WHAT IF YOU WERE THE NURSE IN PACU

Dearnurses.com is no longer available

Updated 8/25
Dear nurses,

Hope your week is going well.

Sessions 49 includes topics such as :
- Overview of your critical thinking 
- If you were the nurse who is assigned to PACU
- Basic facts about the EKG
- Patient assessment in PACU
- Dehydration and postoperative pneumonia
So, click on the link and watch the video :
If you were the nurse
and enjoy learning.

Learn more about : Care planning 

THE SURGICAL PATIENT

Updated 7/25

PACU ( Post Anesthesia Care Unit)

Following surgical intervention, a patient is transferred
to an area known as PACU. . Upon arrival, a nurse will
 reorient the patient to his surroundings and do an
 assessment. 

The nurse will also follow MD orders regarding: 

- monitoring vital signs and oxygen saturation,

- administer pain medication, replace IV fluids,

- check dressings at surgical sites for bleeding 

- check drainage tubes and carry out any other

  instructions.

Paralytic ileus is a postoperative complication.
It may occur in any post surgical patient. It is
caused by anesthetics.

Absent bowel sounds, abdominal pain and distention
are signs of an ileus. It is important to check for bowel
sounds in the postoperative period.

Documentation is also important. If there are no bowel
sounds, MD should be notified for further orders.The
doctor orders tests such as X-Ray and CT scan  to confirm
diagnosis. Insertion of a nasogastric tube is also ordered by MD .

DKA may lead to dehydration. Learn more : DKA

The trauma patient is at risk for dehydration.
Learn more :Trauma

HAPPY NEW YEAR-2012

                         Dearnurses.net is no longer available.

Updated 8/25

Dear nurses,

New topics have been added below.

The patient who has heart failure, is also
at risk for stroke, renal failure, mitral valve
regurgitation and damage to the liver.

Reperfusion Therapy is a form of treatment
used for patients who have a MI (Myocardial Infarction)
with STEMI.
To learn more about this topic, please click on the link:
Here

 An overview of the heart valves

The heart has four chambers.There 2 atria and 2 ventricles.

The mitral valve lies between the left atrium and left ventricle.
The tricuspid valve lies between the right atrium and right ventricle.

The heart valves work to prevent the back flow of blood.

Damage to the mitral valve results in the back flow of blood.

This is known as mitral valve regurgitation.

Symptoms such as :

- heart palpitations

- shortness of breath, fatigue

- palpitations and chest pain may occur.

Learn more about : Mount Everest

POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION - SUICIDE IDEATION

Updated 6/25

In the image above, a young mother has been
experiencing postpartum depression. She explains
to her doctor how she feels.

Some women experience postpartum depression 

after child birth, this may manifest as feeling sad,
tired and experiencing loss of appetite.

Suicide ideation may also occur. It is important

to seek medical help.

Causes include: hormonal changes, lack of rest,

family / financial issues and more.

It is suggested that eating a healthy diet, regular
exercise, psychotherapy and medications such as
antidepressants can help.

Suicide ideation

This condition may affect people of all different
age groups. It is important to seek medical help.

The placenta is an organ which develops during pregnancy.

It supplies the fetus with nourishment and oxygen via the

umbilical cord which is attached to one side. The other side

of the placenta is attached to the uterine wall. The placenta

is a very vascular organ and contains an artery and a vein.

The uterus, ovaries , fallopian tubes, cervix and vagina

are all part of the reproductive system. The uterus is a

hollow muscular organ which is located in the pelvis.

Learn more by reading the image above.

Learn more about: The role of hormones

Common causes of medication errors

Learn more about: The Nursing Process

ADDRESSING POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION

Dearnurses.net is no longer available.

Updated 6 /25

In the image above, a young mother has been
experiencing postpartum depression. She explains
to her doctor how she feels.

Some women experience postpartum depression 

after child birth, this may manifest as feeling sad,
tired and experiencing loss of appetite.

Suicide ideation may also occur. It is important

to seek medical help.

Causes include: hormonal changes, lack of rest,

family / financial issues and more.

It is suggested that eating a healthy diet, regular
exercise, psychotherapy and medications such as
antidepressants can help.

Suicide ideation

This condition may affect people of all different
age groups. It is important to seek medical help.

Enjoy watching the video:
Stress and its impact on the body

Addressing Psychotherapy

There are people who require mental health
therapy. They are the ones who become very
depressed or anxious and lose the ability to cope.

Examples are: the patient with OCD or Schizophrenia,
postpartum depression and more.

The pituitary gland

       The pituitary gland is part of the endocrine system. It is located 

  at the base of the skull in an area known as the sella turcica. 
Learn more about Hormones, by clicking on the link: Here