How do you walk up stairs with crutches?
Use railing if there is one; lead with good leg, using crutches for support of bad leg
What are signs of compartment syndrome?
MEDICAL EMERGENCY! tingling, numbness, wors
...
How do you walk up stairs with crutches?
Use railing if there is one; lead with good leg, using crutches for support of bad leg
What are signs of compartment syndrome?
MEDICAL EMERGENCY! tingling, numbness, worsening pain, edema, pain on passive movement, unequal pulses
What should you do for suspected compartment syndrome?
Call doctor immediately, loosen dressings, and prepare to assist with fasciotomy
What interventions do you do for suspected enterocolitis?
Assess and measure abdominal girth, monitor/manage fluid, electrolyte, and blood replacement, monitor for sepsis/peritonitis/shock, and give antibiotics
What are some signs and symptoms of Hirschsprung's disease?
Newborn: failure to pass meconium in 24-48 hours, vomiting bile, refusing to eat, abdominal distention; infant: FTT, vomiting, constipation; child: undernourished, anemic appearance, abdominal distention, visible peristalsis, palpable fecal mass, constipation
What should you advise your patient of who has peripheral vascular disease?
Sleep with legs in a dependent position (hanging off the bed) to reduce swelling and discomfort of legs; avoid crossing legs, avoid restrictive clothing, and elevate legs but not above heart level; exercise and eat low fat diet
What is intermittent claudication?
Burning, cramping, and pain in the legs during exercise; present in peripheral vascular disease
What are some expected findings of Peripheral Vascular Disease?
bruit over femoral/aortic arteries, decreased capillary refill, diminished pulses, loss of hair on ankle/calf/foot, dry/scaly/mottled skin, thick toe nails, RUBOR!, cold/cyanotic extremity, and ulcers/gangrene of toes
What is a cardiac stress test?
Measures the patient's heart ability to respond to external stress in a controlled clinical environment; patient will exercise for 10-15 minutes; doctor will use an EKG, BP, HR and O2 level; shows pumping ability; used in PVD
What are expected findings of pulmonary edema?
Crackles in lungs, edema, cough with pink/frothy sputum, cyanosis, confusion/stupor, tachycardia, tachypnea/dyspnea/orthopnea, anxiety, inability to sleep, hypoxemia, decreased urine output
What would you advise a patient with pulmonary edema?
Fluid restriction and low sodium diet, high fowler's position, daily weights at same time of day, effective breathing techniques, report SOB, swelling and angina; stay compliant with meds even if patient starts to feel better!
Nursing interventions for pulmonary edema?
High fowlers, vitals q15 min, hourly urine output, monitor ABGs and electrolytes, monitor I & O, hemodynamic status
Why might someone have pulmonary edema?
Most common cause is cardiogenic! Patient will have increased pulmonary vascular pressure; patient may also be in opiate OD, inhaled irritants, too rapid of IV fluids, head injury
What are some expected findings of cataracts?
Blurry vision! decreased visual acuity, diplopia (double vision), ABSENT RED REFLEX; visual opacity; cloudy pupils
What would you educate a patient with cataracts?
Annual eye exams after 40!; Wear sunglasses anytime outside, avoid activities that increase IOP (bending, sneezing, coughing, straining, sex, restrictive clothing, head hyperflexion); report pain with n/v, limit activities (cooking, driving, sports)
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