infection control
Procedures
Instructed patient eating yogurt or drinking buttermilk may help reduce gas, To control gas at night, do not eat after 8 p.m. This will give your bowel time to quiet down before you go to bed.
SN reviewed patients medication with primary caregiver and instruct on medication compliance to better control the patients disease process. SN refilled patient’s medication box for daily routine implementation during visit. SN informed M.D. of patients elevated blood pressure and no new orders received, SN was advised to continue with patients current regimen.
Instructed patient diet: Your doctor will probably recommend that you follow a low fat, no added-salt diet after discharge. This may reduce your risk of a heart attack in the future and your risk for requiring angioplasty or surgery again. You should try to have less than 30 percent of your calories from fat. Try to control your weight and eat less saturated fat and cholesterol.
Instructed caregiver to keep patient's ulcer from becoming infected, it is important to: keep blood glucose levels under tight control; keep the ulcer clean and bandaged; cleanse the wound daily, using a wound dressing or bandage; and avoid walking barefoot.
Instructed patient a particular diet, it's important that you follow it. If a special diet has not been recommended, balanced, heart-healthy nutrition can speed healing and lessen fatigue. Patient weight control is also important for your heart health; excess weight increases the work of the heart and slows recovery.
SN teach the patient to perform a daily self-test to ensure the LVAD is working properly. When the patient presses and holds the battery button on the system controller, the screen displays "Self Test" If the panel is working properly, the audio alarm will sound and control panel alarms will light up. These alarms include power and battery alarms, a red heart (hazard) alarm, and a wrench (advisory) alarm.
SN instructed patient Patients with LVADs experience many physical and emotional changes. Although there are many physiological benefits (increased energy, reduced shortness of breath), patients may become depressed or even suicidal. Many patients feel socially isolated and express frustration over loss of control and dependency on family and caregivers. Others may be afraid of their device.
Patient was instructed on personal hygiene. Hygiene and good habits are commonly understood as prevention methods against infection. Hygiene is the maintenance of health and healthy living. Hygiene involves healthy diet, cleanliness, and mental health.
SN put on non-sterile gloves. Remove old dressing. Remove gloves and place them in the trash bag, Wash hands and put on a clean pair of gloves. SN cleaned wound with NS solution using gauze pads, checked wound for signs of infection. Then opened new foam sponge dressing, cut it to size, and place it in the wound. Open the drape package. Cut the drape to the size needed. Place the drape over the wound site. Smooth the drape as you stick it around the wound to prevent any wrinkle that may leak. Connect the tubing to the sponge dressing and the tubing to the pump unit. Open the clamp on the tubing. Turn on the VAC pump. Listen and watch for leaks.
Advised the patient receives complete instructions in the care of the prosthesis. Instructed patient how to apply the elastic sleeve or wrap the stump for molding and shaping. Encouraged patient that the stump should not be wrapped too strongly, since this will prejudice circulation. Encouraged the importance of daily hygiene to prevent infection and skin breakdown.