NFLEX.Academy

Preeclampsia - BOOKMARK this post to use for future studying!
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Like this post for more maternity content! Here’s a helpful chart to distinguish the difference in nursing interventions between mild and severe preeclampsia! In general, severe preeclampsia needs urgent medical treatment and must be monitored more frequently. These patients are more likely to enter an eclampsia (seizure) event. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Let’s examine some of the terminology used within this post to make it more clear for your understanding.
Bed rest: This helps to keep the blood pressure low, but also to decrease stimulation of the CNS to decrease the risk of an eclampsia event. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Deep tendon reflexes: Examine the biceps and patellar reflexes as well as for clonus (involuntary muscle contractions). If hyperreflexia is noted then this indicates increased CNS irritability. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
HELLP Syndrome: HELLP stands for hemolysis (low RBC), elevated liver enzymes (AST and ALT), and low platelet count. It is important to monitor blood work as HELLP syndrome can cause further complications such as disseminated intravascular coagulation, placental abruption and kidney failure. Typically HELLP syndrome is seen in severe preeclampsia, but must be monitored for in mild preeclampsia. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Magnesium Toxicity symptoms: Magnesium sulphate helps decrease the CNS response, thus if toxicity is present, the patient will have symptoms that indicate such. These symptoms include flushing, sweating, hypotension, depressed deep tendon reflexes, respiratory depression. If these are noted during assessment then the antidote of calcium gluconate must be administered. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Induction of Labor: This is the ONLY cure to preeclampsia and eclampsia. Other interventions are used as management. Once the infant is delivered, in most cases the mother’s blood pressure will return to normal and seizures will cease.

Comment if you agree! Share with a friend who needs to hear this 💖 you are amazing and you are capable. You got this 👏🏼

If you see this cluster of signs, act fast! Comment below a treatment/nursing intervention for increased ICP!

Nobody: ...
Ancient Greek doctors: 🤔👅🍯

𝙇𝙞𝙠𝙚, 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩, 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙 💖

INFLUENZA

With fly season around the corner - the hospitals will be flooded with patients (especially children and the elderly) with patients experiencing flu-like symptoms. While this year may be a bit different considering the current world situation, the flu is still one of the most common admissions in the hospital.

Make sure to review this post and ensure to share and like if you found it helpful!

SEPTIC SHOCK
Sepsis is a major cause for concern within the hospital. As a nurse it is vital to be monitoring patients for sepsis since there are many causes. Many patients are immunocompromised when entering the hospital and many procedures (ie. Foley catheters, PICC line insertions) can introduce harmful pathogens into the body.

🩸 One of the main key manifestations to be looking out for is hypotension along with tachycardia and tachyon was.

💉 Hypotension occurs due to low blood volume in the vessels and thus the heart compensates by increasing its rate.
In order to well manage this condition, a health care practitioner must be immediately and IV fluids along with antibiotics must be started within the first few hours of onset. Afterwards the patient must be monitored for how well the treatment is progressing.

🩺 Additionally the nurse and healthcare team must assess where the cause of sepsis occurred. If it is an IV line then it must be removed as soon as possible.

👩‍⚕️🧑‍⚕️👨‍⚕️This condition requires collaboration with the entire healthcare team! Everyone must be prepared to handle this condition efficiently. Follow for more posts like this!

Welcome to nursing school! 🏥
𝗦𝘄𝗶𝗽𝗲 ⇢
Let’s start slow with (some) oxygen delivery devices. These are some of the more common ones you will see 🌬

URINARY TRACT INFECTION
This is the 2nd most common infection that is experienced. Many patients may be brought in due to this - especially the older population. Typical treatment may be simple antibiotics, however it is important as a nurse to always be monitoring for UTIs in older individuals. Many times they may not present with typical symptoms and may just have a change in level of consciousness or become delirious.
Often times the hospital can also be a source for UTIs. Especially with cystoscopic procedures and frequent catheterization, patients have a higher chance of acquiring an infection. Ensure you are using correct techniques when inserting catheters and also providing frequent catheter care!

METOPROLOL
A beta blocker often given to help lower blood pressure and heart race. Fun fact - most beta blockers end in -lol! If you see a drug that has this ending (ie. atenolol), you can apply your knowledge of beta blockers to that question. Always make sure to do a cardiac assessment when patients are on this drug to ensure it is working safely!
Many patients complain about feeling fatigued/tired while on metoprolol, so often patients may be changed to calcium channel blockers which have similar effects with less adverse reactions!

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A quick refresher on water and fluid balance!~

CEREBRAL VASCULAR ACCIDENT (Stroke)
These are often called the “heart attack” of the brain. While scary to experience, we have many interventions to help manage strokes and prevent them - the key ingredient is TIME! The faster a nurse is able to intervene, the higher likelihood that the patient will have a good outcome! This question will for sure be on the NCLEX so make sure to save this post and review the topic!

⚡️💖 What can cause the SA and AV nodes to fail? Comment below!!