Nursing patients with decreased consciousness Flashcards
What are the causes of vomiting and diarrhoea?
- Disease
- Medication
- Allergies
- Pre-exisiting conditions
- Sudden change in diet
What are the causes of dehydration?
- Reduced fluid intake
- Increased fluid output
What should the hospital accomodation for the vomiting and diarrhoea patient be?
- If infectious, put in isolation
- Bedding should be comfortable but easily cleaned
- Heating for warmth
- Lighting should be dimmed
- Ventilation, so odour free and to remove airborne pathogens
What are the nutritional requirements for the vomiting and diarrhoea patient?
- Parenteral feeding or tube feeding
- Introductory diet (bland diet like chicken and rice)
- Water
- Fluid therapy (electrolytes)
What medication is given to the vomiting and the diarrhoea patient?
- Antiemetics
- Antidiarrhoeals
- Analgesia
- Probiotics
What is a neonate?
Patients ages from birth to weaning or <4 weeks of age
What is a paediatric?
Patients aged 4 weeks to 6 months of age
List reasons why neonatal and paediatric patients are hospitalised
- Congenital abnormalities
- Diarrhoea
- Fading puppy/kitten syndrome
- Disease
- Infection
- Not latching
List reasons why geriatrics are hospitalised
- Seizures
- Musculoskeletal issues
- Neoplasia
- Metabolic disorders
- Chemotherapy
- Disease
- Breathing issues
What are the causes of decreased consciousness?
- Anaesthesia
- Lack of oxygen to the brain
- Head trauma
- Neoplasia in the brain
- Encephalitis
- Kidney failure
- Shock
- Seizures
What are the 5 levels of consciousness?
- Normal
- Depressed, dull
- Disorientated
- Stupor/obtund
- Coma
What is ventral recumbency?
Lying on the abdomen
What is dorsal recumbency?
Lying on the back
What is sternal recumbency?
Laying on the chest
What is lateral recumbency?
Laying on the side
