care Medicine. (2020). Management of Acute Hypotension in Trauma Patients.
* Society of Critical Care Medicine. (2019). Central Line Placement and Maintenance.
* National Institutes of Health. (2020). Fluid Therapy for Acute Hypotension.
Video demonstrations:
* Fluid administration techniques
* Vasopressor administration techniques
* Ultrasound guidance for central line placement
* Title: Critical Care Simulation Exercise: Managing Acute Hypotension in a Trauma Patient
* Duration: 2-3 hours
* Group size: 4-6 students
* Difficulty level: STEP3
**LEARNING OBJECTIVES**
1. Perform a thorough assessment of a trauma patient with acute hypotension.
2. Administer fluids and vasopressors to manage blood pressure.
3. Interpret laboratory results, including complete blood count (CBC), electrolytes, and liver function tests.
4. Use ultrasound guidance for central line placement.
5. Identify and manage potential causes of hypotension, such as bleeding or sepsis.
6. Develop a plan for further testing and treatment.
7. Demonstrate effective communication with the healthcare team to ensure patient care.
8. Analyze data to optimize treatment outcomes.
**BACKGROUND & THEORY**
Critical care is a specialized area of medicine that focuses on providing high-level care to patients who are critically ill or injured. Acute hypotension is a common complication in trauma patients, and managing it effectively is crucial for preventing organ dysfunction and death. This lab exercise will simulate the challenges of critical care management in a real-world setting.
The expected outcomes of this lab exercise include:
* Effective assessment and management of acute hypotension
* Ability to interpret laboratory results and develop a plan for further testing and treatment
* Demonstration of effective communication with the healthcare team
**MATERIALS & EQUIPMENT**
* Patient simulator or mannequin (e.g., SimMan 3X)
* Vital sign monitors (e.g., pulse oximeter, blood pressure monitor)
* Laboratory equipment (e.g., CBC machine, electrolyte analyzer)
* Ultrasound machine
* Central line equipment (e.g., guidewire, catheter)
* Vasopressor medication
* Fluids and IV solutions
* Stethoscope and blood pressure cuff
* Blood sampling tubes and needles
* Medical charting software or paper charts
* Phone and intercom for communication with the healthcare team
**PROCEDURE / PROTOCOL**
1. Introduction and briefing (10 minutes)
* Review patient history and current status
* Explain lab exercise objectives and expectations
2. Patient assessment (20 minutes)
* Perform a thorough physical examination, including vital signs and laboratory tests
* Assess mental status and cognitive function
3. Fluid administration (15 minutes)
* Administer fluids to improve blood pressure
* Monitor fluid response and adjust as needed
4. Vasopressor administration (15 minutes)
* Administer vasopressors to maintain blood pressure
* Monitor blood pressure and adjust medication as needed
5. Ultrasound guidance for central line placement (20 minutes)
* Use ultrasound to place a central line in the patient's neck or chest
* Verify proper placement with fluoroscopy or ultrasound
6. Laboratory result interpretation (15 minutes)
* Interpret laboratory results, including CBC, electrolytes, and liver function tests
* Develop a plan for further testing and treatment
7. Development of a care plan (20 minutes)
* Develop a plan for patient care, including further testing and treatment
* Communicate with the healthcare team to ensure patient safety
8. Conclusion and debriefing (10 minutes)
* Review lab exercise objectives and outcomes
* Discuss common errors and how to avoid them
**DATA COLLECTION & ANALYSIS**
* Vital sign data:
+ Blood pressure
+ Pulse rate
+ Respiratory rate
* Laboratory results:
+ Complete blood count (CBC)
+ Electrolyte panel
+ Liver function tests
* Central line placement data:
+ Time elapsed before successful placement
+ Number of attempts required to place the central line
* Fluid administration data:
+ Amount of fluid administered
+ Blood pressure response
* Vasopressor administration data:
+ Dosage and frequency
+ Blood pressure response
**CLINICAL CORRELATIONS**
This lab exercise is clinically relevant because it simulates the challenges of managing acute hypotension in a trauma patient. Critical care providers must be able to assess, manage, and optimize blood pressure to prevent organ dysfunction and death.
Common errors that can occur during this lab exercise include:
* Failure to properly administer fluids or vasopressors
* Misinterpretation of laboratory results
* Inadequate communication with the healthcare team
To avoid these errors, it is essential to follow established protocols and guidelines for critical care management.
**POST-LAB QUESTIONS**
1. What are the potential causes of acute hypotension in a trauma patient?
2. How do you assess blood pressure in a critically ill patient?
3. What are the benefits and risks of using vasopressors to manage blood pressure?
4. How do you interpret laboratory results, including CBC, electrolytes, and liver function tests?
5. What is the importance of communication with the healthcare team during critical care management?
6. What are some common errors that can occur during fluid administration or vasopressor administration?
7. How do you develop a plan for patient care in a critical care setting?
**ASSESSMENT CRITERIA**
* Checklist of skills demonstrated:
+ Patient assessment
+ Fluid and vasopressor administration
+ Laboratory result interpretation
+ Central line placement
+ Development of a care plan
* Grading rubric:
+ Effective communication with the healthcare team (20 points)
+ Ability to interpret laboratory results (15 points)
+ Proper administration of fluids and vasopressors (15 points)
+ Successful central line placement (10 points)
+ Development of a comprehensive care plan (10 points)
* Common mistakes to watch for:
+ Failure to properly administer fluids or vasopressors
+ Misinterpretation of laboratory results
+ Inadequate communication with the healthcare team
**REFERENCES & RESOURCES**
* American College of Critical Care Medicine. (2020). Management of Acute Hypotension in Trauma Patients.
* Society of Critical Care Medicine. (2019). Central Line Placement and Maintenance.
* National Institutes of Health. (2020). Fluid Therapy for Acute Hypotension.
Video demonstrations:
* Fluid administration techniques
* Vasopressor administration techniques
* Ultrasound guidance for central line placement
Last modified: Sunday, 9 November 2025, 5:47 PM