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Level 1: Routine Care

Site: OpenLearn Create
Course: Welsh Levels of Care E-Learning Program
Book: Level 1: Routine Care
Printed by: Guest user
Date: Monday, 9 February 2026, 4:55 AM

Description

The patient has a clearly identified problem, with minimal other complicating factors.

Table of contents

Lay Descriptors

  • The patient has a clearly identified problem, with minimal other complicating factors
  • The care plan is straight forward and ongoing observations may be scheduled, but the outcome is predictable, with very little variation from what is expected
  • The work to deliver care is routine and there will be a number of tasks, including skilled interventions, that are completely within the normal routines of the nursing team

Clinical Descriptors

  • The patient is stable and the care is routine with little variation
  • Routine post-operative care
  • The patient may require therapy input prior to discharge
  • The patient has a small number of clearly defined needs
  • The care required is obvious and task oriented
  • All activities are within the normal routines of the ward

Nursing Theme 1 - Assessment and Observation

  • Ongoing treatment for an underlying medical condition
  • Routine post-operative or post-procedural care, for example requiring observations half hourly initially then 4-hourly
  • Routine observations 2 - 4 hourly
  • NEWS is within normal parameters
  • ECG monitoring
  • Assessment of bloods

Nursing Theme 2 - Respiration

  • Oxygen therapy less than 35%
  • Routine care of a single chest drain
  • Long term oxygen
  • Stable, long term non-invasive ventilation

Nursing Theme 3 - Personal Care, Nutrition and Hydration

  • Routine management of nutrition and hydration
  • Patients requiring occasional assistance with some activities of daily living, for example the assistance of one person to mobilise, or experiences occasional incontinence
  • Self-caring and independent
  • Mobile, with or without use of aids
  • Simple wound management
  • Routine pressure area care

Nursing Theme 4 - Cognition and Communication

  • Confused patient not at risk
  • The patient is compliant or has full capacity
  • Requires minimal psychological input
  • The patient has mental health issues which do not impact on their acute care
  • The patient is able to communicate their needs


Nursing Theme 5 - Medication

  • Established patient controlled analgesia
  • Routine nerve block
  • Self-medicating for symptom control