Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a condition in which the bronchioles (breathing tubes) leading to the lung develop thickened membranes that secrete large amounts of sputum and pus or in which the tine alveoli (air sacs) within the lungs become inelastic and sometimes break open and trap air. COPD causes breathing to become more difficult because air is taken in and cannot be expelled completely.
Instructed patient when to call the doctor the stoma is swollen and is more than a 1/2 inch (1 cm) larger than normal. The stoma is pulling in, below the skin level. The stoma is bleeding more than normal.
Instructed patient it’s important to routinely clean catheters to prevent infections. Wash your hands well before and after you handle your catheter. Clean the skin around the catheter twice a day using soap and water.
Tracheostomy care Instructed patient caregiver Signs and symptoms of difficulty breathing are: Retractions Pulling of the skin between the ribs, under the breastbone or around the trach itself. Also symptoms of difficulty breathing are: Sweaty and pale skin, a person is sweaty and pale and seems to be working hard to breathe while at rest, dusky lips or nail beds. The lips or nail beds look dark, dusky or blue.
Instructed patient Call your provider right away if you have any of the following: Pain or burning in your shoulder, chest, back, arm, or leg Fever of 100.4 F (38.0 C) or higher Chills Signs of infection at the catheter site (pain, redness, drainage, burning, or stinging)
Skilled Nursing visited PT, PT alert and oriented x 3 PERRL. SN assessed PT head to toe , Vital signs taken and recorded using universal precaution standard . Lungs Bilateral even , unlabored respiration, abdomen soft non distended, skin warm and dry to touch , no distress and complications noted at this time. Osteoarthritis can occur in any joint. It occurs most often in the hands, knees, hips, and spine. Warning signs are: Stiffness in a joint after getting out of bed or sitting for a long time. Swelling or tenderness in one or more joints. A crunching feeling or the sound of bone rubbing on bone. Taught that eating well-balanced meals and avoiding.Taught that avoiding excess sugar intake and avoiding excess salt intake are measures aimed to preventing/controlling Osteoarthritis.Taught that using assistive and/or protective devices, as needed, is a measure aimed to preventing/controlling Osteoarthritis.
Patient was instructed to drink adequate amounts of fluids to prevent dehydration. Sports drinks and fruit juices are helpful too, but they don't provide the ideal balance of water, sugar, and salt. However, drinking more fluid than your body can process can reduce the amount of sodium (salt) in your blood. In the elderly, your body's fluid reserve becomes smaller, your ability to conserve water is reduced and your thirst sense becomes less acute. Symptoms are: extreme thirst, less frequent urination, dark-colored urine, fatigue, dizziness, confusion, patient verbalized understanding.
SN instructed that a seizure that begins in the occipital cortex may result in flashing lights, while a seizure that affects the motor cortex will result in rhythmic jerking movements of the face, arm, or leg on the side of the body opposite to the involved cortex (Jacksonian seizure). A seizure that begins in the parietal cortex may cause distortion of spatial perception; a seizure that begins in the dominant frontal lobe may cause sudden speech difficulties.
Fibromyalgia is one of a group of chronic pain disorders that affect connective tissues, including the muscles, ligaments (the tough bands of tissue that bind together the ends of bones), and tendons (which attach muscles to bones). The cause of fibromyalgia is unknown. Various physical or emotional factors may play a role in triggering symptoms; most common symptoms are fatigue, sleep disturbances, headaches, and mood disturbances such as depression and anxiety. SN instructed patient to take fibromyalgia medications as prescribed by the doctor, and do regular cardiovascular exercises, such as walking, swimming, or biking, which are helpful in reducing muscle pain and improving muscle strength and fitness in fibromyalgia.
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive disease that destroys memory and other important mental functions. At first, someone with Alzheimer's disease may notice mild confusion and difficulty remembering. Eventually, people with the disease may even forget important people in their lives and undergo dramatic personality changes. Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia — a group of brain disorders that cause the loss of intellectual and social skills. In Alzheimer's disease, the brain cells degenerate and die, causing a steady decline in memory and mental function. At first, increasing forgetfulness or mild confusion may be the only symptoms of Alzheimer's disease that you notice. But over time, the disease robs you of more of your memory, especially recent memories. The rate at which symptoms worsen varies from person to person.