Implement and Monitor Nursing Care for Acute Health Conditions

This article discusses nursing care for acute health conditions such as respiratory, cardiac, urinary, GIT, and neurological conditions. It covers interventions and symptoms for each condition. The article also explains the role of perioperative nurses and emergency response in acute settings.

Running head: IMPLEMENT AND MONITOR NURSING CARE
IMPLEMENT AND MONITOR NURSING CARE
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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IMPLEMENT AND MONITOR NURSING CARE
1. Acute Health
Acute health is the kind of health condition that needed to be cared for a short amount
of time and the care of this condition can be termed as the acute health care. The acute health
condition is the factor that occurs suddenly and affect the physical or mental health for a short
period of time.
On this context it can be stated that the acute health would be impacting over the
physical and financial condition mostly. On the other hand the severity of the condition can
affect the emotional condition of the patient and family. Sudden acute condition would also
affect the social lifestyle of the patient, decision making and autonomy as the mental
disorders can also affect the self-care. Behavioural changes can occur as well as the condition
would lead to the depression and frustration for the patient and that would also affect the
social habits of the patient. Sometimes role reversals can be seen as well as the partner of the
patient would have provide care to the patient and thus the partner would change his or her
role to carer.
2. Emergency response in the acute setting
Acute care setting is emergency based and also a short term care procedure. Hence, the
deterioration detection of the patient would be required in order to provide proper care.
 On this context the deterioration detection would be done with the electronic health
record systems and that would be helpful in the vital records check ups and also the
nurses would be check the GCS score of the patient in order to maintain the
consciousness of the patient.
 Multidisciplinary team would work together to provide acute care in emergency
setting. The team would include cardiology expert, neurology expert, surgical expert,

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wound management expert, pain management expert, physician, registered nurse,
geriatric nurse (if needed) and also the enrolled nurse.
 The emergency trolley or the cash cart would be comprised of several trays or
drawers. These trays or drawers are filled with medicines, medical instruments, first
aid products, syringes and many other clinical things.
 Vitamins, pain killers, antibiotics, cardiac drugs, neurological drugs, sedatives, gastric
drugs, allergy reducers, anti-narcotics, respiratory drugs would be required in the
emergency setting as the advanced life support.
3. Perioperative Nursing
Perioperative nursing is a nursing specialty that works with patients who are having
operative or other invasive procedures. Perioperative nurses work closely with surgeons,
anaesthesiologists, nurse anaesthetists, surgical technologists, and nurse practitioners.
 There are several surgeries such as cardiothoracic surgery for chest and heart related
issues, colon and rectal surgery for rectal issues, gynaecology and obstetrics for
pregnant women and babies, gynaecologic oncology for gynaecologic cancer,
neurological surgery for neurological issues, ophthalmic surgery for the issues related
to eyes, oral and maxillofacial surgery issues with the mouth and oral cavity,
orthopaedic surgery for issues with musculoskeletal structure, otorhinolaryngology
for the issues of ear and adjoining respiratory issues, paediatric surgery for any kind
of issues with children, plastic and maxillofacial surgery issues with structure of the
face or superficial structure of any part of the body, urology issues with urinary
system, and vascular surgery issues with the vascular system.
 General surgery is the common term when describing surgeries. On the other hand
some of the common names are C-section, bypass surgery, Appendectomy,
Tonsillectomy and many others.

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IMPLEMENT AND MONITOR NURSING CARE
 Perioperative nurses required to help the surgeon and also supporting the patient in
preoperative and postoperative situation. The support includes medication
management, positioning support, holistic support, wound management, pain
management and many others.
 Intraoperative nursing care would be requiring and provides support with local
anaesthesia, zonal anaesthesia, field block anaesthesia, general anaesthesia.
 Postoperative nursing care including pain management, wound management, infection
management and medication management.
 Common postoperative complications are hypovolemic shock, pain, wound,
infections, sepsis and septic shock.
 Postoperative pain would affect the mental and also the other physical condition along
with cardiovascular balance as well. Hence, it is important to manage the pain for
preventing multi organ failure as the pain would affect the muscular function.
 Common side effects of anaesthetics are dizziness, nausea, vomiting, prolonged
numbness, sensory disorder.
4. Acute respiratory conditions
 Pneumothorax: Assimilation of air in the pleural cavity.
Pathophysiology: Losing the elasticity in the lung tissue.
Symptom: Chest pain and breathing issues.
Intervention: Tracheostomy provide the opportunity to breathe by a tube
placing in the windpipe.
 Haemothorax: Assimilation of blood in the pleural cavity.
Pathophysiology: Chest injury that is the rib fracture, venous injury.
Symptom: Chest pain and breathing issues along with cardiovascular disorders
such a low blood pressure and heart pumping issues.

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Intervention: Needle aspiration, CPAP and BiPAP is the form of positive
airway pressure ventilation.
 Pleural effusion: Assimilation of water in pleural layers.
Pathophysiology: Inflammation and irritation to the pleura would be the cause
of this condition.
Symptom: Sharp pain in chest and coughing along with shortage of breathe.
Intervention: Needle aspiration, nursing interventions to support respiratory
function, supplementary oxygen support providence.
 Pneumonia: Infection in both the lung sacks and also these would be filled with
pus.
Pathophysiology: Streptococcus pneumoniae is the causal organism and the
cause is infection.
Symptom: Fast heart rate, shortage and fast breathing, fever and chest pain.
Intervention: Supplementary oxygen supply, proper medication and also the
CPAP use for airway ventilation, breathing exercise.
 Asthma: Respiratory disorder due to narrow airway and mucus in the airway.
Pathophysiology: Genetically transmitted disease, triggered by environmental
and behavioural actions.
Symptom: Cough and wheeze are the symptoms.
Intervention: Respiratory assessment, breathing exercise, respiratory
facilitating exercise, respiratory movement exercise.
 Acute pulmonary oedema: Pulmonary oedema is fluid accumulation in the
pulmonary tissue and air spaces of the lungs.
Pathophysiology: Accumulation of lymphatic fluids due to injury and trauma
in the pulmonary tissue at the period of healing of the tissue.

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Symptom: Shortage of breathe, chest pain, fatigue and sweating, coughing
Intervention: Breathing exercises, passive breathing by CPAP implementation,
Tracheostomy.
 Pulmonary embolus: Pulmonary embolism is a blockage in one of the pulmonary
arteries of lungs.
Pathophysiology: Deep vein thrombosis.
Symptom: Dry cough, high heart rate, chest pain while breathing, light
headedness.
Intervention: Respiratory assessment and mobility, exercise.
5. Acute cardiac condition:
 Ischemia, injury and infarction: These are caused by inadequate blood flow to the
heart.
Pathophysiology: Blockage in arteries and abnormal electric pulse in the
cardiovascular muscles.
Symptom: Chest pain, heart attack.
Intervention: Breathing exercise, pain management.
 Angina: Acute chest pain.
Pathophysiology: Blockage in blood vessels and reduced oxygen flow to the
heart.
Symptom: Acute pain in chest, jaw, fatigue.
Intervention: Cardiovascular assessment, vital monitoring, relaxation, sleep,
reducing hypertension.
 Acute myocardial infarction: Acute myocardial infarction is the medical term for a
heart attack.

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Pathophysiology: Reduced blood flow to the heart.
Symptom: Acute pain in chest, light headedness, fatigue, discomfort,
sweating.
Intervention: Hypertension reduction, vasodilator implementation, breathing
exercise.
 Pericarditis: Pericarditis is inflammation of the pericardium.
Pathophysiology: Microbial infection.
Symptom: Sudden onset chest pain, fever, dyspnoea.
Intervention: Cardiovascular assessment, antibiotic implementation.
 Pericardial effusion: A pericardial effusion is excess fluid between the heart and
the sac surrounding the heart.
Pathophysiology: Inflammatory exudate accumulation.
Symptom: Chest pain, shortness of breath, chest fullness, orthopnoea,
dyspnoea.
Intervention: Intercostal drainage would be used.
6. Acute urinary conditions:
 Acute kidney injury (AKI): Acute kidney injury (AKI) is damage to the kidneys.
Pathophysiology: Chronic diabetes, UTI, Glomerulonephritis.
Symptom: Electrolyte imbalance, urine retention, shortage of breath, swelling
and pain.
Intervention: Nursing management of patients with renal conditions,
continuous bladder washout.
 Renal calculi: Kidney stones, or renal calculi, are solid masses made of crystals.

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Pathophysiology: Supersaturated urine in the bladders, imbalance of
electrolytes, obstruction in urine transport, urinary retention.
Symptom: Abdominal pain, burning sensation at urination, haematuria.
Intervention: Lithotripsy or waiting for the person to pass.
 Prostate hypertrophy and cancer: Prostrate enlargement.
Pathophysiology: Hormone imbalance, excessive alcohol consumption, urine
retention.
Symptom: Poor urine flow, pain, dribbling, dysuria
Intervention: TURP- removal of part of the prostate, hormone therapy,
chemotherapy.
 Pyelonephritis: Pyelonephritis is inflammation of the kidney.
Pathophysiology: Microbial infection.
Symptom: Fever, flank tenderness, nausea, burning with urination, and
frequent urination.
Intervention: Assessment of the renal system, antibiotic implementation.
 Glomerulonephritis: Glomerulonephritis is inflammation of the tiny filters in
kidney.
Pathophysiology: Microbial infection.
Symptom: Hypertension, frequent urination, burning sensation during
urination.
Intervention: Continuous bladder washout, assessment of renal system,
antibiotic implementation.
 Hydronephritis: Hydronephrosis is the swelling of a kidney.
Pathophysiology: Lack of urine drainage, urine retention, blockage in urine
system.

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Symptom: Pain in the side and back to lower abdomen, pain with urination,
frequent urination, nausea, fever.
Intervention: Pyeloplasty surgery, bladder washout.
7. Acute GIT conditions:
 Appendicitis: Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix.
Pathophysiology: Enlarged tissue in the wall of appendix, blockage inside
appendix, infection in gastrointestinal tract.
Symptom: Pain in lower abdomen.
Intervention: Assessment of the GIT system, Appendectomy surgery.
 Peritonitis: Peritonitis is inflammation of the peritoneum.
Pathophysiology: Microbial infection.
Symptom: Pain in abdomen, bloating, nausea, fever and multiple organ
dysfunction
Intervention: Proper medication and nutritional support.
 Peptic ulcer: Peptic ulcers are open sores that develop on the inside lining of the
stomach and the upper portion of the small intestine.
Pathophysiology: Irregular meal times, excessive gastric acid formation,
hormonal imbalance, alcohol consumption, excessive spicy foods.
Symptom: Burning stomach pain, feeling of fullness, bloating or belching,
fatty food intolerance, heartburn and nausea.
Intervention: Proper medication, proper diet and meal times, surgery.
 Cholecystitis: Cholecystitis is inflammation of the gallbladder.
Pathophysiology: Improper drainage from the gallbladder, infection.
Symptom: Pain in the abdomen, nausea, vomiting, fever and abdominal
cramping.

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Intervention: Surgery.
 Acute exacerbation of diverticulitis and inflammatory bowel disease:
Pathophysiology: Inflammation or infection leads to produce ulcerates.
Symptom: Pain, bowel cycle change.
Intervention: Proper diet, proper medication.
8. Acute neurological conditions:
 Altered level of consciousness: An altered level of consciousness is any measure
of arousal other than normal.
Pathophysiology: CNS depression, trauma, tumour, sleep or oxygen
deprivation
Symptom: Stupor, coma, confusion and delirium.
Intervention: GCS scale assessment, neurological function assessment.
 Stroke/TIA: A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is like a stroke, producing similar
symptoms, but usually lasting only a few minutes and causing no permanent
damage on the neurological condition of patient.
Pathophysiology: Blood clot in the artery that supplies blood to brain.
Symptom: Difficulty walking, muscle weakness, light-headedness, impaired
voice, blurred vision, mental confusion.
Intervention: Cardiac and neurological assessment, proper medication, Carotid
endarterectomy surgery.
 Seizures: Sudden, abnormal electrical activity in the brain.
Pathophysiology: Sudden, abnormal electrical activity in the brain caused by
depression, trauma.
Symptom: Fatigue, rhythmic muscle contractions, amnesia.

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Intervention: Support patients with acute neurological conditions.
 Head injury including concussion: A concussion is a traumatic brain injury that
affects brain function.
Pathophysiology: Blow to the head.
Symptom: Headaches, concentration, memory, balance and coordination,
blackout, fatigue, disorientation, nausea
Intervention: Rest, neurological assessment, head positioning assessment and
medication.
 Spinal cord injury: A spinal cord injury (SCI) is damage to the spinal cord that
causes temporary or permanent changes in its function.
Pathophysiology: Accidental injury.
Symptom: Loss of muscle function, sensation, or autonomic function in the
parts of the body served by the spinal cord.
Intervention: Mouth-To-Mouth resuscitation and Hydrotherapy, spinal
reconstruction surgery.
 Delirium: Delirium is a serious disturbance in mental abilities leads to confused
thinking and reduced awareness.
Pathophysiology: Sleeping deprivation, trauma, and depression.
Symptom: Lack of consciousness, incoherent speech, confusion.
Intervention: GCS scale assessment, counselling.
9. Shock:
 Hypovolaemic shock: Hypovolemic shock is a postoperative emergency condition
due to blood loss.
Pathophysiology: Blood loss and low blood pressure.

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Symptom: Dizziness, fainting, fatigue, thirst, or weakness, nausea or vomiting,
fast heart rate, mental confusion.
Intervention: Blood transfusion, fluid replacement.
 Cardiogenic shock: Cardiogenic shock is a condition in which heart suddenly cannot
pump enough blood to meet body requirements.
Pathophysiology: Severe heart attack, damaged heart muscle, oxygen deprived
blood, myocarditis, endocarditis.
Symptom: Rapid breathing, severe shortness of breath, tachycardia, loss of
consciousness, hypotension, Sweating.
Intervention: Proper medication including beta blocker implementation.
 Obstructive shock: Obstructive shock is a form of shock associated with physical
obstruction of the great vessels or the heart.
Pathophysiology: Cardiac tamponade, constrictive pericarditis, aortic
stenosis, tension pneumothorax, massive pulmonary embolism, anterior
mediastinal mass.
Symptom: Chest pain, rapid breathing, hypertension.
Intervention: Vasodilator, blood thinner implementation.
 Septic shock, anaphylactic shock and neurogenic shock:
Pathophysiology: Infection, hypersensitivity and low blood pressure.
Symptom: Multiple organ failure, immunological suppression, lack of
consciousness, delirium.
Intervention: Antibiotic, anti-allergic drug and blood transfusion, fluid
resuscitation.
10. Acute skin conditions:

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 Cellulitis: Cellulitis is a common, potentially serious bacterial skin infection.
Pathophysiology: Microbial infection.
Symptom: Pain, warmness, blister, red rashes, swelling, fever, pus secretion.
Intervention: Antibiotic implementation.
 Burn: A burn is a type of injury to skin, or other tissues.
Pathophysiology: Inflammatory reaction leading to rapid oedema formation,
due to increased microvascular permeability, vasodilation and increased
extravascular osmotic activity.
Symptom: Redness of skin, damage to muscle, pain, damage to organs
depending on the burn level, scaring.
Intervention: Silver nitrate ointment, tangential exertion.
10. Acute musculoskeletal conditions:
 Fractures:
Pathophysiology: tearing of muscle, tendon tear, bone deformities, scaring,
mal union, cross union.
Symptom: Pain, local inflammation, erithmea.
Intervention: Proper medication including painkiller, rest, ice pack,
compression, elevation, reconstruction and replacement surgery.
 Compartment syndrome: Compartment syndrome is a serious condition that occurs
when there's a large amount of pressure inside a muscle compartment.
Pathophysiology: Ischaemia, necrosis and nerve damage, increased pressure
within the space of the tissue.
Symptom: Pain, welling, internal bleeding, muscle weakness, nerve injury,
pallor, or sensation of pins and needles.

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Intervention: Rest, ice, compression, straight leg raise, fasciotomy surgery,
physiotherapy.
 Amputation: Amputation is the removal of a limb by trauma.
Pathophysiology: Peripheral arterial disease, inadequate blood flow
Symptom: Phantom limb.
Intervention: Prosthetic limb implementation, counselling.