Abduction
Abduction means to move the limb away from the median plane, or axis, of the body. In care of the client with a fractured hip, the legs and hip must be aligned in an abducted position to prevent internal rotation, reduce the risk of dislocation, and decrease pain. In a client with a fractured hip, adduction of the limb, traction, and elevation are not appropriate procedures. Adduction means to move the limbs toward the medial plane, or axis, of the body, and traction involves the process of applying a pulling force in opposite directions using weights.
Assessing the medical records and diagnostic tests
Intrapersonal analysis of the assessment findings
Documenting expected outcomes
Performing verbal, visual, auditory, and tactile health teaching activities
Identifying the factors affecting the outcomes
The first step of communication throughout the nursing process is assessment, which involves assessing medical records and diagnostic tests. The second step is nursing diagnosis, which involves the intrapersonal analysis of assessment findings. The third step is planning, which involves the documentation of expected outcomes. The fourth step is implementation, which involves performing verbal, visual, auditory, and tactile health teaching activities. The final step is evaluation, which involves identifying the factors affecting the outcomes.
"Ask your healthcare provider how and when you should be taking your medications."
"Check the name, dose, and instructions about administration of drugs each time before leaving the pharmacy."
"Inform your healthcare provider of the over-the-counter drugs, recreational drugs, and amount of alcohol you ingest."
If unsure about any information, the client should be encouraged to ask for further instructions and more information. A client needs to be proactive and should check all aspects of the prescription with the pharmacist before leaving the pharmacy. A pharmacist may have permission to substitute a generic form of the drug or may change the number of pills that deliver the prescribed dose, both of which can confuse the client (e.g., one tablet may deliver 50 milligrams of a drug and be equal to two 25-milligram tablets). Because of the risk of drug interactions associated with polypharmacy and altered age-related physiological functioning that can cause drug toxicity, the client should inform the health team about all drugs (e.g., prescription, over-the-counter, recreational), herbal preparations, and amount of alcohol ingested to ensure safety. A client should stop taking a prescribed medication only after consultation with the health care provider. Unused and expired medications should not be discarded into the toilet because they can contaminate groundwater.