Prioritization Reading
Please review the following resources:
Video explaining nursing prioritization: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWTKT4Z1ae0
Links to an external site.
"Priorities of care are established using a number of methods and frameworks including the ABCs, Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, and the ABCs combined with the MAAUAR method of priority setting.
The ABCs method of priority setting identifies the airway, breathing and cardiovascular status of the patient as the highest of all priorities in that sequential order.
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs identifies the physiological or biological needs, including the ABCs, the safety/psychological/emotional needs, the need for love and belonging, the needs for self-esteem and the esteem by others, and the self-actualization needs in that order of priority from the highest priority to the lowest priority.
Lastly, the ABCs / MAAUAR method of priority setting places the ABCs, again, as the highest and greatest priorities which is then followed with the 2nd and 3rd priority level needs of the MAAUAR method of priority setting.
The 2nd priority needs according to the MAAUAR method of priority setting after the ABCs include M-A-A-U-A-R which stands for:
- Mental status changes and alterations
- Acute pain
- Acute urinary elimination concerns
- Unaddressed and untreated problems that require immediate priority attention
- Abnormal laboratory and other diagnostic data that are outside of normal limits and
- Risks including those relating to a healthcare problem like safety, skin breakdown, infection and other medical conditions"
(Source: Registerednursing.org, 10/2021. Retrieved 12/29/21 from https://www.registerednursing.org/nclex/establishing-priorities/ Links to an external site.)
ABC's - Airway, Breathing, Circulation (Cardiovascular)
Acute vs. Chronic - Shortness of breath in sp c/s patient versus shortness of breath in CHF patient (chronic > 6 months)
New onset vs. presenting problem (diagnosis) - SpO2 of 91% may be "normal" for a COPD patient, whereas a new finding of SpO2 91% would take priority
Systemic vs. local - fever vs. contusion
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs - Lower level needs first (physiological needs, safety and security)