Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Significant Complexities

Question: Discuss about the Significant Complexities. Answer: Introduction: During my training period, I had to treat different types of patients with significant complexities in their illness. These experiences and dealing with those complex situations has preparedly me accurately for a nursing career. I would like to explain one of those events to describe how I have learned to treat critical patients and make my best judgment in nursing. Example (Reporting on the issue): During my training, once I was asked to look after a patient with critical burn injury. The patient had suffered 60% burn injury in different parts of her body, and I was required to monitor her and manage her condition for the first 72 hours. This was important because the patient condition can deteriorate due to sustained burn in an enclosed place or due to swelling of burnt portions. Action (Analysis, relating and reasoning of patients care): As it was my first experience of dealing with a burn patient, I knew I would have to face various challenges while undergoing my responsibility as a nurse. However, I had knowledge about the common complications seen in such patients. I felt that if I could manage that complexity accurately in the patient, then my purpose of care for the patient would be served. Firstly, such patients are vulnerable to bacterial infection and increase risk of sepsis due to burn (Clark et al., 2013). I was very attentive regarding any signs of sepsis and wanted to prevent any such infection in patients as it may also lead major complications like organ failure. My priority was to manage the complication and reduce pain in patients. First of all, I did the full head to toe assessment of the patient to identify any clinical issue or deterioration in the patient. I also assessed the airway potency and breathing rate in the patient. She had blackened sputum and singed nasal hairs. But I had no idea what this signs indicated. My nursing staff taught me that such mean patient had suffered burns in an enclosed place which has caused inhalation injuries. Pain assessment was also done on the patient to determine the extent of pain and discomfort due to burnt skin and edema. On analysis of patient condition, I realized the nurisng care for this patient is quiet different from other patient that I have treated. (Ignatavicius Workman, 2015). I started with monitoring the patient's vital signs after every 5-6 hours. To prevent any bacterial infection in patients, I implemented isolation techniques to protect the patient from sources of cross contamination by visitors and medical equipment. I ensured that environment around her was safe and clean. At the time of dressing of wounds, I utilized strict aseptic technique to prevent direct wound contact. To prevent sepsis, my approach was to examine wounds daily to assess the appearance, odor and quantity of drainage from wounds (Barr et al., 2013). I tried to implement patient-centered nursing care. Another important nursing care goal for me was to maintain fluid balance in the patient. I knew that burn in the patient caused damage to their blood vessels and caused fluid loss. The patient generally suffers from hypovolemia. Severe blood and fluid loss may also have an impact on the functioning of the heart (Sole et al., 2013). To reduce this complication, I monitored urinary output and wound drainage of patients. During the initial 24-72 hours of burn injury, the patient may experience increased capillary permeability, inflammation, and evaporative losses. I recorded the exact amount and type of fluid intake the patient was taking. My purpose was to prevent rapid fluctuation or fluid overload in patients (Grove et al., 2014). The majority of burn patients also suffer breathing problems because of inhaling smoke. As my patients suffered burn injuries, she also had problems in breathing. I had already observed the patient for inhalation injury in the beginning. While assessing breathing pattern in a patient, I found she had labored respirations, and I observed signs of hypoxia in patients. I encouraged the patient to cough frequently and perform deep breathing exercise to promote lung expansion. My strategy was also to change patient position frequently to promote mobilization in patients (Schultz et al., 2012).. I discouraged use of the pillow. Instead, I elevated the head of bed of patients to promote better lung expansion and respiratory function. The patient was also grimacing with pain. I wanted to minimize pain in the patient as far as possible. Temperature change and air movement cause great pain to nerve endings in the wound. I consulted the doctor and gave necessary analgesics like morhpinem or fen tanyl. Regarding my duty towards the patients to reduce pain, I tried to give pain relief by hydrotherapy during dressing and debridement procedure (Yuxiang et al., 2012). Result (Reconstructing): After complete commitment towards my job of caring for the burn patient till ten days, I found that major complications of the patient had reduced, and she was now able to cope with her injuries. The patient responded well to my nursing intervention. Dealing with this patient gave me a lot knowledge regarding the specific care required for burn patients. I had learnt a lot from the complication that arose in this patients and in future I will be to treat burn patient in a b better way. This experience gave me the confidence that I am accurately prepared for a nursing career. Reference Barr, J., Fraser, G. L., Puntillo, K., Ely, E. W., Glinas, C., Dasta, J. F., ... Coursin, D. B. (2013). Clinical practice guidelines for the management of pain, agitation, and delirium in adult patients in the intensive care unit.Critical care medicine,41(1), 263-306. Clark, D. E., Lowman, J. D., Griffin, R. L., Matthews, H. M., Reiff, D. A. (2013). Effectiveness of an early mobilization protocol in a trauma and burns intensive care unit: a retrospective cohort study.Physical therapy,93(2), 186-196. Grove, S. K., Burns, N., Gray, J. R. (2014).Understanding nursing research: Building an evidence-based practice. Elsevier Health Sciences. Ignatavicius, D. D., Workman, M. L. (2015).Medical-surgical nursing: Patient-centered collaborative care. Elsevier Health Sciences. Schultz, C. H., Koenig, K. L., Whiteside, M., Murray, R., National Standardized All-Hazard Disaster Core Competencies Task Force. (2012). Development of national standardized all-hazard disaster core competencies for acute care physicians, nurses, and EMS professionals.Annals of emergency medicine,59(3), 196-208. Sole, M. L., Klein, D. G., Moseley, M. J. (2013).Introduction to Critical Care Nursing6: Introduction to Critical Care Nursing. Elsevier Health Sciences. Yuxiang, L., Lingjun, Z., Lu, T., Mengjie, L., Xing, M., Fengping, S., ... Jijun, Z. (2012). Burn patients experience of pain management: a qualitative study.Burns,38(2), 180-186.

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