Nursing Blog

Gordon’s Functional Health Patterns is a method develops By Marjorie Gordon in 1987 proposed functional health patterns as a guide for establishing a comprehensive nursing data base. By using these categories it’s possible to create a systematic and standardized approach to data collection, and enable the nurse to determine the following aspects of health and human function: 11 Functional Health Patterns Gordon's : Health Perception and Health Management Nutritional Metabolic Pattern Elimination Pattern Activity and Exercise Pattern Sleep Rest Pattern Cognitive-Perceptual Pattern Self-Perception-Self-Concept Pattern Role-Relationship Pattern Sexuality and Reproduction Coping-Stress Tolerance Pattern Value-Belief Pattern

Myocarditis - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment Methods Myocarditis is an inflammation of the myocardium , the thick muscular layer of the heart wall. It is an uncommon disorder that is usually caused by viral infections such as coxsackie virus, adenovirus, and echovirus. It may also occur during or after various viral, bacterial, or parasitic infections. It can occur in people of all ages and is diagnosed more often in men than in women. Patients with acute myocarditis and chronic myocarditis experience different symptoms. In many cases the cause is not found. ( It is usually caused by a viral infection, particularly adenovirus and enterovirus infections (eg, coxsackievirus), although many infectious organisms commonly seen in infants and children have been implicated. It may present with chest pain, rapid signs of heart failure, or sudden death. It may be associated with dilation (enlargement due to weakness of the heart muscle) or with hypertrophy (overgrowth of the muscle tissue). Wh

When rapid venous infusion is difficult or impossible, intraosseous infusion allows delivery of fluids, medications, or whole blood into the bone marrow. Performed on infants and children, this technique is used in such emergencies as cardiopulmonary arrest, circulatory collapse, hypokalemia from traumatic injury or dehydration, status epilepticus, status asthmaticus, burns, near-drowning, and overwhelming sepsis. Any drug that can be given I.V. can be given by intraosseous infusion with comparable absorption and effectiveness. Intraosseous infusion has been used as an acceptable alternative for infants and children. Intraosseous infusion is commonly undertaken at the anterior surface of the tibia. Alternative sites include the iliac crest, spinous process and, rarely, the upper anterior portion of the sternum. Only personnel trained in this procedure should perform it. Usually, a nurse assists. (See Understanding intraosseous infusion.) This procedure is contraindicated in patients wi

Two Step Step 1 - Amount of fluid divided by hours to administer = ml/hr Step 2 - ml/hr x gtts/ml(IV set) 60 min = gtts/min One Step amount of fluid x drops/milliliter (IV set) hours to administer x minutes/hour (60) Example: 1000 ml over 8 hrs IV set = 15 gtts/ml Two Step Step 1 - 1000 8 = 125 Step 2 - 125 x 15 60 = 31.25 (31 gtts/min) One Step 1000 x 15 8 hrs x 60 = 15,000 480 = 31.25 (31gtts/min)

mg/min (For example - Lidocaine, Pronestyl) Solution cc x 60 min/hr x mg/min Drug mg = cc/hr Drug mg x cc/hr Solution cc x 60 min/hr = mg/hr Rule of Thumb Lidocaine, Pronestyl 2 gms/250 cc D 5 W 1 mg = 7 cc/hr 2 mg = 15 cc/hr 3 mg = 22 cc/hr 4 mg = 30 cc/hr mcg/min (For example - Nitroglycerin) Solution cc x 60 min/hr x mcg/min Drug mcg = cc/hr Drug mcg x cc/hr Solution cc x 60 min/hr = mcg/hr Rule of Thumb NTG 100 mg/250 cc 1 cc/hr = 6.6 mcg/min NTG 50 mg/250 cc 1 cc/hr = 3.3 mcg/min mcg/kg/min (For example - Dopamine, Dobutamine, Nipride, etc.) To calculate cc/hr (gtts/min) Solution cc Drug mcg x 60 min/hr x kg x mcg/kg/min = cc/hr Example: Dopamine 400 mg/250 cc D 5 W to start at 5 mcg/kg/min. Patient’s weight is 190 lbs. 250 cc 400,000 mcg x 60 min x 86.4 x 5 mcg/kg/min = 16.2 cc/hr To calculate mcg/kg/min Drug mcg/ x cc/hr Solution cc x 60 min/hr x kg = mcg/kg/min Example: Nipride 100 mg/250 cc D 5 W was ordered to decrease your patient’s blood pressure. The patient’s weight is 14

Nursing is a profession which is prominent across the world. When society changes, nursing also changes. Nurses possess a skill unlike other professionals; nurses must master more information than ever before available about human health and disease. Not only do nurses have to be intelligent but they also must be good leaders and team members, as well. Nurses must learn to think in a variety of different ways. Critical and creative thinking is often necessary and communication skills must be optimal. A successful nurse must also grapple with practical, ethical, and legal dilemmas. All of the above qualities make what it takes to be a reputable nurse, who can execute the nursing process effectively (Chitty 1). Nursing is “the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities, prevention of illness and injury, alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human response, and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, communities, and populations” (ANA

There are many Advantages of Using Nursing Process The nursing process provides an organizing framework for meeting the individual needs of the client, the client’s family/significant other(s), and the community. The steps of the nursing process focus the nurse’s attention on the “individual” human responses of a client/group to a given health situation, resulting in a holistic plan of care addressing the specific needs of the client/group. The nursing process provides an organized, systematic method of problem-solving (while still allowing for creative solutions) that may minimize dangerous errors or omissions in caregiving and avoid time-consuming repetition in care and documentation. The use of the nursing process promotes the active involvement of clients in their healthcare, enhancing consumer satisfaction. Such participation increases clients’ sense of control over what is happening to them, stimulates problem-solving, and promotes personal responsibility, all of which strengthen

Definition: Vague uneasy feeling of discomfort or dread accompanied by an autonomic response (the source often nonspecific or unknown to the individual); a feeling of apprehension caused by anticipation of danger. It is an alerting signal that warns of impending danger and enables the individual to take measures to deal with threat. RELATED FACTORS Unconscious conflict about essential [beliefs]/goals and values of life Situational/maturational crises Stress Familial association/heredity Interpersonal transmission/contagion Threat to self-concept [perceived or actual]; [unconscious conflict] Threat of death [perceived or actual] Threat to or change in health status [progressive/debilitating disease, terminal illness], interaction patterns, role function/status, environment [safety], economic status Unmet needs Exposure to toxins Substance abuse [Positive or negative self-talk] [Physiological factors, such as hyperthyroidism, pulmonary embolism, dysrhythmias, pheochromocytoma, drug thera

Risk for Imbalanced Body Temperature Taxonomy II: Safety/Protection—Class 6 Thermoregulation (00005) [Diagnostic division: Safety] Submitted 1986; Revised 2000 Definition: At risk for failure to maintain body temperature within normal range Risk Factors Extremes of age, weight Exposure to cold/cool or warm/hot environments Dehydration Inactivity or vigorous activity Medications causing vasoconstriction/vasodilation, altered metabolic rate, sedation, [use or overdose of certain drugs or exposure to anesthesia] Inappropriate clothing for environmental temperature Illness or trauma affecting temperature regulation [e.g., infections, systemic or localized; neoplasms, tumors; collagen/ vascular disease] NOTE: A risk diagnosis is not evidenced by signs and symptoms, as the problem has not occurred and nursing interventions are directed at prevention. Desired Outcomes/Evaluation Criteria—Client Will: Maintain body temperature within normal range. Verbalize

The scientific method of problem-solving introduced in the previous section is used almost instinctively by most people, without conscious awareness. FOR EXAMPLE While studying for your semester finals, you snack on pepperoni pizza. After going to bed, you are awakened by a burning sensation in the center of your chest.You are young and in good health and note no other symptoms (assessment).You decide that your pain is the result of the spicy food you have eaten (diagnosis).You then determine that before you can return to sleep, you first need to relieve the discomfort with an over-the-counter preparation (planning).You take a liquid antacid for your discomfort(implementation).Within a few minutes, you note the burning sensation is relieved, and you return to bedwithout further concern (evaluation). As you see, this is a process you routinely use to solve problems in your life that can be readily applied to client-care situations. You need only to learn the new terms describing the nur

Definition: Inability to clear secretions or obstructions from the respiratory tract to maintaina clear airway RELATED FACTORS Environmental Smoking; secondhand smoke; smoke inhalation Obstructed airway Retained secretions; secretions in the bronchi; exudate in the alveoli; excessive mucus; airway spasm; foreign body in airway; presence of artificial airway Physiological Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); asthma; allergic airways; hyperplasia of the bronchial walls Neuromuscular dysfunction Infection DEFINING CHARACTERISTICS Subjective Dyspnea Objective Diminished/adventitious breath sounds [rales, crackles, rhonchi, wheezes] Cough, ineffective/absent; excessive sputum Changes in respiratory rate and rhythm Difficulty vocalizing Wide-eyed; restlessness Orthopnea Cyanosis Sample Clinical Applications: COPD, pneumonia, influenza, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), cancer of lung/head and neck, congestive heart failure (CHF), cystic fibrosis, neuromuscular diseases, in

Preparation of a surgical bed allows easy transfer of patients from surgery and the promotion of cleanliness and comfort. To make such a bed, take the following steps: Assemble machine as you would to make a bed unoccupied, including two clean sheets (one is provided, if available), a drawsheet, blanket, bathroom, carpet, or the spread sheet, one pillowcase , handkerchiefs, a trash bag, and linen saver. Raise the bed to a comfortable working height to avoid back pain. Slide the pad into a clean pillowcase and place it on a table or chair nearby. Make the Foundation of the bed using the bottom sheet and drawsheet. Place a blanket bath open 15A € ³ (38 cm) of the head of the bed, both with its center positioned in the middle of the bed. Cover warms the patient and prevents the body temperature drop caused by anesthesia. Place a top sheet or spread on the cover of Bath, and position it as you did the cover. Then fold the cover and back of the sheet up so that the cover shows on the sheet.

List of NANDA Nursing diagnosis Accepted for Use and Research Divided into 13 domains and 47 classes, below the full list of 13 Domains and 47 classes NANDA Nursing diagnosis . And complete list of NANDA Nursing diagnosis based on alphabetical order. Domains Health Promotions Health awareness Health management Domains nutrition’s ingestion digestion Absorption Metabolism Hydration Domains Elimination/exchange Urinary System Gastrointestinal System Integumentary system Pulmonary System Domains Activity/Rest Sleep/Rest Activity /Exercise Energy Balance Cardiovascular-pulmonary Responses Self-Care Domains Perception/Cognition Attention Orientation Sensation/Perception Cognition Communication Domains Self Perception Self-Concept Self-Esteem Body Image Domains Role Relationship Caregiving Roles Family Relationship Role Performance Domains Sexuality Sexual Identity Sexual Function Reproduction Domains Coping/Stress Tolerance Post-Trauma Responses Coping Responses Neuro-behavioral Stress Do

Intestinal Obstruction is a mechanical or functional obstruction of the intestines, preventing the normal transit of the products of digestion. It can occur at any level distal to the duodenum of the small intestine and is a medical emergency. The condition is often treated conservatively over a period of 2–5 days with the patient's progress regularly monitored by an assigned physician. Surgical procedures are performed on occasion however, in life-threatening cases, such as when the root cause is a fully lodged foreign object or malignant tumor. Nursing interventions Nursing Care Plans for Intestinal Obstruction Pain Management Alleviation of pain or a reduction in pain to a level of comfort that is acceptable to the patient. Analgesic Administration Use of pharmacologic agents to reduce or eliminate pain. Environmental Comfort Management Manipulation of the patient’s surroundings for promotion of optimal comfort Constipation/Impaction Management: Prevention and alleviation of con

Nursing interventions Nursing care plans for Urinary tract infections (UTIs) Pain Management Alleviation of pain or a reduction in pain to a level of comfort that is acceptable to the patient. Analgesic Administration Use of pharmacologic agents to reduce or eliminate pain. Environmental Management Comfort Manipulation of the patient’s surroundings forpromotion of optimal comfort Teaching the patient of a teaching program about UTIs, how to prevent recurrent lower UTIs, and therapy. Learning Facilitation: Promoting the ability to process and comprehend information. Learning Readiness Enhancement: Improving the ability and willingness to receive information Sleep Enhancement to Facilitation of regular sleep/wake cycles. Simple Relaxation Therapy Use of techniques to encourage and elicit relaxation for the purpose of decreasing undesirable signs and symptoms such as pain, muscle tension, or anxiety. Environmental Management Manipulation of the patient’s surroundings for therapeutic benef

Nursing Care Plan for Nephrotic Syndrome Nephrotic Syndrome is a disorder in the human body, wherein large amount of protein leaks from the blood into the urine, due to damaged kidneys. This spill eventually leads to depletion of protein levels in the body, an increase in the levels of lipid and causes edema (swelling of body parts due to excessive accumulation of watery fluid). Although, it can occur at any age, children between the age group of 18 months to 4 years are at a higher risk. Causes of Nephrotic Syndrome Nephrotic syndrome is caused due to the damage to the tiny blood vessels present in the kidney, that are designed to filter waste and excess water from the blood. This condition may arise due to various factors like diseases affecting other parts of the body, such as diabetes and mellitus. A person suffering from glomerulonephritis can also experience Nephrotic syndrome. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which are harmful for the kidneys, can also lead to thi

Nursing Care Plan for Asthma Asthma Asthma is a chronic inflammation of the bronchial tubes (airways) that causes swelling and narrowing (constriction) of the airways. The result is difficulty breathing. The bronchial narrowing is usually either totally or at least partially reversible with treatments. Bronchial tubes that are chronically inflamed may become overly sensitive to allergens (specific triggers) or irritants (nonspecific triggers). The airways may become “twitchy” and remain in a state of heightened sensitivity. This is called “bronchial hyperreactivity” (BHR). It is likely that there is a spectrum of bronchial hyperreactivity in all individuals. However, it is clear that asthmatics and allergic individuals (without apparent asthma) have a greater degree of bronchial hyperreactivity than nonasthmatic and nonallergic people. In sensitive individuals, the bronchial tubes are more likely to swell and constrict when exposed to triggers such as allergens, tobacco smoke, or exerc

Pathophysiology of Appendicitis When the appendix is ​​blocked, intraluminal pressure increases, causing decreased venous drainage, thrombosis, edema, and bacterial invasion of the intestinal wall. If the obstruction continues, the appendix becomes more hyperemic and warm and covered with exudate which so became gangrenous and perforated. (Esther Monika, 2002: 63). Blockage of the lumen by a foreign object will cause swelling of lymphoid tissue. Secretion will continue, resulting in appendix become stretched causing hypoxia resulting in tissue death, gangrene perforation. In addition to the lumen obstruction by a foreign object, resulting in swelling of mucous secretions expenditure. Infection and swelling of intra-luminal pressures usually lead to necrosis, gangrene and perforation. In a classic case appendiksitis acute onset of symptoms is sick or not feeling comfortable around the umbilicus followed by anorexia, nausea and vomiting. These symptoms usually last 1-2 days. Within hours

Predisposition factor of Appendicitis The most common cause of appendicitis is luminal obstruction by feces, which ultimately damage the mucosal blood supply and tear that causes inflammation (Esther Monica, 2002: 63). Lumen is usually by faecal and stimulate release of mucus secretions that cause swelling. The cause of appendicitis also can occur because tumors, worms, viruses and bacteria that enter the appendix and cause the appendix to swell due to a lot of mucus out. From the description of the experts on the causes of appendicitis are: Lumen obstruction by feces Fecalith in lumen appendik Tumor Worms Viruses or bacteria Meanwhile, according Oswari E (2005: 211) cause of appendicitis is not known with certainty. Germs are often found in the appendix is not known with certainty. Lumen which is often found in the appendix is found in the inflamed appendix is E. Coli and streptococcus. Etiology Appendisitis by Inayah Iin (2004: 196) is: Dietary fiber less Stone Tumor Worms or parasi