Physically Challenged, Terminally ill, and Non-Urgent Emergencies Flashcards
What conditions cause limitations of the physical use and interactions w/ the environment?
Developmental
Surgical/amputation/trauma
Chromosomal
Sensorial
Physically Challenged
Often minor/easily lived w/
Some terminal
Important to know what is wrong w/ patient, ask them
- If not patient then caregiver/parent
- Often know ‘what works’
Patient or family could also be dealing w/ emotional issues
-Don’t try to solve problems, let others trained for it deal with it
Mentally challenged
Impairement/insufficient development/damage to the brain
-Impaired judgment/ability to interat w/ environment.
When can mentally challenged issues develop?
Pre-natal - Before birth
Peri-natal - during birth
Post-natal - Atfter birth
Mental issues can be caused by?
Trauma induced
CVA damage
Drug induced
Types of mental issues
Downs Syndrome
Trisomy 16/18
Cerebral Palsy
How to communicate w/ a mentally challenged patient?
Identify yourself
Establishing rapport w/ patient paramount
Treat patient to mental age, not physical age
Don’t finish patient’s sentences or correct them
Don’t pretend to understand patient if you don’t (misinterpret)
Face pt.
Reduce background noise
Explain actions/don’t lie
Qrite notes w/ the patient
May require family or provider for Hx
Leep provider close for patient’s reassurance
Assessment Hints
Visual Impairment
-May be from an injur, DM (retinopathy), glaucoma
Hearing Impaired
- Recognized early in assessment, look for hearing aid, speak directly to the patient in a normal voice
Speech impaired
- May be a language disorder such as cerebrl palsy or CVA
- Keep language/questionning simple
- Don’t finish their sentences
May need to care for guide dog. Ask permission before approchaing guide dog if possible
Tx medical emergencies
Same as any ‘normal’ emergency, depends if directly related to disability
-Chocking patient, but patient has inability to clear airway due to weakened muscles to clear airway
Important to treat the mergent problem, not th long term
Difficulty controlling motor function
May have below intellectual capacity
Seizures are inceased possibility
Medical emergencies examples
Downs syndrome
Cerebral Palsy
Multiple sclerosis
Previous head injury
Myasthenia Gravis
Downs Syndrome
Small face w/ large tongue, short hands, flattening on back of head create more airway issues
Physical ailments may include heart defects, GI defects, and chronic lung problems
Cerebral Palsy
Decreased muscle control/coordination
- Increased falls
- Prone to seizures
Multiple Sclerosis
CNS disorder, common ages BT 20-40
Myelin Sheath degeneration
-Intermittent/irradiate/blockade of nervous message transmission
Previous head injury
Aphasia
Slurred speech
Loss of vision/hearing
Learning impairment
Short term memory loss
Myasthenia Gravis
Autoimmune disease characterized by chronic. Weakness, fatigue progression
Blockage of nerve signals to muscles.
(Failure of respiratory muscles (arrest))
Abuse
Physica/emotional/sexual/psychological
Simply deprived of necessities of life
- Neglect
- Improper nutrition, clothing or living cond’s
May be primary care giver (financial, physical, mental stress…)
-Parent/family member/caregiver/group/home/nurse/stranger
Inconsistent injuries with history/story
Inconsistent injuries as per patient’s condition
Immune system emergencies and the disabled
Can be letahl/terminal
Can be the cause of the disability, or can make worse once contracted
-AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome)
-Antibiotic resistant infection
-Influenza
Meningococcemia
-Tetanus
-Toxic shock syndrome
AIDS
Suppression or deficiency of the cellular immune response
-Stops ‘Helper T cells’ from tagging intruders so ‘Killer T cells’ can destroy
Acquired (originated outside the organism; not inherited) by exposure to the HIV
Immunosuppression predisposes person to oppurtunistic infections
Transmissions - blood, semen
Antibiotic Resistant
Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria change
-Reducing/eliminating effectiveness of antibiotics
MRSA, VRE
There resistant bacteria survive and multiply (causing longer illnesses, increased doctor visits, and need for expensive and toxic antibiotics)
Resistant bacteria may even cause death
- Sepsis
- Antibiotics can cause severe damage as well
Toxic Shock
Staph infection in blood
Influenza
Acute viral respiratory tract infection
Tetanus
Neurotoxins that attack the CNS
Comes through faces, animal soil
Miningococcemia
Form of meningitis, microorganism
