NF3 report

Vitals Assessment

  • Vital signs are collected as a preliminary assessment to identify key issues.

  • Notable vitals mentioned:

    • Temperature: 38.2°C

    • Heart Rate: 110 bpm (assumed from context)

    • Pain Level: 8/10

    • Other symptoms: Fatigue, nausea, poor appetite.

Patient Profile

  • Patient Name: Justin Lee

  • Age: 57 years old

  • Status: Post-operative day two

  • Surgery Type: Surgical debridement

    • Debridement Definition: Surgical removal of dead, damaged, or infected tissue to promote healing.

Symptoms and Observations

  • Current Condition:

    • Patient is awake and oriented to time, place, and person.

    • Appears fatigued.

    • Intermittent grimacing noted when his left foot is moved.

    • Described pain as throbbing and burning, relieved by elevation.

    • Pain worsens with movement.

  • Additional Symptoms:

    • Ongoing nausea.

    • Poor appetite, only taking small sips of fluids.

    • Declined breakfast, no vomiting reported.

  • Wound Observation:

    • Left foot wound is warm, red, and mildly swollen.

Functional Limitations

  • Justin requires assistance with transfer due to pain;

    • He is hesitant to mobilize,

    • Expresses exhaustion and pain exacerbation during attempts to move.

Psychosocial Factors

  • Patient displays signs of isolation; no family present at bedside.

  • Concerns: Expresses worry about worsening condition.

Problem Identification

  • Major issues identified from the assessment include:

    • Pain management

    • Infection risk due to post-operative state.

    • Mobility issues due to pain and fatigue.

    • Psychosocial dimension such as isolation and anxiety.

    • Nausea and poor appetite affecting recovery.

SBAR Communication Framework

  • Situation: Patient Justin Lee, 57 years old, post-op day two with significant pain and lack of mobility. Notable changes in condition suggesting potential complications.

  • Background: No known allergies (except shellfish). Previous health issues relevant to current status must be acknowledged.

  • Assessment (A):

    • Vitals:

    • Temperature: 38.2°C

    • Pain: 8/10 (throbbing, burning)

    • Heart rate recorded earlier.

    • Subjective data: Nausea, poor appetite, fatigue, grimacing when moving left foot.

Nursing Interventions to Address Issues

  1. Pain Management

    • Conduct thorough pain assessment using PQRST framework:

      • P (Provocation): What causes the pain?

      • Q (Quality): Type of pain (throbbing, burning).

      • R (Region): Pain location (left foot).

      • S (Severity): 8 out of 10.

      • T (Timing): When does it occur?

    • Non-Pharmacological Interventions:

      • Continue to elevate the foot.

      • Implement relaxation techniques to reduce environmental stressors.

    • Pharmacological Options:

      • Administer Hydromorphone, Tylenol, monitoring for effectiveness and side effects (considering fever as well).

  2. Infection Management

    • Frequent monitoring of vitals to assess for signs of infection.

    • Employ Rita TACO method:

      • TACO: Temperature, Appearance, Comments, Observe

    • Dressing changes to keep the wound clean, dry, and protected to prevent infection spread.

    • Report any signs of increased infection (redness, purulence).

  3. Managing Nausea

    • Assess for further signs of obstruction if bowel sounds are absent.

    • Medications: Administer anti-nausea medications such as:

      • Diphenhydramine,

      • Ondansetron,

    • Non-Pharmacological Interventions:

      • Encourage small sips of non-sugar ginger ale.

      • Use of cold cloth to relieve nausea sensation.

    • Patient Education:

      • Advise on elevating the head while resting to prevent reflux and enhance comfort during recovery.

Team Collaboration and Presentation Preparation

  • Each nursing team member must prepare their assessments, interventions, and present findings in an organized manner, covering aspects of:

    • Pain assessment and interventions.

    • Infection management strategies.

    • Nausea assessment and supportive care explanations.

Documentation

  • Following the presentation, document findings on assessment sheets (DARK template).

  • Ensure all subjective and objective data, along with intervention outcomes, are accurately recorded for ongoing patient care.