In: Nursing
You are the triage nurse in the Emergency Department. Your patient, Mr. Sawyer, is a 48 year old man who presents with severe abdominal pain, poor appetite, and fatigue. He states the pain awakened him from sleep and he began vomiting. He denies any relief from the pain and he can’t get comfortable as the pain radiates to his back and right shoulder. He rates his current pain level as 10/10. He denies any previous medical or surgical history. He denies any tobacco or drug use. States he drinks “just a beer or two after work each day” though he reports to “more than usual” alcohol consumption this past weekend after attending a bachelor party. He lives with his wife and 2 children and works fulltime as a construction foreman. Initial vital signs: BP 160/94, resp 24, pulse 100, temp 99.6 orally, pulse ox 99%.
Based on Mr. Sawyer’s medical diagnosis what teaching will you, as his nurse, provide to him to improve his condition and help in his recovery? Be detailed, holistic in approach and include short-term and long-term planning.