Article Review for “Hyponatremia Caused by Polydipsia
Summary
Hyponatremia is described as a serum sodium level that is anything less than 135mEq/L and is the most common occurring electrolyte disorder today (Chamberlain, 2012). In most cases, hyponatremia occurs due to an imbalance of water rather than sodium (Hinkle & Cheever, 2014). Symptoms and their severity are related to how quickly the condition develops and the degree of cerebral edema that results from the low serum level of sodium. Symptoms of hyponatremia include poor skin turgor, dry mucosa, headache, decreased saliva production, orthostatic drop in blood pressure, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal cramping. Neurologic changes can also manifest themselves in altered mental status, status epilepticus, and coma; which may be to related to cellular swelling and cerebral edema (Hinkle & Cheever, 2014). The severity of these symptoms is related to how quickly the condition develops and the degree of cerebral edema that occurs (Chamberlain, 2012).
Hypertonic saline and vasopressin receptor antagonists are very effective treatments for severe hyponatremia, but special care must be taken to avoid rapid restoration of sodium levels. Restoring sodium levels should be a slow, steady process to prevent severe complications that could result in mortality if sodium levels are not monitored closely. Cerebral effects can be treated through high-risk medications and fluid restriction to help restore electrolyte imbalance. It is the responsibility of the nurse to closely monitor serum sodium levels, intake and output, and assess for neurological changes. By closely monitoring the patient, the nurse and the collaborative healthcare team can safely ensure the return to n...
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...s a full understanding of all interventions and the rationale behind them. With the help of the collaborative healthcare team, the fully knowledgeable nurse can assist in returning to the patient to a completely normal functioning state and fluid status. Education is key at this point, the nurse must be able to educate the patient and provide the tools needed to hopefully prevent another occurrence. The role of the nurse can be very influential in the full recovery of the patient with hyponatremia if they have the knowledge and the tools that are needed to facilitate it.
References
Chamberlain, L. (2012). Hyponatremia Caused by Polydipsia. Critical Care Nurse, 32(3), e11-e20. doi:10.4037/ccn2012173
Hinkle, J., Cheever, K.(2014). Brunner & Suddarth’s textbook of Medical-Surgical nursing
(13th ed.) Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
High sodium diet: Too much sodium causes fluid retention which increases the workload of the heart. The reason sodium causes water retention is because water moves from low concentrations to high concentrations. Water follows salt so when too much salt is consumed it draws the water from the blood into the tissue.
The nurse must make sure the patient understands what the signs and symptoms are for hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia. They must be advised when to seek medical help or to call the doctor if they blood sugar levels either get too high or too low. They must also know to avoid any sugary drinks, and substitute sugar or sweetener, while also at the same time monitoring their salt intake.
...estions if not 100% sure of something or use a double checking system. When a nurse is administrating medication, they should use the ten rights of medication administration (right patient, right drug, right route, right time, right dose, right documentation, right action, right form, right response, and right to refuse). Nurses should always keep good hand hygiene and always wear appropriate clothing to prevent from the spread of disease. Good communication with patients and healthcare team members is also key to success. Keeping on the eye on the patient within an appropriate time is important. If the patient ever seems to be looking different than their usual self vitals should be taken immediately. Encouraging patients to ask questions if they are unaware of something can prevent errors as well. Nurses should make sure the patient is on the same page as they are.
In the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), patients are being monitored very closely while their vital signs, their neurological status, and their physical status are being managed with strong medications, lifesaving machines, and the clinical knowledge and skills of trained ICU nurses. Outside of the ICU, it is essential for staff nurses to identify the patient that is clinically deteriorating and in need of urgent intervention.
...cannot attend to it alone. The nurse must be able to understand and organize a multi-dimensional approach to care. During my clinical experience I was able to work with CNA’s, LPN’s and RN’s. This allowed me to learn from their experience and to deliver better care as a result. I also worked with members of my own team and we each learned from each other’s strengths and weakness.
Nurses have many different roles which include promoting health, preventing illness, and the daily care of patients in all different kinds of settings. It is important for nurses to treat the whole patient and address not only the acute concern but all factors that contribute to the patients’ health and well-being. We are each responsible for our health, and it is the role of the nurse to help their patients be accountable for their health. Nurses have also to ensure
Summary and evaluation of interventions: The interventions provided to Liam were effective in managing his respiratory distress and dehydration. Liam’s respiratory rate and oxygen saturation improved, and he was able to maintain adequate hydration. The nurse provided education to Liam’s parents on the signs and symptoms of dehydration and encouraged them to offer small, frequent feedings to Liam. The nurse also involved Liam’s older sister in the care of Liam, which helped to reduce her anxiety and stress during Liam’s hospitalization.
Patients in the Intensive Care Unit are at a high risk to develop delirium. It is one of the most common conditions encountered by the staff in an Intensive Care Unit. Delirium can be hyperactive or hypo active according to the patients’ behavior. Disorientation, agitation, hallucinations, or delusions are characteristics that may be observed in the patient with hyperactive delirium. Apathy, quietly confused, withdrawal, lethargy, and even total lack of responsiveness are all symptoms of hypoactive delirium. Some or all of these symptoms may occur at any time.
It is essential for a nurse to be able to demonstrate and practice professional communication skills, provision of information and handover to provide a holistic approach to treating and caring for patients. Professional communication skills not only allows the nurse to provide different methods and tactics to communicate with patients of different needs and ages, but it enables the nurse to understand and to give the best possible care and outcome for the patient. Provision of information and handover is another major point for nurses and relates to professional communication. Nurses need to be able to get a detailed diagnosis from the patient through communication, and therefore allows for the nurse to handover vital information to other doctors or nurses who take over to provide the correct and best possible treatments and care. The nursing profession requires a nurse to uphold professional communication, provision of information and handover in order to care for the patient with the right treatment, and to provide the best health outcome.
A nurse can be defined, according to the Fundamentals of Nursing book, as “promoting of health, prevention of illness, and the care of the ill, disable and dying people. Advocacy, promotion of a safe environment, research, and participation in shaping health policy and in patient and health systems management and education…” (Taylor et al, 2015). Nurses will provide the individual care for each patient based on the patient, the environment, and the health that the patient desires. Nurses spend the most time with patients, they are the ones observing the patient, monitoring the patient, and interacting with the patient. Thought these interactions nurses are able to build relationships with each patient, which in turns allows the nurse to care the patient to the best of their
There are many members of the inter-professional team, all of which are contributing to the healthcare of acute and critically ill patients. Every member of the team has had education and obtained a license of practice compatible to their level of knowledge (Prater, Fundamentals of Nursing, 2013). As a practical nurse you need to be mindful of your scope of practice in relation to registered nurses, certified nurses’ assistants and other healthcare professionals. With so many different people involved in the immediate care of a patient, there is always the possibility of a mix up. The purpose of this paper is to help differentiate between the roles of the healthcare staff, which will in turn help develop a knowledge base for prioritizing care;
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This role is performed by the nurse after having successfully identified the informational needs of the patient. If the patient is not completely aware or informed about a condition, treatment, or therapy, the nurse act as an educator and provides knowledge and instructions.
Although students were not allowed in the recovery unit, I was able to talk to one of the recovery nurses. I learned that a nurse’s duty of care includes monitoring the patient’s vital signs and level of consciousness, and maintaining airway patency. Assessing pain and the effectiveness of pain management is also necessary. Once patients are transferred to the surgical ward, the goal is to assist in the recovery process, as well as providing referral details and education on care required when the patient returns home (Hamlin, 2010).