Question

1. What are the responsibilities of nurses and the nursing profession to ensure that the timing of discharge is appropriate and safe for each postpartum woman and her baby?
2. How does the nurse play a critical role in promoting the safety of women who participate in an early-discharge program and plan to return home within 12 to 24 hours after their vaginal birth?
3. What are the different treatment options and nursing instructions for superficial venous thrombosis versus acute pulmonary embolus?

Pls include reference.Thanks.

Answer 1

Answers

Nurses or nursing profession plays an important role in the care of a postpartum women and her baby. The discharge of a postpartum women and her baby is an important decision making process including in the nursing profession. The length of hospital stay for a postpartum women and her baby depends upon some factors. This depends upon the physical and mental condition of the mother and baby, family and social support at home, education provided for the patient regarding self care and infant care, mental and emotional status of the mother, financial and social status of the patient, etc. The general medical guidelines and recommendation of the discharge of a postpartum mother and her baby will only be after 24 hours after vaginal birth, whch is obeying to allow the patient and her baby's physical and mental status is healthy. According to medical experts recommndations, a minimum of 72 hours is needed for a cessarian birth and a minimum of 24 hours for vaginal birth. The early discharge provides the risk to the infant for developing jaundice, infections like cardiac and respiratory organs, feeding problems, etc. Thus nurses are responsible professionals to provide appropriate and safe care of a postpartum women and her baby.

The nurses play a critical role in promoting the safety of women who participate in an early discharge plan and plan to return home within 12-24 hours after their vaginal birth. Certain guidelines must be performed in early discharge plan of a postpartum womem and her baby. Nurses should assess the physical, mental, social, and financial status of the patient. Nursing staff should provide certain medical education and information regarding the self care, infant care, education about immunizations, breast feeding techniques and guidelines, techniques for reducing postpartum mental anxieties and disorders, need the family and social support, etc. Written guidelines regarding breast feeding procedures, selfcare, newborn safety and care, immunization records, scheduled home visits by healthcare provider, emergency contact numbers of healthcare professional, etc should be provided to the patient.

Superficial venous thrombosis is a condition of inflammation and clotting of a superficial vein. The clotting of blood forms in a vein close to surface of the skin. This generally occurs in the superficial veins of the arms and legs of the body. The treatment depends on the condition and site of blood clot.

Treatment options and Nursing instructions: Generally superficial venous thrombosis subsides itself in case of small blood clots. Applying warm compression at the site of inflammation, medications such as analgesics or nonsteroidal inflammatory drugs be used to reduce the pain. The main nursing instructions for managing superficial venous thrombosis is to observe the patient and measure the inflammed site of extremity correctly. Provide patient a comfort situation for elevation of the inflammed extremity. Instruction guidelines should be given to patient for applying warm compressors. The patient was instructed to keep the skin hygenic.

An acute pulmonary embolism or embolus is defined as a blockage of a pulmonary artery. Generally acute pulmonary embolus is caused by a blood clot forming in the legs or other parts of the body that travels to the lungs through pulmonary artery.

Treatment options and Nursing instructions: Anticoagulant and thrombolytics medications for thinning the blood to prevent further blood clotting. Surgical repair may be introduced if any emergency condition occurs. Shock and Oxygen therapy may also applied for the treament. The nursing instructions for acute pulmonary embolus is to encourage the patient ambulation, movement of legs and exercises of extremities to prevent slow down of blood circulation in the veins, mainly to the lower extremities. Monitor anticoagulant and thrombolytic therapy regularly. Check levels of prothrombin time and partial thromboplastin time of the blood frequently. Performing and managing accurate oxygen therapy. Management of medications such as NSAIDs, pain killers, etc as per physician's advice.