Basic Care and Comfort<\/h4><\/header>The first step to maintaining physiological integrity is taking basic assessment of all patients, which involves gathering information that will help you determine the kind of care they need. The most important part of the assessment is evaluating a patient\u2019s ambulatory status (mobility):
\nCan they walk on their own? Do they use a cane or walker at home? If so, did they bring it with them to the hospital? (Be prepared to assist this patient to the bathroom as they are likely at risk for falling.) Does the patient use any other assistive devices, such as hearing aids or dentures?
\nPatients who are not ambulatory or semi-ambulatory may need help positioning themselves in bed and turning frequently to prevent ulcers. A nonambulatory patient will require more time from you when it comes to bathing and other forms of personal hygiene. It\u2019s important to keep these patients clean and dry, especially the incontinent. Skin care and hygiene is essential to preventing breakdown. It is also important to stress the power of handwashing to prevent the spread of germs.
\nAs the RN and patient advocate, it is your job to respect the patient\u2019s wishes of alternative therapy and help them work through their pain according to their individual needs and preferences. Thus, you should be aware of alternative methods to pain management (nonpharmacological comfort interventions). For example, not all patients want to use opioids to control pain. Some will prefer meditation, deep breathing, music, heat\/cold packs, or herbal remedies.
\nBeing sick is very draining, and many patients don\u2019t understand why they don\u2019t immediately feel better after one dose of antibiotics. Education on rest and sleep will help the patient understand that recovery is a process and not instantaneous.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>
The first step to maintaining physiological integrity is taking basic assessment of all patients, which involves gathering information that will help you determine the kind of care they need. The most important part of the assessment is evaluating a patient\u2019s ambulatory status (mobility):
\nCan they walk on their own? Do they use a cane or walker at home? If so, did they bring it with them to the hospital? (Be prepared to assist this patient to the bathroom as they are likely at risk for falling.) Does the patient use any other assistive devices, such as hearing aids or dentures?
\nPatients who are not ambulatory or semi-ambulatory may need help positioning themselves in bed and turning frequently to prevent ulcers. A nonambulatory patient will require more time from you when it comes to bathing and other forms of personal hygiene. It\u2019s important to keep these patients clean and dry, especially the incontinent. Skin care and hygiene is essential to preventing breakdown. It is also important to stress the power of handwashing to prevent the spread of germs.
\nAs the RN and patient advocate, it is your job to respect the patient\u2019s wishes of alternative therapy and help them work through their pain according to their individual needs and preferences. Thus, you should be aware of alternative methods to pain management (nonpharmacological comfort interventions). For example, not all patients want to use opioids to control pain. Some will prefer meditation, deep breathing, music, heat\/cold packs, or herbal remedies.
\nBeing sick is very draining, and many patients don\u2019t understand why they don\u2019t immediately feel better after one dose of antibiotics. Education on rest and sleep will help the patient understand that recovery is a process and not instantaneous.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>