HHC Health & Home Care Clinical Policy And

HHC HEALTH & HOME CARE Section: 14-14
Emergency: Fainting __RN
PURPOSE:
To prevent injury and aspiration.
CONSIDERATIONS:
1. An unconscious person should not be given
anything orally.
2. Fainting is usually accompanied by pallor,
diaphoresis, coldness of skin, dizziness, numbness
and tingling of hands and feet, nausea, and possible
visual disturbance.
3. Patient should be observed carefully after fainting,
as this might be a symptom of a serious condition.
EQUIPMENT:
Washcloth
Gauze, tissues, or handkerchief
PROCEDURE:
1. Adhere to Universal Precautions.
2. If patient feels weak or dizzy, assist to lying position,
or lower head to knee level.
3. If available, break ammonia ampule under patient's
nose.
4. Loosen tight clothing.
5. If patient vomits, roll to side or turn head to the side,
wiping vomitus from mouth.
6. Maintain an open airway by tilting the patient's head
back. If neck injury is suspected, use jaw thrust
method of opening the airway.
7. Examine the patient to determine if any other injury
was sustained from falling.
8. Keep patient warm.
9. Call 911 if patient becomes unresponsive.
AFTER CARE:
1. Document in patient's record:
a. Incident and any injury.
b. Treatment provided.
c. Patient's response to treatment.
2. Contact physician to report incident and obtain
further orders.
3. Inform nursing supervisor.
4. if there is some injury to the patient, submit a written
incident report to nursing supervisor.
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