Nursing Patient Care Techniques

General Nurse Study Notes

Patient Care Techniques

• Patient Assessment: Conduct thorough physical assessments, including vital signs and health history.
• Basic Care Skills: Deliver personal hygiene, mobility assistance, and nutrition support.
• Emotional Support: Provide psychological support and empathetic communication to patients and families.
• Patient Education: Teach patients about their conditions, treatments, and healthy lifestyle choices.
• Advocacy: Act as a liaison between patients and healthcare providers to ensure patient needs are met.

Medication Administration

• Five Rights of Medication Administration:
  1. Right Patient
  2. Right Medication
  3. Right Dose
  4. Right Route
  5. Right Time
• Documentation: Accurately record medication administration, observance of patient reactions, and any side effects.
• Understanding Medications:
  • Mechanism of action, side effects, contraindications, and interactions.
• Patient Education: Instruct patients on medication purpose, dosage schedule, and adherence.

Infection Control Practices

• Hand Hygiene: Perform regular hand washing and use of hand sanitizers before and after patient contact.
• PPE Usage: Properly utilize personal protective equipment (gloves, masks, gowns) based on infection risk.
• Aseptic Techniques: Maintain sterile environments for procedures and when handling invasive devices.
• Standard Precautions: Follow guidelines for managing exposure to bodily fluids and preventing pathogen spread.
• Disinfection and Sterilization: Utilize effective cleaning protocols for medical equipment and surfaces.

Nursing Assessments

• Initial Assessment: Collect comprehensive data on patient's health status upon admission.
• Ongoing Assessments: Regularly monitor and reassess patients for changes in condition or responses to treatment.
• Holistic Assessment: Consider physical, emotional, social, and spiritual aspects of the patient's health.
• Use of Assessment Tools: Employ standardized assessment tools (e.g., pain scales, mental health assessments) for systematic evaluation.
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Work with other healthcare professionals to integrate findings for comprehensive care plans.

Patient Care Techniques

• Patient Assessment: Nurses conduct thorough physical assessments including:
  • Vital signs (temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure)
  • Health history (past illnesses, allergies, medications, family history)
• Basic Care Skills: Nurses provide essential care, facilitating:
  • Personal hygiene (bathing, oral care, grooming)
  • Mobility assistance (ambulation, transfers, positioning)
  • Nutrition support (feeding assistance, monitoring intake)
• Emotional Support: Nurses build rapport with patients by providing:
  • Psychological support (listening, empathy, reassurance)
  • Empathetic communication (active listening, clear explanations)
• Patient Education: Nurses empower patients by:
  • Teaching about their conditions and treatment options
  • Explaining medication purposes and dosages
  • Promoting healthy lifestyle choices
• Advocacy: Nurses act as patient advocates:
  • Ensuring patients' needs are met through effective communication with healthcare providers
  • Supporting patient's decisions and preferences

Medication Administration

• Five Rights of Medication Administration: Nurses adhere to five key principles to ensure safe medication administration:
  • Right Patient: Verify patient identity before administering any medication.
  • Right Medication: Confirm the prescribed medication matches the order and label.
  • Right Dose: Ensure the prescribed dosage is accurate and appropriate for the patient.
  • Right Route: Administer medication via the intended route (oral, intravenous, intramuscular, etc.).
  • Right Time: Administer medication at the designated time as prescribed by the physician.
• Documentation: Accurate and complete documentation is crucial:
  • Recording medication administration time, route, and site.
  • Noting any patient reactions or side effects.
  • Keeping a record of withheld medications and reasons.
• Understanding Medications: Nurses possess comprehensive knowledge of medications, including:
  • Mechanism of action (how the medication works)
  • Side effects (potential adverse reactions)
  • Contraindications (conditions where the medication should not be used)
  • Interactions (medications or substances that can affect the medication's effectiveness)
• Patient Education: Nurses provide patient education to ensure understanding and adherence:
  • Explaining the medication's purpose and expected benefits
  • Instructing on proper dosage schedule, timing, and administration techniques
  • Addressing any concerns or questions regarding medication use

Infection Control Practices

• Hand Hygiene: Frequent and proper hand hygiene is essential for preventing infection:
  • Hand washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before and after patient contact
  • Using alcohol-based hand sanitizers when hand washing is not readily available
• PPE Usage: Nurses utilize Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to minimize exposure to pathogens:
  • Gloves: Worn for direct contact with bodily fluids or contaminated surfaces.
  • Masks: Worn for procedures that generate airborne droplets or when caring for patients with respiratory illnesses.
  • Gowns: Worn to protect the nurse's clothing from bodily fluids or contamination.
• Aseptic Techniques: Maintaining a sterile environment is crucial during procedures:
  • Using sterile gloves and instruments for invasive procedures
  • Maintaining a sterile field during procedures
  • Avoiding touching sterile areas with non-sterile objects.
• Standard Precautions: All patients are treated as potentially infectious:
  • Following strict guidelines for handling bodily fluids and preventing pathogen spread
  • Using appropriate PPE based on infection risk
  • Preventing the spread of contamination.
• Disinfection and Sterilization: Effective cleaning protocols are crucial for:
  • Medical equipment and surfaces are disinfected or sterilized to eliminate pathogens.
  • Using cleaning agents according to manufacturer's instructions
  • Following specific protocols for different types of equipment.

Nursing Assessments

• Initial Assessment: Nurses gather comprehensive data about the patient's health status upon admission:
  • Collecting subjective data: patient's description of symptoms, health history, and concerns.
  • Obtaining objective data: physical examination, vital signs, and laboratory tests.
• Ongoing Assessments: Nurses regularly monitor and reassess patients for changes in condition or response to treatment:
  • Conducting focused assessments based on patient's needs and concerns
  • Regularly evaluating for any new symptoms or signs of complications
  • Documenting findings to guide interventions and ensure continuity of care.
• Holistic Assessment: Nurses consider all aspects of the patient's well-being:
  • Physical: Evaluating for conditions that affect physical function, such as pain, wounds, and mobility issues.
  • Emotional: Assessing for emotional well-being, including mood, anxiety, and coping mechanisms.
  • Social: Considering the patient's social support system, such as family, friends, and community resources.
  • Spiritual: Acknowledging and respecting the patient's spiritual beliefs and practices.
• Use of Assessment Tools: Nurses utilize standardized assessment tools to ensure systematic evaluation:
  • Pain scales: Quantifying pain level through a numeric scale.
  • Mental health assessments: Evaluating cognitive function and emotional well-being.
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Nurses collaborate with other healthcare professionals to ensure comprehensive care:
  • Sharing findings and insights with physicians, therapists, and other specialists
  • Participating in multidisciplinary meetings to discuss patient care plans
  • Coordinating interventions to address the patient's overall health needs.

This quiz covers essential patient care techniques for nursing, including patient assessment, basic care skills, and emotional support. It also addresses medication administration, emphasizing the five rights and effective documentation practices. Perfect for nursing students preparing for real-world applications.