What it means
The opposite of stableSTAY-bulDescribes a client whose condition is not changing and whose response to care can be predicted.Full entry . An unstable client may have vital signs outside the expected range, a new or getting-worse problem, or an outcome no one can predict. On the exam, "unstable" tells you who needs the registered nurse's attention and who should not be given to a less experienced staff member.
For the nurse
Care of an unstable client is not delegated to a UAPyou-ay-pee (said as letters)Unlicensed assistive personnel: trained workers without a nursing license, such as nursing assistants, who help with client care.Full entry and is usually not assigned to an LPN/LVN alone. When asked whom to see first, an unstable client usually comes before a stable one.
At a glance
| Spanish | inestable |
|---|---|
| Also written | unstable client |
Related terms
UAP
Unlicensed assistive personnel: trained workers without a nursing license, such as nursing assistants, who help with client care.
triage
Sorting clients by how urgently they need care, to decide who is seen first.
stable
Describes a client whose condition is not changing and whose response to care can be predicted.