Creating a daily goals worksheet will allow teams to keep track of plans established either on patient care rounds and/or multidisciplinary rounds and to verify their completion. In addition, patient safety is enhanced by recognizing early warning signs in patient care. Duplicate efforts are diminished and length of stay is decreased.
A daily goals worksheet must be individualized to your particular ICU and the specific needs and traditions of your hospital. Below are some considerations for daily goals worksheets:
- What work needs to happen for the patient to leave the ICU?
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What is the patient's greatest safety risk?
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What will we do for each organ system or patient problem we identify?
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Key processes for ventilator patients — have they been done?
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Scheduled labs — have they been obtained/ordered?
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Catheter — site care, inspection, consideration for removal?
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Communication/family issues — have we talked to the family today?
