The Nursing Process

Class: Year2, Nursing Students
Topic: Phases of the Nursing Process

What is the Nursing Process?

A systematic, rational method of planning and providing individualized nursing care. (Berman & Snyder, 2012).

Purposes of the Nursing Process:

—To identify client’s health status and actual or potential health care needs/problems
—To establish plans to meet to meet identified needs
—To deliver specific nursing interventions to meet identified needs

Phases of the Nursing Process:

• Assessment 

The main purpose of this phase is to establish a database about the client’s response to health concerns or illness and the ability to manage health problems through validation and collection of data (Berman & Snyder, 2012; Taylor, Lillis, LeMone & Lynn, 2011 ).

• Diagnosis 

 This is the nurse’s clinical judgment about the client’s response to actual or potential health conditions or needs. The main purpose is to identify client strengths and health problems that can be prevented or resolved by collaborative and independent nursing interventions (Berman & Snyder, 2012; Taylor, Lillis, LeMone & Lynn, 2011).

• Planning / Goal / Outcome 

Based on the assessment and diagnosis, measurable and achievable short and long term goals are set for patients in order to determine how to prevent, reduce, or resolve the identified priority client problems; how to support client strengths; and how to implement nursing interventions in an organized, individualized, and goal oriented manner (Berman & Snyder, 2012; Taylor, Lillis, LeMone & Lynn, 2011 ). 

• Implementation 

Implementation is done base on a care plan. The main purpose is to assist patients meet desired goals/outcomes; promote wellness; prevent illness; restore health; and facilitate coping with altered functioning. (Berman & Snyder, 2012; Taylor, Lillis, LeMone & Lynn, 2011 ). 

• Evaluation 

The purpose of this phase is to determine whether to continue, modify, or terminate the plan of care (Berman & Snyder, 2012; Taylor, Lillis, LeMone & Lynn, 2011 ). 

QUESTION: Do you think these phases are equally important and why?

Below is a video to recap the Nursing  Process as well as some useful links:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4699506/

https://www.magonlinelibrary.com/doi/abs/10.12968/bjha.2017.11.8.388

Reference: 

žBerman, A., & Snyder, S. J. (2012). Kozier & Erb’s fundamentals of nursing: Concepts, process, and practice (9th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education Inc.

Mosquito Borne Vrus: Dengue

Class: Epidemiology, Year1 Nusring Students

Topic: Dengue Virus

What is dengue?

According to the Center for Disease Control (2019), dengue is a disease caused by any one of four closely related dengue viruses (DENV 1-4). The viruses are transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito specifically the Aedes aegypti mosquito.

Transmission Process:

Dengue Serotypes

DEN-1
DEN-2,
DEN-3,
DEN-4
The above viruses are named "serotypes" due to their unique interactions with the antibodies present in human blood serum. Nature Education (2014) states that the viruses are similar as they share approximately 65% of their genomes. However, within a single serotype, there are genetic variation. Despite these variations, infection with each of the dengue serotypes results in the same disease and range of clinical symptoms (Nature Education, 2014).

Where can outbreak of dengue occur?

Outbreaks of dengue usually occur in areas where Aedes. aegypti (sometimes also Aedes albopictus) mosquitoes live such as tropical urban areas (Center for Disease Control, 2019).

Symptoms of Dengue (Center for Disease Control, 2019):

Primary symptoms of dengue include the following:
-High fever
-Severe headache
-Severe pain behind the eyes→
-Joint pain,
-Muscle and bone pain
-Rash
-Mild bleeding(eg., nose)

Treatment for Dengue:

According to Center for Disease Control (2019), there is no specific medication for treatment of a dengue infection. However, analgesics (pain relievers) with acetaminophen can be used.

Safety Precautions:

-Avoid using medications containing aspirin.-Rest
-Drink plenty of fluids
-Consult a physician

QUESTION: DO YOU THINK THIS MOSQUITO BORNE VIRUS IS ENDEMIC TO OUR COUNTRY? WHAT DO YOU THINK WOULD BEST ERADICATE THE OUTBREAKS?

Useful links:

http://www.who.int/csr/resources/publications/dengue/Denguepublication/en/

https://www.cdc.gov/dengue/clinicallab/casedef.html

https://www.cdc.gov/dengue/resources/DengueDHF-Information-for-Health-Care-Practitioners_2009.pdf

References:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID), Division of Vector-Borne Diseases (2019). Dengue. Retrieve from

https://www.cdc.gov/dengue/index.html

Natutre Educaation (2014). Dengue. Retrieved from https://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/dengue-viruses-22400925

Microbiology: Serratia Marcescens

Year 1, Microbiology Class

Topic: Serratia Marcescens

What is Serratia Marcescens?
 Currey (n.d), states that Serratia marcescens is a rod-shaped gram-negative bacterium and is a member of the Enterobacteriaceae family. It is a facultative anaerobe that can grow in the presence and absence of oxygen at temperatures between thirty degrees Celsius and thirty seven degrees Celsius. It metabolizes by either respiratory or fermentative processes classifying it as a chemoorganotroph. Ubiquitous in nature, Serratia  marcescens is found on dead organic material, while some inhabit soil, water, air, plants, animals, or food. Serratia marcescens is a ubiquitous, essentially saprophytic bacterium with a preference for starches that has played a significant role in human affairs.  

Background

In the 1950s, the U.S. Army conducted a study called “Operation Sea-Spray” to study wind currents that might carry biological weapons. They filled balloons with Serratia marcescens and burst them over San Francisco just to see where the “harmless” red bacteria would land. However, shortly thereafter, doctors noted a drastic increase in pneumonia and urinary tract infections (Greenberg, 1978).

Where is Serratia Marcescens Present?

According to Khanna et al., (2013), the important reservoirs in epidemics of Serratia marcescens are: 
-The digestive tract
-The respiratory tract, 
-The urinary tracts 
-The perineum of neonates
-Artificial nails of adults and health care workers.
However, medical equipment, lotions, antiseptics, medications, blood products and sinks have also been described as the sources of epidemics.

Treatment

Serratia marcescens is treated with antibiotics, however it is resistant to certain antibiotics. In August of 2010, Serratia Marcescens was found to be resistant to ampicillin, macrolides and first-generation cephalosporins. A preferred treatment is an aminoglycoside such as amikacin along with cefpirome, an antipseudomonal beta-lactam. Other antibiotics that can be used are gentamicin, quinolones and newer cephalosporins.

Do you think this pathogen can cause havoc in our health care system if not treated properly? Why?

Below is a video clipping and a hyperlink with additional information on Serratia Marcescens. If you have any questions or queries, please leave them in the comment section.

Follow the link for more information: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IY5KPRc6nj0

References:

Currey, S (n.d). Opportunistic Infections Caused by Serratia marcescens. Retrieved from: https://microbewiki.kenyon.edu/index.php/Opportunistic_Infections_Caused_by_Serratia_marc

Gillen, A. L. 2007. The Genesis of Germs: Disease and the Coming Plagues in a Fallen World. Green Forest, Arkansas: Master Books.

Greenberg L., (1978 November 12). Serratia Marcescens in human affairs. The National Center for Biotechnology Information (11):674-9.

Khanna, A., Khanna, M., & Aggarwal, A. (2013). Serratia Marcescens- A Rare Opportunistic      Nosocomial Pathogen and Measures to Limit it’s Spread in Hospitalized Patients. Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research : JCDR, 7(2), 243–246. http://doi.org/10.7860/JCDR/2013/5010.2737

Sartor, C., Jacomo, V., Duvivier, C., Tissot-Dupont, H., Sambuc, R., & Drancourt, M. (2000). Nosocomial Serratia marcescens Infections Associated With Extrinsic Contamination of a Liquid Nonmedicated Soap. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 21(03), 196-199. doi:10.1086/501743

What it means to be a nurse?!