Chapter 8 Rehabilitation Concepts And Disabling Health Problems Flashcards
(42 cards)
Define “disabling health problems”
Any physical or mental health problem that can cause disability.
Define”rehabilitation”
The process of learning to live with chronic and disabling conditions by returning the patient to the fullest possible physical, mental, social, vocational, and economic capacity
Defined “physiatrist”
Physician who specializes in rehabilitated medicine
Define “rehabilitation nurses”
Nurse who coordinates the efforts of healthcare team members for patients undergoing rehabilitation in the inpatient setting; may be defined as the patient’s case manager
Define “rehabilitation case managers”
Nurse or other healthcare professional who coordinates health for patients undergoing rehabilitation in home or acute care settings
Define “physical therapists”
A member of the rehabilitation healthcare team who helps the patient achieve ability and who teaches techniques for performing certain activities of daily living
Define “occupational therapists”
A member of the rehabilitation healthcare team who works to develop the patient’s fine motor skills used for activities of daily living in the skills related to poor coordination and cognitive restraining
Define “speech-language pathologists (SLPs)”
A member of the rehabilitation healthcare team who evaluates and retrains patients with speech, language, or swallowing problems
Define “restorative aids”
A member of the healthcare team, often with the nursing department, who assists that therapists, especially in the long term care setting
Define “recreational/activity therapists”
A member of the healthcare team who works to help patients continue or develop hobbies or interests; also called “activity therapists”
Define “cognitive therapists”
A member of the rehabilitative healthcare team, usually a neuropsychologist, who works primarily with patients who have experienced head injuries and have cognitive impairments
Define “registered dietitians (RDs)”
Registered dietitians may be needed to ensure that patients meet your nutritional needs. For example, for patients who need weight reduction, a restricted calorie diet can be planned. For patients who need additional calories or other nutrients, including vitamins, nutritionist can plan a patient-specific diet.
Define “nursing assistant/technicians”
A member of the rehabilitative healthcare team who assists a registered nurse in the care of patients
Define “social workers”
Member of the healthcare team who helps patients identify support services and resources and who coordinates transfers to or discharges from the rehabilitation setting
Define “clinical psychologists”
Clinical psychologists council patients and families on their psychological problems and on strategies to cope with disability. They may also perform a battery of cognitive assessments.
Define “spiritual counselors”
Counselor who specializes in special assessment and care, usually a member of the clergy
Define “vocational counselors”
A member of the rehabilitative healthcare team who assist the patient with job placement, training, or further education
Define “chronic health problems”
A condition that has existed for at least three months.
What are considerations for older adults?
Older adults who need rehabilitation often have other chronic diseases that need to be managed, including diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, osteoporosis, and arthritis. These health problems added to the normal physiologic changes associated with aging predispose the older adult to falls, pressure ulcers, and pneumonia. When discharged from the hospital setting, some older patients are under nourished, which causes weakness and fatigue. The longer the hospital stay, the more debilitated the older adult can become. Health ketene may be challenging because some older patients may have beginning cognitive changes, including short-term memory loss. Sensory losses, like vision and hearing, also affect their ability to give an accurate history or grasp new information.
What is the assessment of patients in rehabilitation settings?
Cardiovascular system: chest pain, fatigue, fear of heart failure
Respiratory system: shortness of breath or dyspnea, activity tolerance, fear of inability to breathe
Gastrointestinal system and nutrition: oral intake, eating pattern; anorexia, nausea, and vomiting; dysphagia; laboratory data ( e.g., serum prealbumin level); weight loss or gain; bowel elimination pattern or habits; change in stool (constipation or diarrhea); ability to get to toilet
Renal-urinary system: urinary pattern; fluid intake; urinary incontinence and retention; urine culture and urinalysis
Neurologic system: motor functions; sensation; perceptual ability; augmentative abilities
Musculoskeletal system: functional ability; range of motion; endurance; muscle strength
Integumentary system: risk for skin breakdown of; presence of skin lesions
Define “paresis”
Weakness
Define “paralysis”
Absence of movement
! Nursing safety priority
Action alert
Be sure to remind unlicensed assistive personnel to report changes in the patient’s skin promptly, including any new onset or redness. Assess the patient frequently to determine the risk for skin breakdown before it occurs! Older adults are at a very high risk for heel and sacral pressure ulcers.
Define “activities of daily living (ADLs)”
The activities performed in the course of a normal day, such as bathing, dressing, feeding, and ambulating
