NURS 1020, Lecture Week #2

Importance of Oxygen in Collateral Circulation

  • Oxygen is essential for developing collateral circulation.
  • The location of blockages in blood vessels determines the clinical manifestations experienced by the patient.

Medications Affecting Blood Properties

  • Some medications can help improve the quality of life by decreasing:
    • Fibrinogen concentration
    • Platelet adhesiveness
    • Blood viscosity

Patient Care and Lifestyle Modifications

  • Emphasis on risk factor management to ensure patients can improve their health and quality of life:
    • Diet Modification: Important to address dietary habits that may contribute to overall health.
    • Footwear Recommendations: Patients should wear comfortable shoes with rounded toes and soft insoles to prevent:
    • Blisters and other foot injuries that may lead to complications.
  • Education on Self-Care: Patients should be taught how to:
    • Check skin temperature.
    • Calculate capillary refill time.
    • Check their own pulses, which is vital for monitoring their condition.
    • Caregiver involvement is important when educating patients.

Assessment and Symptoms to Monitor

  • Nurses should be vigilant in monitoring symptoms indicative of issues:
    • Unilateral leg edema: swelling in one leg may indicate circulatory issues.
    • Pain: patients may experience varying levels of pain.
    • Erythema: redness in the skin, especially in areas of poor circulation.
  • Recognize that symptoms do not appear overnight; constant activity may contribute to a manageable state but may lead to complications if not monitored.
  • Recovery timeline can span 48 to 72 hours depending on the patient's condition and response to intervention.

Shaving and Dental Precautions

  • Patients are advised on shaving precautions:
    • Use an electric razor to prevent cuts and injuries to the skin.
  • Dental precautions should also be communicated:
    • Patients on blood thinners should inform their dentist before any procedures to avoid bleeding complications.

Product Recommendations

  • Recommendations may include specific healing products like:
    • Lactate products: Beneficial for intensive healing.
    • Alpha Hydroxy or Hydroxy products: Mentioned as effective for skin care.

Pathology and Risk Assessment

  • Certain symptoms may indicate underlying problems, often showing signs of a pathological process.
  • At what point can healthcare providers assess patient competence regarding treatment decisions?
    • Patients must receive thorough education about risks and benefits of treatments.
    • Important discussions may need to continue even if the patient expresses reluctance to follow recommendations.

Genetics and Cancer

  • The subtopic presented indicates a discussion on oncogenes:
    • Oncogenes, or abnormal genes, can lead to various types of cancers.
    • Their function involves proliferation of cells, which may lead to health complications.

Conclusion on Patient Competence

  • The conversation about patient decisions should encapsulate both genetic factors and patient education.
    • Assessing patient competency involves ensuring that patients are aware of the impacts of their health choices and the dangers of non-compliance with treatment.