A patient returned to the ward after she went outside for some fresh air.

She was on a wheelchair

and was escorted back to the Respiratory ward by a Healthcare support worker. The Healthcare
support worker told the patient that the Domestic cleaner was cleaning her bedside area and will be
finishing shortly. As the patient was waiting, a Student nurse notices the patient looking unwell and
tends to her. Student Nurse goes and speaks to the patient, and she does not respond. The patient
became unresponsive and the Student nurse alerts the ward staff by pressing the patient’s
emergency call bell.

On arrival, two band 5 nurses came to help the patient, and instructed the Student nurse and
Healthcare support worker to get the crash trolley and Dinamap. During this time, a Band 6 Nurse
who oversaw the ward called the Medical Emergency Team (MET) via telephone. One of the nurses
closely monitored the patient’s vital signs, while the other nurse recorded the vital signs. Then, the
consultants arrived on the ward and assisted the nurses. Firstly, the patient’s consultant wanted an
update on the patient situation. The patient regained consciousness but was still confused and
disorientated. She started asking the nurses on what happened and did not remember losing
consciousness.

The patient’s consultant instructed the nurses to put the patient back on her bed. He also wanted an
update on the vital signs of the patient. The consultant instructed the nurse to monitor the patient
vital signs and delegated the other members of staff in order to help the patient. The consultant
wanted the patient’s bloods taken and blood glucose levels to be checked. By showing leadership,
the consultant instructed his colleague to check the patient’s ABG and nurse to check the blood
glucose level of the patient. When the Medical Emergency Team arrived on the ward, the consultant
updated the team by explaining the patient’s condition, medical history, treatment and the current
vital signs. The consultant also instructed the nursing staff to do an ECG on the patient and report
back the findings.

Throughout this time, the consultant showed calmness and reassurance to all the staff that were
involved with the patient. When the patient became alert and orientated, the consultant
communicated and reassured the patient. By communicating with the staff, he made sure that when
he was assigning the roles of the nursing team, that they understood the instructions put in place.
The nursing team worked very strategic, organised and effectively. The consultant praised and
thanked the nursing team for working professionally and systematic.