Medical-surgical Nursing Demystified

(Sean Pound) #1

(^300) Medical-Surgical Nursing Demystified
HALLMARK SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS



  • Nausea and vomiting due to gastric irritation

  • Diarrhea—watery, soft, may be mixed with mucous or blood

  • Abdominal pain due to intestinal irritation

  • Abdominal distention

  • Fever due to infection

  • Anorexia due to gastric irritation

  • Malaise due to infection

  • Headache due to viral illness

  • Signs of dehydration—dry, flushed skin and mucous membranes, decreased
    urine output, tachycardia, poor skin turgor, orthostatic blood pressure changes


INTERPRETING TEST RESULTS



  • CBC may show leukocytosis or eosinophilia (parasites).

  • Electrolytes show imbalance due to GI loss.

  • BUN and creatinine elevated due to dehydration.

  • Stool for ova and parasites show positive with parasitic infection.


TREATMENT



  • Monitor intake and output.

  • Replace fluids lost.

  • Administer antiemetic medication for symptom relief:

    • prochlorperazine

    • trimethobenzamide



  • Administer antidiarrheal medications for symptom relief:

    • loperamide

    • diphenoxylate

    • kaolin-pectin

    • bismuth subsalicylate



  • Need to allow organism one way out of gastrointestinal system (either anti-
    emetic or antidiarrheal, not both).

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