blood sugar
Instructed patient in medication Plavix prevent unwanted blood
clots that can occur with certain heart or blood
vessel conditions. While you take Plavix: you may bruise and bleed more easily, you are more likely to have nose bleeds, and it will take longer for any bleeding to stop. Call your doctor right away if you have any of these signs or symptoms of bleeding: unexpected bleeding or bleeding that lasts a long time, blood
in your urine (pink, red or brown urine), red or black stools, bruises that happen without a known cause or get larger cough up blood
or blood
clots vomit blood
or your vomit looks like coffee grounds.
SN Instructed patient about the Eliquis ( apixaban ) this is helps to prevent that platelets in your blood
from sticking together and forming a blood
clot. Eliquis is used to lower the risk of stroke caused by a blood
clot in people with a heart rhythm disorder called atrial fibrillation. Because Eliquis keeps your blood
from coagulating ( clotting ) to prevent unwanted blood
clots, this medicine can also make it easier for you to bleed, even from a minor injury such as a fall or a bump on the head. Do not stop taking Eliquis unless your doctor tells you to. Stopping suddenly can increase your risk of blood
clot or stroke
SN instructed patient about high blood
pressure. Normal blood
pressure is when your blood
pressure is lower than 120 / 80 mm / Hg most of the time. High blood
pressure ( hypertension ) is when your blood
pressure is 140 / 90 mm / Hg or above most of the time.
SN instructed patient on spontaneous coronary artery dissection ( SCAD ) and stent placement. A stent is a small rod made out of metal or fabric. It is inserted into a coronary artery when there is a blockage or when the artery is narrow. A coronary artery is a blood
vessel that carries oxygen to the heart muscle. You received a stent due to coronary artery disease ( also called SCAD). That is caused by a thickening of the inside walls of the coronary arteries. This thickening is called atherosclerosis. A fatty substance called plaque builds up inside the thickened walls of the arteries, blocking or slowing the flow of blood
. If your heart muscle doesn't get enough blood
to work properly, you may have angina ( chest pain ) or a heart attack. The stent will help hold the artery open so blood
can flow and help keep the artery from narrowing again. You will need to take medicine that keeps the stent open and blood
flowing. It is very important to take the medicine exactly how your doctor tells you to take it. In addition to taking medicine, the best way to keep your heart healthy is to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Quit smoking. Make sure you keep your blood
pressure and cholesterol at healthy levels. Exercise as recommended by your doctor. Eat a heart - healthy diet. Patient verbalized understanding well.
SN instructed patient that Eliquis is used to prevent serious blood
clots from forming due to a certain irregular heartbeat ( atrial fibrillation ) or after hip/knee replacement surgery. With atrial fibrillation, part of the heart does not beat the way it should. This can lead to blood
clots forming, which can travel to other parts of your body (such as the lungs or legs) or increase your risk for stroke. In the United States, apixaban is also approved to treat certain types of blood
clots ( deep vein thrombosis - DVT, pulmonary embolus - PE ) and to prevent them from forming again. Eliquis is an anticoagulant that works by blocking certain clotting proteins in your blood
. SN also instructed that Nausea, easy bruising, or minor bleeding ( such as nosebleed, bleeding from cuts ) may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly. This medication can cause serious bleeding if it affects your blood
clotting proteins too much. Tell your doctor right away if you have any signs of serious bleeding, including: unusual pain / swelling / discomfort, unusual bruising, prolonged bleeding from cuts or gums, persistent / frequent nosebleeds, unusually heavy / prolonged menstrual flow, pink/dark urine, coughing up blood
, vomit that is blood
y or looks like coffee grounds, severe headache, dizziness / fainting, unusual or persistent tiredness / weakness, blood
y / black / tarry stools, difficulty swallowing.
SN explain about congestive heart failure ( CHF ). As blood
flow out of the heart slows, blood
returning to the heart through the veins backs up, causing fluid to build up in the tissues. The kidneys are less able to dispose of sodium and water, also causing fluid retention in the tissues. Fatigue, a tired feeling all the time and difficulty with everyday activities, such as shopping, climbing stairs, carrying groceries or walking. The heart can't pump enough blood
to meet the needs of body tissues. The body diverts blood
away from less vital organs, particularly muscles in the limbs, and sends it to the heart and brain. Lack of appetite, nausea, a feeling of being full or sick to your stomach. The digestive system receives less blood
, causing problems with digestion. Confusion, impaired thinking, memory loss and feelings of disorientation. A caregiver or relative may notice this first. Changing levels of certain substances in the blood
, such as sodium, can cause confusion. If you have 2 or more of these symptoms you may need to seek medical attention.
Skilled nurse educated patient and caregiver on HTN disease process. HTN also known as high blood
pressure is a chronic condition where the blood
pressure in the arteries is elevated. It is important to seek medical attention for uncontrolled HTN and develop a plan of care with your PCP. It is recommended to check your blood
pressure and pulse daily before taking blood
pressure medications and logging in a journal. If your blood
pressure is elevated wait 1-2 hours and recheck. Contact your doctor or home health agency if problems with blood
pressure continue . Patient and caregiver verbalized understanding.
SN instructed patient about High blood
pressure. Normal blood
pressure is when your blood
pressure is lower than 120 / 80 mm / Hg most of the time. High blood
pressure ( hypertension ) is when your blood
pressure is 140 / 90 mm / Hg or above most of the time. SN explained that the "top number" systolic indicates the pressure in the vessels when the heart beats. The "bottom number" diastolic indicates the pressure in the vessels when the heart is at rest, to between beats. This number is the most concerning number because it tells your medical team the constant pressure on these vessels. Too high (over 80) can cause damage
Instructed if these S/S occur to take fast acting sugar
, such as orange juice with sugar
or glucose tablets.
Instructed in S/S of hypoglycemia, including cold sweat, shaking, blurred vision, faintness, hunger, headache, confused thinking and impatience. Instructed if these S/S occur to take fast acting sugar
, such as orange juice with sugar
or glucose tablets.