When providing care to someone, being successful in their recovery requires more than just knowing how to change a dressing or give medication. It also requires that you know warning signs of possible trouble and how to correct them. If you think something is wrong, you need to confirm that what you think is true is correct. Before you make any changes, confirm something is wrong by comparing the current state to normal for that organ/body part. Call your family member’s doctor, remembering to share your family member’s pertinent medical history.
Caregiver Fundamentals provides a series of independent medical topics related to fundamental care areas. In addition, I offer multiple video links from YouTube so you can see the procedures performed by someone.
Types of Ostomies When many people hear “ostomy,” they immediately think of colostomy. However, there are many types of ostomies, besides a colostomy, that a caregiver might encounter. An ostomy is any surgical opening created to connect an internal organ to the outside of the body. Most function to eliminate bodily waste, but a …
Virginia Professional Boards and Certifying Agencies Accepting ProTrainings Courses Alternative Therapies: Acupuncture, Massage, Body, Meditation, Yoga American Academy of Medical Acupuncture (AAMA) rules allow ProCPR 100% Online certifications for Acupuncturists. National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) mandates that you complete a CPR certification within four years of application and have current knowledge of …
Hands are a Lethal Weapon Taking the time to wash your hands is the #1 defensive action to prevent infection. Your hands come into contact with more germs than any other body part. Once a bug takes hold, the hands transport that germ to multiple body locations within minutes. Tracking the hands’ movements shows the …
Sometimes Sterile Technique is Preferred Using a clean technique works for most procedures you perform at home. However, specific jobs may be too risky to use clean techniques alone. For example, when you complete a process that requires putting a foreign body into the bloodstream, the potential exists to introduce bacteria. Once the bacteria …
Moving Joints Through Their Full Range-of-Motion What are range-of-motion exercises? Just what they say. Moving each joint in every direction that it can naturally move. Its gentle movements start small and gradually get bigger and bigger until the joint has fully expanded to its best potential. You do that 3 or 4 times for each …
How is a Medication Dosage Determined? The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) determines the dosing of medication needed to treat a condition based on clinical research. After completing years of clinical trials which document patient outcomes and drug safety, the FDA approves a drug’s release for use by the public. The drug is approved only to …
Changing an Ostomy Appliance Steps To Follow to Change an Appliance Wash hands, put on gloves, gather equipment and supplies, wash clothes, barrier supplies, etc. Empty, remove, and discard the old appliance. Clean around the stoma and inspect for skin breakdown. Get clean gloves to measure the stoma. You want the barrier you cut …
Three Ways to Perform Surgery The most common type of feeding tube is the gastrostomy (G) tube. A surgeon places a G-tube through the abdominal wall into the stomach. There are three options for G-tube surgery:1. Inserting the G-tube surgically through small incisions using a laparoscope.2. Insert the G-tube using a larger open incision through …
Inserting an NG Tube Help your family member to sit up or raise the head of their bed to at least 30 degrees. Place protective towels around them if the insertion process stimulates their gag reflex and they vomit or spit up. Choose which nostril to use by evaluating for tenderness, previous injury, or the …
Monitoring Vital Signs and Understanding the Respiratory Rate The purpose of the respiratory system is to bring in fresh oxygen and eliminate discarded carbon dioxide. If too much oxygen or carbon dioxide is in the system, the individual may show signs of confusion or mental health changes. Signs may include agitation, increased sleepiness, anxiety, …
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