The nursing staff on Rick’s postsurgical unit have been reviewing their patients’ medical records and have seen a steady increase in the incidence of pressure ulcers over the last 3 months, especially in patients who are incontinent. Rick speaks with the wound care specialist in the hospital about this issue. The specialist recommends that the … Read more
Mrs. Hillman is a 28-year-old divorced woman who is a single parent. She has two children, a 2-year-old boy and a 4-year-old girl. She currently does not have a job. She smokes one pack of cigarettes per day. The father of the children has limited involvement in the care of the children and gives her … Read more
Ms. Ritter is a 32-year-old woman who visits the medical outpatient clinic for her final course of chemotherapy to treat breast cancer. She is married and has one child, a daughter, who is 6 years old. She and her husband hoped to have another child in the near future but now wonder if that will … Read more
Mrs. Campana has just been transported to your surgical nursing division from the PACU. She underwent a right colectomy (right sided large bowel resection) for removal of a tumor. Her vital signs were stable in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU), and her temperature was 36.8° C (98° F). She has an intravenous (IV) line in … Read more
You have been assigned to care for Daniel Jackson, a 17-year-old male who was in an automobile accident several days ago and sustained a fractured pelvis. He has had a surgical repair and remains on bed rest. School is starting next month and he was scheduled to begin football practice next week. During bedside report … Read more
You are caring for 12-year-old Elizabeth who has been hospitalized for an appendectomy. Her mother tells you that she is concerned about her lack of physical development compared to her peers. As a nurse you know that adolescents are preoccupied with their bodies and develop individual images of what they think they should look like. … Read more
A 24-year-old female patient who smokes two packs of cigarettes per day has come to the clinic to talk with the nurse about quitting smoking. She began smoking when she was 14 years old. She complains to the nurse at the clinic, “I just can’t seem to kick the habit no matter how hard I … Read more
Tonya discusses the concerns Mr. Jacobs has about his sexual relationship with his wife. She knows that a radical prostatectomy can cause nerve damage that impairs a man’s ability to have a normal erection. Tonya says, “You’ve told me that you’re worried about you and your wife. Can you tell me more?” Mr. Jacobs says, … Read more
Tonya is preparing to change the dressing over Mr. Jacobs’ wound, and Mrs. Jacobs is present to observe. Tonya determines Mr. Jacob’s level of pain to be sure that he is comfortable. She decides to include discussion of wound and urinary catheter care during her time with the family. Before beginning instruction with the Jacobs, … Read more
Tonya examines Mr. Jacobs’ surgical incision and notices a 1.25-cm (0.5-inch) circle of yellowish drainage on the gauze dressing. On close inspection of the suture line, she also observes an area of swelling around two stitches. Mr. Jacobs notices Tonya’s expression as she looks at the dressing and asks, “Is anything wrong?” Tonya responds, “A … Read more
