The Nursing clinics of North America
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Cardiopulmonary arrest in children frequently has a respiratory cause. Bradycardia and asystole result from the hypoxia and acidosis of inadequate ventilation. Fortunately, respiratory failure presents warning signs which make early intervention and prevention of arrest a major focus for the nurse. When cardiopulmonary arrest does occur, the nurse must be able to provide the A-B-C's of basic life support, to participate actively in definitive treatment of the arrest, and to assess the child carefully during the post-resuscitation recovery stabilization period.
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Triage is the process by which patients are assessed upon their arrival at a health care facility to determine the urgency of their problem and to determine the appropriate health care resource. Of the five major types of triage, advanced triage is the most comprehensive system. It includes initial assessment, initiation of diagnostic procedures, appropriate physical examination, documentation, and a referral system. Implementation of a triage system should include didactic components, a clinical trial, written examinations, and documented certification.