Inpatient Management - Lab Exercise

**LAB EXERCISE TITLE & INFORMATION**

**Inpatient Management: Vital Signs Monitoring and Medication Administration**

**Duration:** 2-3 hours
**Group size:** 4-6 students
**Difficulty level:** STEP3

This laboratory exercise is designed to equip students with the practical skills necessary for inpatient management, specifically focusing on vital signs monitoring and medication administration. Students will learn to accurately collect and interpret patient data, administer medications safely, and demonstrate critical thinking in clinical scenarios.

**LEARNING OBJECTIVES**

1. Collect and record accurate vital signs (temperature, blood pressure, pulse rate, oxygen saturation)
2. Interpret and understand the relevance of vital signs to patient care
3. Administer medications safely and accurately using various routes (oral, IV, IM)
4. Use a medication administration record to document medication administration
5. Identify potential errors in medication administration and correct them
6. Demonstrate critical thinking in clinical scenarios involving vital signs monitoring and medication administration
7. Apply knowledge of medication safety and patient allergies
8. Use a pulse oximeter to measure oxygen saturation accurately

**BACKGROUND & THEORY**

Inpatient management is a crucial aspect of healthcare, requiring accurate data collection, safe medication administration, and effective communication with patients and healthcare teams. Vital signs monitoring and medication administration are essential skills for inpatient care, as they directly impact patient outcomes.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends regular vital sign monitoring to assess patient status, identify potential complications, and adjust treatment plans accordingly. Medication administration requires attention to detail, understanding of medication safety guidelines, and proper technique to ensure accurate delivery.

**MATERIALS & EQUIPMENT**

* Patient simulators or models
* Vital sign measuring devices (temperature, blood pressure, pulse rate)
* Pulse oximeter
* Medication administration record forms
* Sample medications (oral, IV, IM) for practice
* Safety equipment (gloves, masks, eye protection)
* Stethoscope

**PROCEDURE / PROTOCOL**

1. **Vital Signs Monitoring** (30 minutes)
* Collect temperature using a digital thermometer
* Measure blood pressure using an automated sphygmomanometer
* Record pulse rate and oxygen saturation using a pulse oximeter
2. **Medication Administration Record** (20 minutes)
* Review medication order and patient allergy information
* Fill medication administration record form with correct dosage, route, and administration time
3. **Patient Simulation** (45 minutes)
* Use patient simulators or models to practice vital signs monitoring and medication administration
* Practice responding to clinical scenarios involving altered vital signs and medication errors
4. **Quality Control Check** (10 minutes)
* Verify accuracy of vital sign measurements and medication administration records

**DATA COLLECTION & ANALYSIS**

* Record vital sign data in a standardized format
* Use a medication administration record form to document accurate medication administration
* Review and analyze data for accuracy and completeness

**CLINICAL CORRELATIONS**

* Inpatient management requires attention to detail and accurate data collection
* Medication administration is critical to patient safety, requiring proper technique and knowledge of medication safety guidelines
* Vital signs monitoring helps identify potential complications and adjust treatment plans accordingly

**POST-LAB QUESTIONS**

1. What are the most common causes of inaccurate vital sign measurements?
2. How do you handle a situation where a patient's oxygen saturation is low?
3. What steps would you take if a medication error occurs during administration?
4. How do you ensure accurate medication administration in a busy clinical environment?
5. What are some common pitfalls to avoid when administering medications orally?

**ASSESSMENT CRITERIA**

* Checklist of skills demonstrated (vital signs monitoring, medication administration record completion)
* Grading rubric:
+ Accuracy and completeness of vital sign data
+ Correctness of medication administration records
+ Demonstration of critical thinking in clinical scenarios
+ Adherence to safety guidelines and protocols

**REFERENCES & RESOURCES**

* World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for vital signs monitoring
* American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines for medication administration
* Video demonstrations of medication administration techniques
* Further reading on inpatient management, medication safety, and critical thinking.