Care of a Decompensating Patient: Post-Operative Respiratory Depression Simulation

This progression-based simulation prepares senior nursing students and new graduate RNs to recognize and manage post-operative respiratory decompensation related to opioid administration. The resource is aligned with AACN Essentials domains and competencies and is designed for immediate instructional use.

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What’s Included:

  • AACN-aligned learning objectives and Essentials sub-competencies
  • Detailed patient case and clinical deterioration timeline
  • Prebriefing guidance and facilitator readiness checklist
  • Structured scenario flow with decision points
  • Rapid Response and SBAR communication expectations
  • Micro-debrief and full debrief question sets
  • Progression Indicators (developing vs. developed)
  • Coaching rubric and observation checklist

 

Entry-Level Nursing Practice Scenarios: An Overview

Domain 1: Knowledge for Nursing Practice
1.3. Demonstrate clinical judgment founded on a broad knowledge base.
a. Demonstrates clinical reasoning.

Domain 2: Person-Centered Care
2.3. Integrate assessment skills in practice.
c. Perform a clinically relevant, holistic health assessment.
e. Distinguish between normal and abnormal health findings.

2.7 Evaluate outcomes of care.
a. Reassess the individual to evaluate health outcomes/goals.
b. Modify plan of care as needed.

2.9 Provide care coordination.
d. Recognize when additional expertise and knowledge is needed to manage the patient.

Domain 5: Quality and Safety
5.2. Contribute to a culture of patient safety.
f. Use national patient safety resources, initiatives, and regulations at the point of care.

Domain 6: Interprofessional Partnerships
6.1 Communicate effectively with individuals.
e. Communicate in a manner that facilitates a partnership approach to quality care delivery.

Clinical Judgement
Communication
Compassionate Care

Sub-competency Developing Developed
1.3a Demonstrate clinical reasoning
  • Identify key patient problems and articulate nursing knowledge and logical steps for decisions.
  • Recognize gaps in knowledge and use appropriate resources to support sound clinical judgments.
  • Re-prioritize patient problems based on condition changes and severity.
  • Develop and revise a comprehensive plan of care using new clinical information.
2.3c Perform a clinically relevant, holistic health assessment
  • Identify and prioritize assessments addressing immediate needs.
  • Collect subjective and objective data to support decision-making.
  • Apply clinical judgment to determine assessment sequencing and urgency.
  • Adjust assessment priorities in real time based on patient feedback.
2.3e Distinguish between normal and abnormal health findings
  • Recognize and analyze normal and abnormal findings.
  • Consult evidence-based resources to verify deviations.
  • Differentiate findings requiring urgent versus routine follow-up.
  • Identify patterns and correlate abnormal findings with conditions.
  • Use findings to prioritize interventions and refine care plans.
  • Synthesize findings in relation to the disease process.
2.7a Reassess the individual to evaluate health outcomes/goals
  • Conduct routine reassessments.
  • Compare current findings with baseline data.
  • Share reassessment results with the healthcare team.
  • Integrate physical, emotional, social, and cultural factors.
  • Synthesize patterns and trends to evaluate intervention effectiveness.
2.7b Modify plan of care as needed
  • Identify necessary adjustments based on patient and team feedback.
  • Propose changes using clinical guidelines.
  • Engage individuals in discussions about care plan adjustments.
  • Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team.
  • Provide clear, evidence-supported rationales for modifications.
2.9d Recognize when additional expertise is needed
  • Acknowledge when additional expertise is required and seek assistance.
  • Utilize available resources and services to access expertise.
5.2f Use national patient safety resources
  • Reference national patient safety guidelines.
  • Apply patient safety regulations in practice.
  • Utilize current evidence-based safety guidelines.
  • Integrate safety resources into daily practice.
6.1e Communicate information professionally and timely
  • Document and share information using standardized tools.
  • Contribute concise, accurate information to support continuity of care.