Nurisng For Normal Behaviours

Question 1

What is fear a response to?

Answer 1

• response to a stimulus which is potentially harmful

Question 2

What is anxiety a response to?

Answer 2

-response to a situation in which the animal anticipates a negative outcome

Question 3

When may patients experience stress?

Answer 3

• where there is a perceived lack of control
• novel environment/challenge
• requirements to change/adjust
• unpredictable situations

Question 4

What are senses?

Answer 4

• smell and pheromones
• sensitive hearing
• sensitivity to vibration
• mechanism of sight

Question 5

Why should we reduce stress at the vets?

Answer 5

• makes treatment difficult
• dangerous for patient, owner and vet staff
• owner will get upset which can stress out the patient more
• puppy parties can reduce fear at the vets

Question 6

What are signs of stress?

Answer 6

• hiding, shaking or restlessness
• not eating
• dilated pupils
• lethargy
• social withdrawal
• stereotypic or destructive behaviours
• vocalisation
• aggression
• diarrhoea or urine spraying
• panting, lip smacking or salivation
• escape attempts

Question 7

How should patients be assessed?

Answer 7

• observe patient at admission, admittance to the hospital environment and throughout their treatment
• normal parameters help us identify the abnormal for each species
• normal behaviours
• normal interactions with people or animals
• normal routines

Question 8

What problems can stress create?

Answer 8

• likely to affect most abilities
• unwilling to eat/drink at risk of anorexia/dehydration
• unwilling to urinate/defecate making the patient uncomfortable
• fight/flight response affects their normal movement and body language
• anxiety may affect the ability to sleep or rest
• inhibits healing and recovery

Question 9

What nursing interventions can be carried out to reduce stress?

Answer 9

• consider using familiar routines, smells, food or litter
• manage sensory stimuli (reduction of noise, background music or dimmed lighting)
• sensitive handling and restraint (fear free)
• tlc and contact time without interventions or monitoring
• provide hides or visual barriers for species
• familiarisation with the veterinary practice

Question 10

How should stress be evaluated?

Answer 10

• monitoring respiratory rate, pulse rate, periods of sleep or rest, normal behaviours and response to the environment
• constantly reassess and alter the approach or nursing plan

Question 11

What is pain?

Answer 11

• a sensory emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage, the sensation is caused by a noxious stimulus

Question 12

How is pain classified?

Answer 12

• duration
• location and anatomy affected
• disease causing the pain
• intensity

Question 13

What are the effects of pain?

Answer 13

• increased heart rate, breath rate, and respiratory rate
• increased intestinal secretions
• urine retention
• increased metabolism and oxygen
• increased sensitivity to pain

Question 14

How can pain be assessed?

Answer 14

• behaviour
• facial expressions
• physiological indicators
• pain scoring harts
• owner questionnaires

Question 15

What can be indications of pain?

Answer 15

• vocalisation
• aggression
• avoiding eye contact
• dilated pupils
• licking or chewing
• restlessness or unwilling to move
• anorexia
• loss of coat condition
• abnormal posture or gait

Question 16

What should nurses response to animals in pain be?

Answer 16

• refer to vs
• continue monitoring
• evaluate and review nursing interventions

Question 17

How can pain be managed?

Answer 17

• patient advocate, ensure analgesics are prescribed and administered in a good time time manner
• provide a comfortable, stress free environment
• take care when handling and restraining
• preventing self mutilation
• physiotherapy, hydrotherapy or acupuncture
• weight management

Question 18

What is consciousness?

Answer 18

• the level from the patients awareness of their surroundings

Question 19

What are the 4 levels of consciousness?

Answer 19

• alert
• obtunded
• stuporous
• coma

Question 20

What are potential causes of a collapse?

Answer 20

• alert collapsed
• depressed collapsed
• obtunded collapsed
• unconscious collapsed with fast or slow HR
• unconscious collapsed with normal HR

Question 21

What can cause an alert collapse?

Answer 21

• due to orthopaedic disease or peripheral neurological disease

Question 22

What can cause a depressed collapse?

Answer 22

• due to mild to moderate shock or pain

Question 23

What can cause an obtunded collapse?

Answer 23

• due to moderate to severe shock, neurological disease or metabolic disease

Question 24

What can cause an unconscious collapse with a fast or slow HR?

Answer 24

• due to sever shock or cardiopulmonary arrest

Question 25

What can cause an unconscious collapse with a normal HR?

Answer 25

• due to new urological disease or metabolic disease

Question 26

What are signs of a conscious collapse?

Answer 26

• normal or increased heartbeat
• normal or increased respiratory pattern
• limited movement
• constant temperature
• normal pupil size

Question 27

What are signs of unconsciousness?

Answer 27

• regular or slightly slowed heartbeat
• respiratory pattern varies
• movement may be roused
• constant temperature
• pupil size varies

Question 28

Nursing response to a conscious collapse?

Answer 28

• protect the airway
• put the patient into recovery position or provide oxygen

Question 29

Nursing response to unconsciousness?

Answer 29

• check abc’s
• resuscitate if required or incubate
• or provide circulatory support