Chapter 10: Fundamental Patient Care

Patient Assessment

Must monitor vital signs such as symptoms, chronic illnesses, medications, family Hx, temp., pulse, respiration, and BP

Blood Pressure

Baseline of BP is obtained before and after an invasive procedure; systole is highest amount of pressure reached during contraction of left ventricle (top number); diastole is lowest point it drops during relaxation of left ventricle (bottom number); put BP cuff right above elbow until you cant hear blood flow through artery then slowly loosen until you hear the first beat (that is systolic number) and keep loosening until you hear the last beat (which is diastolic number); normal is 120/80

Hypertension and Hypotension

Hyper: could be essential hypertension (no known cause) or secondary hypertension (has known cause); could be associated with high cholesterol or arteriosclerotic disease

Hypo: suddenly could indicate underlying disease; patients with acute hypotension could complain of dizziness, confusion, blurred vision, or even fainting

Respiration

normal is 12-20 breaths/minute; tachypnea is high respiration rate and bradypnea is low respiration rate; patient shouldn’t be aware of this exam while its happening; dyspnea is difficulty breathing

Care for patient with intravenous infusion

Bag must be higher than point of insertion; never put bag in patients lap; make sure to plug in electric infusion when able and do not adjust flow rate; never dislodge catheter from IV site; if patient has pain let their nurse know

Care for patient with Urinary Catheters

Bag should always be below the level of bladder to avoid bacteria from drainage into bladder

Care for patient with oxygen therapy

check level of oxygen then unhook them from tank and plug them into the wall oxygen and adjust to correct liters to avoid getting low on the tank

Portable Sonography

Machine that moves to the patient, rather than the patient coming to sono room; make sure everything is cleaned on the machine before moving it and bring supplies with you; be aware of infection control and warning signs; 10-18 in textbook