catheter-teaching-guide
Instructed caregiver clean patient's skin daily: Clean the patient's skin around your tube 1 to 2 times each day.
SN instructed patient in pulmonary fibrosis and in how it harms the tissues deep in the lungs. The air sacs in the lungs and their supporting structures become inflamed and scarred. If scarring progresses happen, then it makes your lungs thick and stiff. That makes it hard for the patient to catch their breath, and their blood may not get enough oxygen.
SN instructed patient in pulmonary fibrosis and that it means thickening of the lungs at the alveolar / capillary level, so it's harder for gas exchange to occur.
SN instructed patient about calcium channel blockers and how this prescription medications relax blood vessels and increase the supply of blood and oxygen to the heart while also reducing the heart's workload.
SN instructed patient about rheumatoid arthritis and how it is a chronic disease that causes pain, stiffness, swelling, and loss of function in the joints. It occurs when your immune system mistakenly starts attacking healthy tissue.
SN instructed patient in energy conservation techniques that are ways to modify activities to prevent exhaustion, also explain that using these strategies to do the things you have to do may help you to have energy left over to do the things you want to do.
SN instructed patient that people with heart and/or lung failure can benefit from energy conservation techniques like pace activities and spread them throughout the day/week, plan the day in advance so that you won’t feel rushed, break up tasks into small steps and rest in between, sit down instead of standing for most any activity, and work with arms below the shoulders as overhead activities are more taxing.
SN instructed patient to perform daily meticulous foot care, to be sure to dry feet completely after a bath, checking for any sores, cuts or scrapes and to report any wounds as soon as they appear to SN or MD. Also have a podiatrist cut toenails regularly to prevent ingrown toenails and other complications.
SN instructed patient to recognize signs and symptoms of high blood pressure, although it is frequently asymptomatic, like blurring of vision, fatigue, nose bleeds and chest pain. If symptoms continue go to ER, or call 911.
SN instructed patient that a seizure can occur at any time and without warning, patient should shower only with someone in attendance. Leave the bathroom door unlocked, use shower chair, take shower rather than tubs baths.