Implementing evidence-based practice findings to decrease postoperatice sternal wound infections following open heart surgery
interviewer should ask more specific questions about when the symptoms presented, how long the patient has the symptoms and what can make the symptoms better. When a patient states that their problem is related to a specific organ system, for example like the cardiovascular system, there are cardinal symptoms within that system that should be explored and answered. Lloyd and Craig also state there are several direct questions that can be asked to gather more information, like the onset of the symptoms, the duration, the site and radiation, aggravating and relieving features, associated symptoms, fluctuating and frequency of the symptoms (pg. 44).
The next part of the interview revolves around past medical history, mental health, medication history, family history, social history, sexual history and occupational history. While taking past medical history it is important to obtain the diagnosis of previous medical conditions, the date it was diagnosed or treated or the management of the disease (Lloyd & Craig 2007). When it comes to obtaining mental health, “the nurse can enquire about the patient’s current coping strategies” (Lloyd & Craig 2007). An extremely important part of obtaining a patient’s history is with regards to medication. It is important to obtain all the medication a patient is taking up until the point of the interview, including any recently added medication and any drug allergies the patient may have. Family history is important to obtain to better understand the types of diseases that run within the patient’s family. Social history focuses on how well the patient adapts to change and stress with regards to everyday living. It is also important for the nurse to assess what type of living arrangements the patient lives in, who they live with, if they consume any type of alcohol, if they are a smoker, or if they have ever used illegal drugs. The main reason to assess for these things are, they tend to shorten a patient life, if the patient has
The next part of the interview revolves around past medical history, mental health, medication history, family history, social history, sexual history and occupational history. While taking past medical history it is important to obtain the diagnosis of previous medical conditions, the date it was diagnosed or treated or the management of the disease (Lloyd & Craig 2007). When it comes to obtaining mental health, “the nurse can enquire about the patient’s current coping strategies” (Lloyd & Craig 2007). An extremely important part of obtaining a patient’s history is with regards to medication. It is important to obtain all the medication a patient is taking up until the point of the interview, including any recently added medication and any drug allergies the patient may have. Family history is important to obtain to better understand the types of diseases that run within the patient’s family. Social history focuses on how well the patient adapts to change and stress with regards to everyday living. It is also important for the nurse to assess what type of living arrangements the patient lives in, who they live with, if they consume any type of alcohol, if they are a smoker, or if they have ever used illegal drugs. The main reason to assess for these things are, they tend to shorten a patient life, if the patient has