Basic principles of nursing. General nursing care General nursing care at home

During the treatment of any disease, great importance is given to patient care.

The patient's position in bed largely depends on the severity and nature of the disease. In cases where the patient can get out of bed, walk, and sit independently, his position is called active. The position of a patient who is unable to move, turn, raise his head and arms is called passive. The position that the patient takes on his own, trying to alleviate his suffering, is called forced. In any case, no matter what position the inpatient is in, he spends most of his time in bed, so bed comfort plays an important role in the patient’s well-being and recovery.

Position of the patient in bed

The patient in the ward lies on the bed. It is desirable that it be made of a material that is easy to wash and handle and should be of sufficient size.

Beds in the ward should be spaced at least 1.5 m apart and with their head end to the wall. It is better if the ward has functional beds, consisting of three movable sections, the position of which can be changed using special devices or handles, which allows you to give the patient the most comfortable position. The mesh on the bed should be well stretched and have a flat surface. A mattress without bumps or depressions is placed on top of it. Caring for patients will be more convenient if you use a mattress consisting of separate parts, each of which can be replaced as necessary.

Placing the patient on chairs or other auxiliary equipment is strictly prohibited!

For patients suffering from urinary and fecal incontinence, an oilcloth is attached across the entire width of the mattress cover to prevent contamination of the mattress. The mattress cover is covered with a sheet, the edges of which must be tucked under the mattress so that it does not roll or bunch up. The pillows are placed so that the bottom (feather) pillow lies parallel to the length of the bed and protrudes slightly from under the top (down) pillow, which should rest against the headboard. White pillowcases are put on the pillows. Persons with allergies to feathers and down are given foam (or cotton) pillows. To cover the patient, flannelette or woolen blankets placed in a duvet cover are used according to the season.

In the absence of a functional bed, special headrests are used to give the patient a semi-sitting position, and a stop is placed in the legs so that the patient does not slide off the headrest.

The patient's bed should be changed regularly (morning and evening) (sheets, blankets are straightened, pillows are fluffed). If the patient cannot be turned over, special devices are used to bring the surface of the bed into proper order.

There is a bedside table or bedside table near the patient’s bed, the height of which should correspond to the height of the bed. For seriously ill patients, special bedside tables are used, located above the bed, which makes eating convenient.

In addition to beds, the room should have chairs for each bed, a table and a hanger, a thermometer indicating the air temperature, and a waste basket hanging by the door.

Ventilation of the rooms depends on the season. In summer, screened windows are open around the clock; in winter, vents or transoms are opened 3-4 times a day for 15-20 minutes. It is necessary to ensure that there are no drafts.

For successful treatment, patient compliance with personal hygiene, including timely change of bed and underwear, care of skin, eyes, oral cavity, and hair, is of great importance. It should be remembered: the sicker the patient, the more difficult it is to care for him and perform any manipulations.

Skin care

The face, neck and upper body should be washed daily. If the patient is on strict bed rest, the nurse washes him with a sponge or cotton swab. Hands should be washed in the morning, before eating and as they become dirty throughout the day. Feet should be washed daily at night with warm water and soap. A patient on bed rest should wash his feet 2-3 times a week, placing a basin on the bed.

Particular attention should be paid to the perineal area - washing patients, since the accumulation of urine and feces can lead to a violation of the integrity of the skin. Washing is done with a weak warm solution (30-35 °C) of potassium permanganate or other disinfectant. You can also use aseptic decoctions and infusions to keep the groin area clean and prevent purulent-inflammatory complications. For washing, use a jug, a forceps, and sterile cotton balls.

Washing women. When washing, a woman should lie on her back, bend her knees and slightly spread her hips. A bedpan is placed under the buttock area. Take a jug with a warm disinfectant solution in your left hand and pour water on the external genitalia, and with a cotton swab clamped in a forceps, treat the skin in the direction from the genitals to the anus (from top to bottom). After this, wipe the skin with a dry cotton swab in the same direction.

Washing men. With the patient in a similar position, water is poured from a jug onto the inguinal folds and perineum. Wiping the skin dry is carried out in the same direction. After wiping the skin dry, lubricate it with Vaseline oil to prevent diaper rash.

Hair care

Patients who are hospitalized should wash their hair weekly with warm water and soap. In cases where the patient is prescribed bed rest, hair washing is done in bed. After washing, the hair is wiped dry and combed. To facilitate this process, the hair is divided in half and individual strands are combed, starting from the ends.

Oral care

General care is carried out daily (morning and evening) by brushing your teeth with a toothbrush. For seriously ill patients, the nurse should wipe their mouth after every meal. Using tweezers or a clamp, she takes a cotton ball soaked in a 0.5% borax solution, uses a spatula to remove the cheek and wipes all the teeth, gums, tongue and oral mucosa with the cotton ball. To prevent dry lips and cracks in the corners of the mouth, lubricate the lips with Vaseline several times a day.

The nurse also monitors the nasal passages; breathing freely through the nose prevents the mucous membrane of the mouth from drying out. If dry crusts form in the nose, it is necessary to insert a gauze turunda moistened with petroleum jelly into the nasal passages for 5-10 minutes, or drip 1-2 drops of warm water.

The basis of general care is the creation of a hygienic environment and an appropriate regime in a medical institution, direct individual patient care, proper nutrition and strict implementation of treatment prescriptions, and constant monitoring of the condition of patients. Patient care begins with the correct and quick organization of the necessary assistance in the emergency department of a medical institution.

The nurse helps seriously ill patients undress and, if necessary, very carefully cuts clothes and shoes. Clothes are placed in a special bag. Afterwards, the patient is put on hospital clothes and transferred to a ward, accompanied by a nurse. Seriously ill patients are transported on gurneys or chairs, accompanied by a nurse. In the emergency department, he often assists in providing emergency care. Seriously ill patients are transported within a medical institution, observing general rules, as quickly and carefully as possible, avoiding shocks. Stretchers with patients are carried by 2 or 4 people, walking out of step, in short steps. When going up the stairs, the patient is carried head first, when going down the stairs - feet first, in both cases the foot end of the stretcher is raised. Carrying and shifting the patient in their arms can be done by 1, 2 or 3 people. If 1 person is carrying the patient, then he places one hand under the shoulder blades, the other under the patient’s hips; at the same time, the patient holds the carrier’s neck with his hands. A nurse must be involved in carrying and repositioning severely weakened and seriously ill patients. When transferring seriously ill patients from a stretcher to a bed, the stretcher is placed at right angles to the bed so that the foot end of the stretcher is closer to the head end of the bed (or vice versa). Nurses must thoroughly understand the rules of carrying patients in order to be able to instruct junior nursing staff if necessary.

In the room, the nurse checks the readiness of the bed, bedside accessories, personal care items and alarms. For a seriously ill patient, an oilcloth lining, a urine bag, a rubber ring, and bedside accessories are necessary. The patient should be familiarized with the daily routine and hospital regime immediately upon admission. The regimen of the department and the individual regimen of the patient requires strict adherence to the daily routine and correct behavior of patients and medical staff.

Depending on the nature and severity of the disease, patients may be prescribed strict bed rest (not allowed to sit), bed rest (you can move in bed without leaving it), semi-bed rest (you can walk around the ward and to the toilet) and the so-called general regime, which does not significantly limit the patient’s motor activity. The nurse, ward or guard, ensures that patients carefully follow the internal rules and the prescribed regimen. Performing manipulations and dispensing medications should not coincide with the hours of eating, sleeping and resting of patients, with the exception of providing emergency care or hourly fulfillment of medical prescriptions. It is necessary to ensure that there is no noise in the department: you should talk in a low voice, move furniture quietly, the operation of medical equipment, the movement of gurneys should be silent, etc.

A hygienic environment is achieved by carefully maintaining the cleanliness of the premises. Rooms are cleaned using a wet method 2 times a day: in the morning after patients get up and in the evening before bed. Walls, window frames, doors, furniture are wiped with a damp cloth; the floor is washed or wiped with a brush wrapped in a damp cloth. The contents of bedside tables are checked daily to prevent accumulation of food and unnecessary items. should be stored in the refrigerator in cellophane; bags, to which a note with the patient's name is attached. The contents of the refrigerator are monitored at least once a week by the head nurse. The air in the rooms should always be fresh, which is ensured by supply and exhaust ventilation and ventilation (in winter, transoms are opened 3-4 times a day for 10-15 minutes, in summer windows can be open around the clock). In winter, when ventilating, you need to cover the patient warmly with a blanket, cover your head with a towel, and leave your face open, except in cases where the influx of cold air causes irritation of the upper respiratory tract. The room temperature should be constant, within 18-20°, air humidity - 30-60%. To increase humidity in the wards, open vessels with water are placed, and ventilation is increased to reduce it. Electric lamps should be covered with frosted lampshades; at night, low-intensity light bulbs (night lights) are lit.

Proper general care for a patient is one of the most important factors influencing his speedy recovery. By carrying out a set of measures aimed at restoring and maintaining the patient’s strength, it is possible to prevent possible complications and quickly return him to a full life. The general care of patients in the therapy clinic is carried out by nurses who provide both physical and psychosocial support. That is why the concept of “general care” is synonymous with the concept of “nursing”.

Fundamentals of General Nursing

The difficulty of care is that each patient is individual, he has his own habits and character. Sometimes the patient is not able to think clearly and be aware of his actions and actions. This necessitates the need for the caregiver to have skills such as patience, vigilance, compassion, and the ability to think clearly in an unusual situation.

General therapeutic nursing is necessary for all patients, regardless of the type of their disease. As a rule, this concerns the satisfaction of the natural needs of the body: the patient needs food, drink, and personal hygiene. It is very important to help the patient become active. A light workout in bed or a short walk will have a positive effect on both a person’s physical and mental health. The conditions in which the patient stays are no less important: silence, clean linen, respect for oneself and one’s needs.

Basic Rules

There are several general rules for caring for patients. More on them later.

First of all, the care provided to the patient should depend on the instructions of the attending physician. The patient may be unable to get out of bed, or may not have significant limitations in movement. This or that regimen prescribed by the doctor determines the amount of care required. Nevertheless, it is necessary even for those who are able to take care of themselves.

Ideally, patients should be in a bright room, isolated from noise, with a flow of fresh air. Even such basic amenities as a comfortable temperature, silence, plenty of light and clean air have a beneficial effect on the body, regardless of the type of disease.

Cleanliness is the key to health. The room in which the patient is located should be cleaned at least twice a day to avoid dust accumulation. The patient's bed linen and underwear must also be kept clean. It must be changed so as not to create unnecessary pain and stress for the patient.

Washing is necessary every morning and evening. If there are no restrictions from the doctor, then the patient is allowed to wash in the shower or bath. Bedridden patients should be wiped daily with damp swabs, paying special attention to places where diaper rash often occurs: armpits, groin, skin folds.

An organism depleted by disease needs a constant supply of nutrients. Proteins, fats, carbohydrates and vitamins must be supplied in balanced quantities at the same time, since it is necessary to follow a diet. Many diseases require a special diet or special diet prescribed by a doctor.

Another important rule is monitoring the patient’s condition. The doctor must be aware of the changes occurring with the patient: well-being, activity, psycho-emotional state, color of natural discharge. Timely identification of deviations will allow them to be eliminated faster, preventing the development of complications.

Psychological help

Another general principle of caring for a sick person requires knowledge not only in medicine, but also in psychology: illness is stress, and people tolerate it differently, sometimes becoming capricious and irritable or withdrawn and unsociable. The emotional state plays a significant role in the recovery process, so caregivers must adhere to medical ethics - respect for the patient, interest in a speedy recovery. A properly structured dialogue and a good attitude will help set the patient in a positive mood.

What is a hospital?

Patient care is provided in a hospital setting. A hospital is a medical institution in which patients stay for a long time; it has all the necessary conditions for this.

Types of hospitals

Typically, the following types of hospitals are distinguished:

• daytime - allow you to perform procedures that cannot be performed at home, but at the same time do not require long-term hospitalization;
• round-the-clock - necessary for treatment under the constant supervision of doctors;
• surgical - intended for the recovery of patients after surgery;
• at home - created at inpatient medical institutions, whose doctors provide all necessary medical care to a patient at home.

Hospital profiles

Hospitals also differ in profile depending on what diseases they specialize in treating. This determines the level of qualifications of doctors and medical personnel, the equipment of the medical institution with everything necessary to perform its task. By profile, in a broad sense, hospitals are of two types:

• multidisciplinary - work with various types of diseases;
• single-profile or specialized - engaged in the treatment and rehabilitation of patients with a certain pathology.

What types of treatment departments are there?

Each medical institution according to its structure is divided into departments, among which the main one is medical. Medical departments also differ in profile: general and specialized. General departments usually provide therapeutic and surgical care, while specialized departments work with diseases of a specific body system. In addition, there are reception and diagnostic departments and a laboratory.

General and specialized care - application algorithms

Not only do inpatient medical institutions differ in their specialization, but also the types of care they provide. In addition to general patient care, there is also specialized care intended for patients with a specific disease. If the first is designed to create comfortable conditions and ensure vital processes, then the second is aimed directly at treating the disease. Health care workers caring for a patient must have a wide range of skills and knowledge necessary for the rehabilitation of the person in their care.

Patient care is carried out according to a clear algorithm. First of all, a health condition is diagnosed, and then the caregiver determines what needs the ward is unable to satisfy on his own, and what the degree of these difficulties is. Based on this, the patient’s response to his illness and condition is identified, and a so-called “nursing diagnosis” is made, which includes a list of the patient’s existing and potential physiological and psychological problems associated with the disease.

The next stage is planning - a goal and care plan are formed for each problem. Within the limits of their strength and competence, medical personnel set realistic and achievable goals for the short or long term. They must be accessible to the patient to understand, presented in simple language without complex terms. Throughout the entire time spent in the hospital, care is provided and specialized procedures necessary for recovery are performed. Due to the fact that the patient’s condition is changeable, it is important to monitor changes and make adjustments to the developed plan.

A correct diagnosis and prescribed treatment are only half the recovery. Compliance with doctor's orders, compliance with hygiene and nutrition standards, and a favorable emotional background play no less a role. The combination of general and specialized care will seriously speed up the process of recuperation of the patient’s strength and prevent possible complications.

Patient care is a set of activities that provide comprehensive care for patients and the implementation of medical orders for their treatment.

Care is inextricably linked with treatment (see); they complement each other and serve a common purpose. Organization of care and its implementation are an integral part of the activities of medical staff in medical institutions.

Patient care is largely the responsibility of nursing staff, especially in inpatient medical institutions, where most of the time patients are under the direct supervision of nurses. Their successful implementation of numerous care activities requires not only good professional skills, but also high moral principles in their attitude towards patients. Sensitivity, caring and emotional contact with patients ensure the patient’s trust in treatment measures and support his faith in recovery. The Soviets are distinguished by the principles of humanism, selflessness and the high duty of serving the socialist Motherland, which is reflected in the daily work of medical institutions. At all stages of treatment, proper care provides an optimally favorable domestic and psychological environment for the patient. It is extremely important to protect the patient from negatively influencing factors, as well as from excessive attention to one’s own, sometimes serious, condition.

The nurse helps patients adapt to the regime of the hospital. The placement of patients in multi-bed wards should be carried out taking into account individual characteristics: age, intellectual and professional data, etc. The nurse must individualize the approach to patients depending on their level of development, character traits; be sensitive to the suffering of the patient, take care of meeting his needs, learn to patiently endure increased reactions and demands, often even whims, keeping in mind the slight excitability and irritability of patients. To avoid iatrogenic diseases (see), medical staff must be very careful when talking with patients on medical topics. The sympathetic and caring attitude of the nurse gives the patient great moral, and often physical, relief. The ability to create an optimistic mood in a patient is a great contribution to recovery. At the same time, a caring attitude should not be replaced by familiarity, since in these cases the loss of the nurse’s authority is inevitable. Restrained and calm treatment allows patients to be subordinated to the regime of the medical institution and to the reasonable demands of the medical staff.

This should be facilitated by the appearance of the medical staff: a medical gown fitted to the size and fastened, a scarf or a cap covering the hair are mandatory requirements for the overalls of medical staff. It is preferable to wear soft shoes. Nails should be cut short and hands should be spotlessly clean. Before each manipulation, you should wash your hands with a brush and soap, and, if necessary, with a disinfectant solution. The facial expression should always be quite serious, but at the same time friendly, without shades of absent-mindedness or inattention.

Patient care is divided into general and special.

Each disease, especially severe and prolonged, is accompanied by the appearance of various symptoms (fever, pain, shortness of breath, loss of appetite), limitation of physical activity and the ability to self-care, impaired ability to satisfy basic life needs (eating, drinking, emptying the intestines, bladder).

Along with measures aimed at combating the disease, the patient needs to be provided with the correct regime, proper care (physical regime, sanitary and hygienic conditions, nutrition, assistance in meeting physiological needs and carrying out various procedures aimed at reducing the manifestations of the disease).

In addition, the course of many chronic diseases can be aggravated or provoked by the presence of bad habits (smoking, alcohol abuse, tea, coffee, certain dishes) and negative psycho-emotional influences. It is important to identify these factors and try to eliminate them. This is also part of the task of caring for the patient.

Physical activity mode the patient depends on the severity of the disease. The patient's position in bed can be active, if the patient is able to independently turn around, get out of bed, walk, and passive, if the patient cannot move on his own and maintains the position that was given to him, which is more often observed in an unconscious state or in cases of cerebrovascular accident.

Often patients take a forced position, trying to alleviate their suffering, for example, sitting or half-sitting with shortness of breath, especially paroxysmal. For various diseases, strict or non-strict bed rest, semi-bed rest or free rest, with varying degrees of activity, is prescribed.

With some diseases, patients need long-term, even permanent, bed rest. This mode ensures not only a more economical use of the patient’s strength while reducing the reserve capacity of vital organs, but also uniform and constant heat, which is important for inflammatory diseases.

However, maintaining long-term physical rest is associated with a number of negative consequences. Prolonged immobility causes a decrease in muscle tone, impaired physiological reflexes, a slowdown in blood flow, increased blood clotting, which contributes to the occurrence of complications - pneumonia of congestive origin, venous disease, vascular blockage, muscle atrophy, changes in joints, disruption of the intestines and bladder, education bedsores, etc.

Thus, an overly strict regime of physical rest, instead of benefit, can cause harm, slowing down and complicating the process of restoring or maintaining health. Therefore, doctors are now reducing the duration of bed rest, including early expansion of the volume of physical activity, self-care and physical training, even with a disease such as myocardial infarction. With such active management, the patients’ condition recovers faster and the above-mentioned complications do not develop. Of course, only the doctor decides on the choice of motor mode and volume of loads, but you should still know that even with a strict regimen, the patient, outside the period of deterioration (attack of pain or suffocation, etc.), in most cases is able to wash, shave, eat, comb your hair, read literature, etc. Of course, appropriate conditions must be created for this (headrest, folding table).

With semi-bed rest, the chronically ill person is more widely involved in performing some simple self-care duties, gradually expanding them. Therapeutic exercise (for example, breathing exercises), hygienic exercises at home are carried out under the control of the patient’s well-being. The responsibilities of a caregiver are much more difficult in cases where the patient cannot move and occupies a passive or forced position, for example, in unconsciousness, paralysis, or severe weakness.

Caring for patients at home not only supports the physiological functions of the body and alleviates the patient’s condition, but also actively participates in the process of restoring his health and ability to work.

Of course, the goals may be different: restoration of professional fitness in the conditions of the previous or lighter work, or only the ability to self-care, to do homework, etc. The experience of medical rehabilitation shows that about 80% of patients who have suffered a myocardial infarction become able to work. This indicates great compensatory capabilities of the body that need to be used and developed.

Sick room

It is always advisable to allocate a separate room for the patient, especially if an infectious disease is suspected, including influenza or acute respiratory disease. If this is not possible, you need to allocate the best part of the room for him, separating it with a curtain or closet.

The room should always have fresh and clean air and optimal temperature (18–20 °C). To do this, the room is regularly ventilated. In the cold season, the window is opened at least 3-4 times a day for 20-30 minutes, and the patient is covered warmly at this time. In summer, a window or vent should be open constantly, but you need to make sure that there is no draft in the room. In winter, the south side of the house is preferable, in summer - the north. The room should be well lit when performing various procedures. To prevent dust accumulation, it is necessary to wet clean the room and wipe the furniture at least once a day. The window or window must be open.

Bed

It is advisable to place the patient's bed with the head of the bed against the wall in the middle of the room (not along the wall or in the corner) to ensure free access to the body from all sides. On one side of the bed, at the head of the bed, you should place a table for medicines, a thermometer, a carafe of water, and utensils for eating; on the other, a bedside table with reading literature and a table lamp. In the nightstand you can store care items, toiletries, and medicines.

The patient's bed should always be clean and fresh. For seriously ill patients, an oilcloth is placed under the sheet.

Usually position The patient is horizontal in bed, with the upper body slightly elevated.

If there is shortness of breath, especially with suffocation, the patient should be in a half-sitting position, for which a headrest or boards are placed under the pillow. To prevent the patient from slipping, use a foot rest. Sometimes an elevated position of the legs is required, for example, with inflammation of the veins. In this case, pillows are placed under the shins. The most comfortable position should always be ensured. However, the patient should not be left in one position for a long time; he should turn to the other side from time to time, and, with the doctor’s permission, sit down.

Change of bed linen should be carried out at least once a week. The condition of some patients allows them to be temporarily transferred to another bed, which makes it possible not only to change pillowcases and sheets, but also to straighten and clean the mattress. One person can shift the patient by placing the right hand under the shoulder blades and the left hand under the hips.

It is better to carry heavy patients together: one puts his hands under the head and shoulder blades, the second - under the lower back and hips, lifting the patient at the same time.

To change the sheets of a seriously ill patient, as a rule, 2 people are required. This can be done in different ways.

1st method: raise the patient’s head, fold the head end of the sheet towards the lower back. Then the legs are raised and the other end of the sheet is gathered into folds, after which it is carefully pulled out from under the patient.

A clean sheet, rolled up in width with two rollers, is placed under the lower back, and it is straightened alternately in 2 directions - towards the head and towards the legs.

2nd method: the patient is turned on his side closer to the edge of the bed. From the free edge of the bed, the sheet is rolled along its length with a roller. A rolled up clean sheet is also placed on the vacated space. The patient is turned onto the other side, placed on a clean sheet. The dirty sheet is removed, and the clean sheet is spread on the other half of the bed. If the patient can be seated, first change the head half of the sheet, then the foot half.

Patient hygiene

It is necessary to care for the patient’s skin, hair, nails, oral cavity, ears, eyes, and perineum.

Every day, morning and evening, the patient should wash the face, neck and hands with soap and water at room temperature. If his condition allows, he is seated in bed and performs toileting on his own. Bedridden patients are wiped with tampons or a sponge, moistening them with water with the addition of vodka or cologne.

In addition, in seriously ill patients, the entire body should be wiped with camphor alcohol, especially the folds in the groin, armpits and under the mammary glands in women. You should not forget to wash the patient’s hands with soap before each meal and trim your fingernails and toenails short. After any wet treatment, wipe the skin with a clean and dry towel. Moderately ill patients are washed at least once a week in a bath or shower in accordance with the doctor’s recommendations. The bath is filled halfway with water at a temperature of 35–37 °C. The patient is helped to wash his head, back, etc. When washing in the shower, the patient is seated on a bench or stool, and a flexible hose is used. Severe, weakened patients are washed in bed, placing an oilcloth under the sheet.

Washing is carried out in parts, using a sponge, warm water and soap, first the upper half of the body, then the stomach, thighs and legs.

An important task of home care is prevention of bed sores, which can appear in seriously ill patients most often in the sacrum area, less often in the area of ​​the shoulder blades, heels, back of the head, buttocks and in other places where soft tissues are compressed between the bone and the bed.

To prevent bedsores, it is necessary to change the patient’s position in bed every 2 hours; Wash possible places where bedsores form with warm water and soap, and then wipe with camphor alcohol; carefully make the bed so that there are no folds or crumbs on the sheet; to improve blood circulation in the limbs, do passive or (better) active movements; if the skin is red, wash the area and lubricate it 1-2 times a day with a 5-10% solution of potassium permanganate, place an inflatable rubber circle so that the bedsore is located above the hole in the circle and does not touch the bed.

It is important to maintain a neat appearance of the patient. It is recommended to keep the patient's hair short and shave daily. Many people can shave with an electric razor themselves. Hair needs to be combed daily. Rinse eyes better with a ball of sterile cotton wool soaked in a solution of boric acid (1 tsp per glass of warm boiled water). When appearing in ears accumulations of earwax, drop a few drops of a warm 3% hydrogen peroxide solution into the external auditory canal, and then carefully dry the ear with a cotton wool bandage. In case of difficulty nasal breathing due to the formation of dry crusts, a flagellum with boric vaseline or vegetable oil is inserted into the nostril - this causes the crusts to soften and fall off.

For bedridden patients, the intestines and bladder are emptied in bed using a urinal and bedpan, and an enema is given if necessary. It is important to keep hygiene items clean and serve warm. If you experience delayed urination or defecation, consult a doctor. Every caregiver should be able to correctly measure and assess temperature, pulse and respiration rates.

Temperature The body temperature normally ranges from 36 °C in the morning to 36.9 °C in the evening. With illness, it can either increase or decrease. An increase in temperature (fever) is usually accompanied by a headache, malaise, a feeling of body aches, and there may be chills and increased sweating. When the temperature drops, sudden weakness and coldness of the skin are usually observed. An increase in temperature, even by a few tenths of a degree, matters.

Before measuring the temperature, shake the thermometer vigorously until the column drops to 35 °C. Then it is placed in the axillary cavity wiped dry. The patient presses his shoulder to his chest and holds the thermometer for 8–10 minutes. After use, the thermometer should be wiped with alcohol or cologne and placed in the case.

The temperature is usually measured 2 times a day, at 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. In severely weakened patients, as well as in children, the temperature in the anus is sometimes measured. For children, the end of the thermometer is lubricated with Vaseline and inserted to a depth of 2–3 cm. It should be taken into account that the temperature in the rectum is 1 °C higher than in the armpit. With a significant and rapid increase in temperature, chills are sometimes observed, the skin turns pale and becomes cold. In this case, the patient should be put to bed, covered warmly, warmed with heating pads, given hot tea, a tablet of acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin). In case of a rapid (critical) decrease in temperature with profuse sweating and weakness, the patient’s body should be wiped dry, underwear changed, and strong hot tea should be given.

To determine the pulse, the tips of the index, middle and ring fingers of the right hand are lightly pressed at the beginning of the forearm from the side of the thumb, find the pulsating artery and count the number of beats in 15 s, multiply the found value by 4. With some skill, you can determine the nature of the pulse (regular or irregular , full or small).

To count a number breathing movements you should place your palm on the epigastric region, count the respiratory movements for 30 seconds, multiply the resulting number by 2. When assessing the pulse and breathing rate, it should be taken into account that it naturally increases after physical activity, excitement, and during feverish conditions. Therefore, counting pulse and respiration is carried out in a state of complete rest, before performing any procedures. When the temperature rises by 1 °C, the pulse rate increases by 8-10 beats, breathing - by 3-4 times per minute. You should know that in a healthy adult, at rest, the pulse rate does not exceed 70–80 per minute, and the respiratory rate does not exceed 14–18 per minute. Data from daily measurements of temperature, pulse and respiration should be recorded, this will help the attending physician. If there is edema, you should measure the amount of fluid you drink (including in the form of soups, jelly, fruit, etc.) and the amount of urine excreted (diuresis) per day.

The caregiver must know the technique of performing basic procedures.

Banks medical ones cause a rush of blood to the skin, distracting it from internal tissues and organs, and help reduce or eliminate inflammatory processes in them.

Before placing the jars, lubricate the skin with Vaseline oil so that they stick better and also to avoid burns. A cotton swab on a metal stick is moistened in alcohol, lit and inserted into the cavity of the jar for 1–2 s to rarefy the air in it, then quickly remove the burning swab and immediately press the jar tightly to the skin. The jars are placed one after the other every 3–4 cm. Then the patient is covered with a blanket and left for 10–15 minutes.

The cans are removed as follows: with the fingers of one hand, press the skin near the very edge of the can, and with the other, slightly tilt it in the opposite direction, after which it easily falls off. Cupping is effective only when it has good suction and when it causes significant redness of the skin due to hemorrhage.

If the condition is satisfactory, the patient takes general hygienic baths in a half-sitting position, immersing himself in water up to the upper chest. Bedridden patients can have local baths (for hands, feet). The water temperature should be 36–38 °C, the bath duration should be no more than 30 minutes. Weakened patients are washed in the shower.

Baths Medications are taken only as prescribed by a doctor. They can be simple (fresh) and complex, with the addition of various salts, gases, and liquids. Simple baths – at an indifferent temperature (34–36 °C), lasting 10–15 minutes – act as a refreshing or tonic procedure. Warm baths (37 °C) lasting 30 minutes or more have a calming effect, promote sleep, they are indicated for increased excitability, neuroses, and some skin diseases.

Longer warm baths (up to 1 hour) are useful for chronic bronchitis, kidney diseases, and bronchial asthma. In this case, the water temperature should be maintained at a constant temperature.

Warm (38–39 °C) and hot (40–42 °C) baths cause increased sweating, increase metabolism, and relax smooth muscles. They are prescribed for obesity, gout, some chronic diseases of the joints and nerves, liver and kidney failure, colic, and only in the absence of diseases of the cardiovascular system and active inflammatory processes. General cold baths (20 °C) sharply excite the nervous system and increase heat transfer. This is a hardening procedure for healthy people accustomed to cold.

It should be borne in mind that both hygienic and therapeutic baths are far from being an indifferent procedure for the body. They are prescribed by a doctor, indicating the temperature, duration, frequency and method of administration.

Mustard plasters- sheets of paper coated with a thin layer of mustard powder. Mustard plasters are moistened with warm water and tightly applied to the skin on the side where mustard is smeared, tied with a towel and covered with a blanket.

The duration of the procedure is about 10–20 minutes until the skin irritation clearly manifests itself (burning, redness), without leading to burns and the formation of blisters. You can prepare mustard plasters yourself using a mixture of equal parts mustard powder and flour, diluted with warm water to a paste. The latter is spread between 2 layers of a clean thick cloth or paper. After removing the mustard plasters, the skin should be wiped with a damp swab, and in case of severe irritation, lubricated with Vaseline.

Mustard plasters cause irritation of the skin, a rush of blood to it, which reduces pain and helps to subside the inflammatory process. Mustard plasters are used for bronchitis, pneumonia (on the chest), hypertension (on the back of the head), and muscle pain. They are contraindicated for skin diseases.

Hot water bottle do not fill the plug completely with hot water and squeeze out the air before screwing the plug, which ensures a better fit to the surface of the body. You need to check if water is leaking out. To avoid swelling, wrap the heating pad in a towel or other cloth. Typically, heating pads are applied to the arms or legs during sudden cooling of the body, chills, or as a distraction, for example, for toothache or high blood pressure.

You can use hot water bottles instead of a heating pad. You can also use special electric heating pads.

Inhalation– inhalation for medicinal purposes of various substances in vapor, liquid or suspended form.

At home, in the absence of an inhaler, simple steam inhalation can be performed as follows. Boiling water is poured into an open vessel, the patient bends over it so as not to burn his face, covers his head with a towel or napkin and inhales the vapors for 5–10 minutes.

You can add a few drops of turpentine, eucalyptus oil or other aromatic substance to boiling water. This procedure is recommended for inflammatory diseases of the respiratory tract, bronchitis. For inhalation of medicinal substances, pocket inhalers or vials with aerosol packaging are used. In any case, it is important that the moment of spraying exactly coincides with the act of inhalation.

Oxygen cushion– a rubberized bag equipped with a rubber tube with a tap and a mouthpiece. Before oxygen is administered, the mouthpiece is wiped with alcohol, wrapped in gauze soaked in water and pressed to the patient’s mouth. The oxygen supply is regulated by a tap and pressure on the pillow. The duration of the procedure is 5–10 minutes with breaks. When using a pillow, large losses of oxygen inevitably occur.

Enemas used to cleanse or rinse the intestines. Cleansing enemas are done for constipation, food and other poisoning, in preparation for x-ray examination of the gastrointestinal tract.

For an enema, use a metal, glass or rubber vessel with a capacity of 1.5–2 liters with a rubber tube 1–1.5 m long, usually ending with a plastic tip with a tap or clamp. Pure warm water with a temperature of 25–30 °C in the amount of 4–6 glasses (800–1200 ml) is poured into a vessel, raised to a height of 1–1.5 m. The tip is lubricated with petroleum jelly or glycerin, and the tap is opened to release some water. and air from a rubber tube. The patient lies down on the oilcloth on his left side at the edge of the bed, pulling his legs towards his stomach. The edges of the oilcloth are lowered into a nearby bucket or basin. Use the fingers of your left hand to spread the buttocks, and with your right hand, carefully insert the tip through the anus into the rectum to a depth of 6–8 cm. First, it is inserted at an acute angle in the longitudinal axis of the body, and then along it.

When the tip is inserted to the proper depth, the tap or clamp is opened and water flows into the intestines. The vessel with water is raised up gradually so that water is not introduced into the intestines too quickly. During the administration of fluid, there may be a urge to lower the stomach, and sometimes mild pain in the abdomen.

The patient should be warned in advance about the need to retain water in the intestines for a few minutes so that it has time to enter the overlying sections of the large intestine and soften the feces as far as possible.

If the flow of liquid is difficult, you need to insert the tip deeper and try different lifting heights of the mug. After the enema, the tip is washed and boiled. For chronic constipation and hard feces, enemas are made from vegetable oil (sunflower, flaxseed or Provençal), which is injected into the rectum in an amount of 50–100 ml using a rubber bulb. This enema is usually done at night, counting on the appearance of stool in the morning.

Enemas can be used for therapeutic purposes for the administration of various medicinal substances for diseases of the lower intestine or for a general effect on the body, for example, with persistent vomiting, unconsciousness, for the purpose of administering nutritional fluids (glucose solution, table salt). Enemas should not be given for certain diseases of the rectum, bleeding hemorrhoids, bleeding from the intestines and abdominal pain. In these cases, you should consult your doctor.

Compresses can be dry, wet (cold or warming) and medicinal.

A dry compress, consisting of several layers of gauze or non-absorbent cotton wool, is used to protect the affected part of the body from cooling or other influences.

A cold wet compress is a soft cloth folded several times, soaked in cold water, which is applied for 2-3 minutes to a sore area of ​​the body: to the head (for headaches), to the heart area, stomach, often for bruises. As the compress warms up, it is changed.

For a warming compress, a folded cloth or towel is moistened with water at room temperature, applied to the sore spot, covered with wax paper or oilcloth, and then with a thick layer of cotton wool, a woolen scarf or a jar. Each layer should be larger than the previous one and completely cover it. Such a compress must be bandaged tightly to the body so that it does not move, but also does not constrain the patient. The duration of the procedure is 10–12 hours. After removing the compress, the skin should be warm and moist and wiped dry. You can reapply the compress after an hour.

For large compresses, for example on the chest or abdomen, the patient should lie in bed all the time. You can use vodka or alcohol instead of water, but they dry out faster and require more frequent changes. With a warming compress, blood vessels dilate and, therefore, blood flow increases not only to the skin, but also to the underlying tissues, which helps resolve inflammatory processes and relieve pain.

Rubdown– medical and hygienic procedure. Using a piece of coarse cloth or a rubber sponge soaked in water at a temperature of 30–32 °C, weakened patients in parts sequentially (arms, chest, abdomen, legs), then quickly rubbed with a moistened surface, then rubbed with a dry towel until a feeling of warmth is felt. Gradually, the water temperature can be reduced to 20–18 °C. This procedure is used during the recovery period, with neurasthenia.

Used for therapeutic, preventive and hygienic purposes mouth rinse clean water.

If your tongue is coated or mucus accumulates, it is better to use weak alkaline solutions (for example, 1 teaspoon of soda per glass of water). For inflammatory diseases of the tonsils or oral mucosa, various disinfectant solutions are used: potassium permanganate (2 crystals per glass of water), hydrogen peroxide (1 tablespoon per glass of water).

In case of severe inflammation, it is better to irrigate the oral cavity from a rubber balloon under slight pressure. In this case, the patient should tilt his head slightly forward so that the liquid does not enter the respiratory tract. For seriously ill patients, the oral cavity, tongue, gums, and teeth are wiped daily with a piece of cotton wool wound around the handle of a spoon and moistened with warm water or a soda solution (1 teaspoon per glass of water).

For gastric lavage at home, the patient is given 5-6 glasses of water to drink, then, irritating the back wall of the throat with the insertion of a finger, they induce vomiting. This procedure can be repeated several times in a row.

After rinsing, rinse your mouth and give the patient a few sips of hot tea.

Gastric lavage is contraindicated in cases of gastric bleeding, severe abdominal pain, cardiac and coronary insufficiency, and high blood pressure. The exception is acute poisoning that threatens the patient’s life.

Ice pack, snow or cold water are used for bruises, inflammatory processes, bleeding. Place it on the head, stomach and other places: place a towel under the bubble. Hold for 20–30 minutes, after which take a break for 10–15 minutes.

The bubble should not be filled to the brim; by twisting the cap, the air should be squeezed out of it, then it will fit more tightly to the body.

Vessels There are enameled, earthenware and rubber. The latter are inflated with air through a special hole in a metal frame, which is treated with alcohol. They are the most convenient.

Before use, the vessel is warmed up, a little water is poured into it and rinsed to facilitate subsequent washing of the vessel. A hand is placed under the patient's sacrum, it is lifted a little (if the patient cannot do this himself) and the vessel is quickly brought with its flattened end to the sacrum. After use, the vessel is washed with hot water, and if an intestinal infection is suspected, it is disinfected with a 2% solution of Lysol, (13% solution of chloramine or 12% solution of bleach).

When organizing meals for patients at home, you need to determine the following:

1) the required amount of food components (proteins, fats, etc.);

2) an appropriate set of food products;

3) the nature of culinary processing;

4) time, frequency and method of eating.

The body needs a physiological ratio of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. It is believed that under conditions of bed or semi-bed rest, the food requirement is approximately 30–35 kcal per 1 kg of body weight, of which 60% comes from carbohydrates, 15% from proteins and 25% from fats. Almost 1 kg of body contains 1 g of proteins and fats and 5–6 g of carbohydrates.

Depending on the nature of the disease, the ratio of proteins, fats and carbohydrates and the set of foods may change. This also applies to the amount of liquid (about 1.5 l) and salt (8–10 g), which is limited in the presence of edema, obesity, and high blood pressure. According to indications, food is taken in liquid, semi-liquid or puree form, excluding irritating or poorly digestible foods. Regularity of food intake and correct quantitative and qualitative distribution of the daily diet are important. The most rational is to eat 4 meals a day at 3-4 hour intervals, every day at the same hours. Such nutrition promotes the formation of a conditioned reflex, improves appetite, digestion and assimilation of food. Proper, organized nutrition for the patient in accordance with the doctor’s recommendations not only satisfies the body’s needs, but is also an active means of influencing the course of the disease.

Respiratory diseases

The main diseases of the respiratory system are bronchitis, pneumonia, abscess, bronchial asthma (BA), and malignant neoplasms. After discharge, many patients require follow-up care. During this period, it is necessary to observe a hygienic regime. Sleep should be sufficient, nutrition varied and nutritious. Hygienic exercises, including breathing, are necessary. The simplest breathing exercises are to lengthen and intensify your inhalation. It is important to stop smoking, as it contributes to the development and aggravates the course of chronic lung diseases.

Monitoring the patient includes measuring temperature and determining respiratory and pulse rates, collecting and monitoring the nature of sputum, and in the presence of edema, measuring the amount of fluid drunk and urine excreted (daily diuresis).

Cough usually occurs due to irritation of the bronchi, larynx, trachea, their inflammation, the presence of mucus or the entry of a foreign body. It may be dry or moist, producing varying amounts of mucous or purulent sputum. For thick, difficult to expectorate sputum, you can recommend drinking warm alkaline mineral water or hot milk with soda (0.5 teaspoon of soda per glass of milk) or honey.

If there is abundant liquid sputum, the patient should be given less liquid, and also placed in a position for 20-30 minutes, 2-3 times a day, in which a cough occurs and accumulated sputum is removed. Minor hemoptysis usually does not require any emergency measures, but should be reported to your doctor. With abundant hemoptysis or sudden pulmonary bleeding, you should immediately call an ambulance.

To prevent the patient from suffocating and the spilled blood from entering the neighboring bronchi and areas of the lungs, before the doctor arrives, the patient must be laid on his stomach, the foot end of the bed raised by 40–60 cm, while the patient’s legs should be tied to the back of the bed so that he does not slid down, you need to hold your head up.

At shortness of breath the patient should be placed in a semi-sitting position, open a window or vent, and free the chest from constricting clothing and heavy blankets. If possible, use an oxygen cushion. Cough and difficulty breathing, as well as chest pain, are relieved by applying cupping or mustard plasters, the use of which should be alternated.

With a significant increase in temperature, the patient may experience severe headache, anxiety, and even delirium. In this case, you should put an ice pack on your head and use cold compresses. In case of sudden chills, the patient should be covered and covered with heating pads. With a rapid decrease in temperature and increased sweating, it is necessary to change bed linen more often and give the patient strong, hot tea.

At pleurisy Fluid often accumulates between the layers of the pleura, causing pain that intensifies with deep breathing, coughing, body movement, and shortness of breath. In such cases, the condition is alleviated in a half-sitting position or lying on the sore side.

Bronchial asthma– a respiratory disease of an allergic nature, associated with increased sensitivity of the body to various substances of plant, animal, including microbial, or inorganic origin.

At home, a patient with asthma needs particularly strict hygienic conditions. It is necessary to remove everything from his room that can cause allergies: pillows and featherbeds made of feathers and down, flowers, cologne, perfume, eliminate kitchen odors, stop smoking. The room where the patient is located must be well ventilated, cleaned only with wet methods, and bed linen must be changed frequently. Breathing exercises are of great importance.

What to do during an attack of asthma?

Make the patient sit down, provide an influx of fresh air (open a window, a vent), give oxygen, you can put mustard plasters on, make hot foot baths.

It is very important to take the medicine recommended by your doctor in a timely manner. When using inhaled medications, 1-2 inhalations are usually sufficient. Longer use of the medicine may be dangerous. If there is no effect, you should call a doctor.

When caring for a patient with tuberculosis, personal and public hygiene measures should be observed. It is necessary to ventilate the patient’s room more often, and clean only with wet methods. A patient with tuberculosis must have a separate towel, linen, and dishes, which should be washed and washed separately. The patient's sputum should be collected in a closed spittoon and disinfected with a 2% chloramine solution.

Diseases of the circulatory system

The most common diseases of the circulatory system are atherosclerosis, arterial hypertension, coronary heart disease (CHD), rheumatic heart defects, which can be accompanied by heart failure of varying degrees and forms and other serious complications. The main symptoms of this disease: pain in the heart area, palpitations, irregularities, shortness of breath, swelling, headache, dizziness.

The caregiver must be able to count the pulse and determine its main qualities, count the number of respirations and ensure their registration. Blood pressure numbers should be recorded. In case of heart failure, it is necessary to measure the daily amount of fluid consumed and urine excreted daily. You need to pay attention to possible changes in the skin (blueness, redness, pallor).

IHD manifests itself in the form of periodic attacks of pain in the heart (angina pectoris, angina pectoris) or myocardial infarction with cardiac arrhythmia and the development of heart failure.

In case of IHD, it is necessary to achieve a hygienic regime of work and life, reduce body weight in case of obesity, eliminate smoking and treat hypertension. If you are overweight, you should limit the caloric content of your daily diet, primarily due to easily digestible carbohydrates, as well as animal fats. It is advisable to carry out fasting days (dairy, fruit).

When obesity is combined with high blood pressure, it is recommended to limit salt and liquid. It is necessary to monitor the patient's body weight, weighing him periodically. It is important that the patient has regular bowel movements and timely sleep. To facilitate intestinal activity, plant fiber (brown bread, vegetables, prunes) is included in the diet; mild laxatives (isafenin, purgen) can be used, and, if necessary, cleansing enemas. Along with this, careful motor training should be carried out in accordance with the instructions of the doctor. All types of exercise should be performed primarily under self-control: the appearance of pain, shortness of breath or palpitations should serve as a signal to stop the exercise.

First aid if an attack of pain in the heart area occurs, the patient should be given complete physical and psychological rest, immediately give nitroglycerin under the tongue, and put him to bed.

Additionally, you can put mustard plasters on the heart area, as well as a heating pad to the left shoulder blade or arm, and the left hand can be immersed in hot water. Typically an angina attack lasts 10–15 minutes. In case of a more prolonged attack of severe pain and the ineffectiveness of usual measures, it is necessary to call an ambulance, since in these cases a myocardial infarction may occur. Patients with suspected myocardial infarction are subject to urgent hospitalization in special intensive care units.

At hypertension The level of blood pressure largely depends on the functional state of the central nervous system, as well as on physical activity.

Patients with hypertension need, first of all, neuropsychological rest and sufficient sleep. They are prescribed a diet with limited salt and liquid, fasting days, and smoking is prohibited.

If there is a sharp increase in blood pressure, which is accompanied by headache, dizziness, tinnitus (hypertensive crisis), you need to go to bed, the head end of the bed should be raised.

You can make hot foot baths with variable temperature (2 basins), and put mustard plaster on the back of your head. You can take your previously prescribed medications and then call a doctor.

Heart failure can develop with various diseases, including coronary artery disease, heart defects, chronic lung diseases. Patients with chronic heart failure, in addition to treatment, require serious care. It is necessary to create conditions to ensure the activity of the heart: physical rest and reduction of edema. Sometimes prolonged bed rest is required in a comfortable position with the head of the bed raised and foot rests. Peace does not have to be absolute. To prevent bedsores, congestive pneumonia, and blockage of blood vessels from the first days of illness, it is necessary to frequently change the position of patients in bed. Patients need careful skin care and regulation of intestinal activity.

There should be clean, fresh air in the room where the patient is. In the fight against edema and fluid stagnation in the internal organs, diet and drinking habits are of great importance.

The diet should be sufficiently high in calories, easily digestible, but with the inclusion of plant fiber, a high content of vitamins and limitation of salt and liquid. Food should contain foods rich in potassium salts (potatoes, cabbage, dried apricots, figs) and calcium (milk and dairy products), which have a diuretic effect. It is advisable to eat fractional meals – 5–6 times a day. Against the background of chronic heart failure, acute heart failure can develop, which manifests itself in the form of attacks of cardiac asthma or pulmonary edema.

If a severe attack of suffocation occurs, accompanied by bubbling breathing, a fast, often irregular pulse, the patient takes a forced sitting or semi-sitting position. In such cases, it is necessary to immediately call a doctor and provide first aid: sit the patient down, unbutton clothes, open a window or vent. For pain in the heart area, give nitroglycerin and an oxygen cushion. In other cases, acute vascular failure (collapse, shock) may occur. Shock, which can be a complication of the early stage of myocardial infarction, is expressed by lethargy, lethargy, pallor, cyanosis and coldness of the extremities, cold fine sweat, and a frequent weak pulse.

This condition also requires the help of a doctor. Before his arrival, the patient should be put to bed, warmed up - give a hot drink, a heating pad to his feet, try to calm him down.

At arterial hypotension, which is often a manifestation of general neurosis, if there are no other diseases, tonic measures are recommended: cold showers, rubdowns, hygienic exercises, staying in the fresh air, taking measures to improve appetite.

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and liver

The main diseases of the digestive system are chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum ( YABZH), chronic intestinal diseases and malignant neoplasms, as well as diseases of the liver and biliary tract.

For these diseases, the main thing is proper nutrition, which is achieved by various types of diets and regular meals.

Nutrition of the sick gastritis must be differentiated. In all cases, mechanical sparing of the stomach is required - cooking food in crushed, puree or semi-liquid form with the exception of coarse, hard-to-digest foods.

With reduced secretion of gastric juice, food should help increase it, therefore the diet includes meat and fish broths, meat, fish, soaked herring, and some seasonings (in limited quantities).

With increased secretion, the diet is structured as for patients with peptic ulcer (see below). Various mineral waters affect the secretion and acidity of gastric juice - they lower or increase them. In the first case, they should be taken long before meals (1-2 hours), in the second - 15-20 minutes before meals.

Treatment of gastric ulcer requires adherence to bed rest and a diet with mechanical, chemical and thermal sparing of the stomach, and divided meals. In addition, various medications (antacids) are used. This treatment is carried out mainly in a hospital.

The diet at home provides for non-strict mechanical and chemical sparing; food is given in boiled form, mainly in the form of mashed dishes, 5–6 times a day, with a limit of table salt to 7–8 g. White and gray wheat bread in stale form is allowed , crackers, milk, cereal and boiled soups, steamed cutlets, boiled chicken and fish, mashed potatoes and pudding, soft-boiled eggs, milk and dairy products, sweet varieties of fruit. Coarse plant fiber is limited, fried foods, strong broths, spices, and coffee are excluded.

As the patient's condition improves, the diet expands, but regular meals and the exclusion of spicy foods, pickles, alcohol and smoking are always necessary. It is very important to follow a diet, sleep should be calm and sufficient, and bowel movements should be regular. The patient needs to create mental peace. If pain occurs in the epigastric region, you can apply a warm heating pad (if there has been no bleeding in the past) or a warm compress. If the pain is prolonged and severe, you should consult a doctor. The most severe and excruciating pain is observed when a stomach ulcer is perforated: a paroxysmal dagger-like pain occurs, accompanied by tension in the abdominal muscles. The patient must be placed in bed half-sitting, with his knees bent, and a doctor must be called immediately.

If the patient is vomiting, it is better to sit him up with a basin propped up, and after vomiting, give him water to rinse his mouth. Vomit should be left until the doctor arrives.

The main signs of chronic intestinal diseases are diarrhea or constipation, abdominal pain, rumbling, and transfusion.

For diarrhea it is necessary to maintain cleanliness of the patient’s body, linen, and bed. During an exacerbation, such a patient needs a diet similar to the diet for peptic ulcer.

When fermentation processes predominate, a predominantly protein diet is used (boiled fish or steamed dishes from lean meat, poultry, cottage cheese) with limited carbohydrates.

For putrefactive dyspepsia, a carbohydrate diet (porridge, flour products, potatoes) is prescribed for 2-3 days. With profuse watery diarrhea, fluid and salt restriction is required. You should exclude milk, vegetable fiber (vegetables, brown bread, mushrooms), spices, pickles, raw juices, duck meat, geese, and lamb. As the condition improves and the diarrhea stops, the diet expands. Unchopped foods, raw sweet berries and fruits are allowed. All these measures for diarrhea are carried out at home only if a medical examination has reliably excluded intestinal infections (dysentery, salmonellosis).

To combat constipation, In addition to medications, laxatives and enemas, the following measures may be recommended. For atonic constipation - morning exercises, sports, exercises to strengthen the abdominal press, fight obesity.

It is advisable to include foods rich in plant fiber (vegetables, prunes). You should not allow the absence of stool for more than 2 days. In this case, you should use a laxative or a cleansing enema. For spastic constipation, often accompanied by pain, thermal procedures on the abdomen (heating pads, warm compresses) are advisable.

If there is severe paroxysmal pain in the abdomen (intestinal colic), you must call a doctor.

Chronic liver diseases(chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis of the liver) are the result of inflammatory lesions of the liver of an infectious nature or nutritional disorders, alcoholism. Treatment and care are aimed at stopping the inflammatory process, sparing the liver, and improving the function of liver cells and bile ducts.

This is achieved by an appropriate diet: limiting animal fats, increasing the content of carbohydrates and vitamins. Soups made from vegetables, cereals, dairy or fruit, boiled lean meat, fish, vegetables, herbs, fruits, honey, milk and dairy products are recommended. In the presence of ascites and edema, restriction in the diet of liquid and salt, increasing the content of complete proteins in a highly digestible form is required.

You should monitor the regularity of intestinal activity, as well as ensure a sufficient outflow of bile from the liver and bile ducts, for which, in addition to other choleretic drugs, you should take a solution of magnesium sulfate in the morning. Be sure to exclude alcohol, fried and spicy foods. For pain in the liver area, heat (heating pad) can be used. The color of urine and feces should be observed. The appearance of intensely colored urine (beer-colored) and light-colored feces indicates retention of bile pigments and incipient jaundice.

The most common chronic diseases of the biliary tract are chronic inflammation of the gallbladder and cholelithiasis.

Patient care is aimed at preventing spasms of the smooth muscles of the bladder and ducts and, consequently, painful attacks; improving the outflow of bile, inhibiting the processes of bile formation and increasing the body's resistance. For this purpose, a diet similar to the diet for liver diseases is used.

In case of cholelithiasis and obesity, it is necessary to limit caloric intake due to not only fats, but also carbohydrates. To improve the activity of the gallbladder, it is necessary to ingest vegetable oil and mineral water. It is necessary to include products that have a laxative effect (vegetables, prunes) and also contain vitamins.

Along with this, it is necessary to exclude fried and fatty foods, smoked foods, and spicy seasonings. The patient needs adequate sleep, exposure to fresh air, and hygienic exercises. During an attack of hepatic colic, the patient must observe strict bed rest and take a comfortable position in bed. The usual position is half sitting, with legs bent at the knees. You can use thermal procedures (heating pads, warming compresses). If the attack lasts, you should call a doctor.

Kidney and urinary tract diseases

Nephritis– inflammatory kidney disease, the origin of which is a streptococcal infection (tonsillitis, tonsillitis) and altered reactivity of the body. The disease can take a chronic course with periodic exacerbations. The main task of care is to prevent exacerbation of the inflammatory process, increase the body's resistance, take measures to eliminate edema and lower blood pressure. During an exacerbation, bed rest is necessary, which reduces the level of metabolic processes and provides uniform and constant heat. Outside of exacerbation, the regime is free.

Particular attention should be paid to the prevention of colds: dress appropriately for the weather, avoid drafts, and communicate with people with the flu or sore throat.

If there are foci of chronic infection (tonsillitis, carious teeth), treatment is necessary. In the absence of renal failure, nutrition should be complete and varied, with the obligatory inclusion of foods containing vitamins. If there is edema without an increase in blood pressure, but a high protein content in the urine, the patient requires an increased amount of complete protein (meat, fish, cottage cheese). Periodic urine tests and blood pressure measurements are necessary.

With the development of renal failure (uremia), which is manifested by deterioration of appetite, dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, headache, weakness, lethargy, the patient is hospitalized. However, in some cases, this condition can be observed for a long time, even for years, which requires certain knowledge in caring for such a patient at home. In these cases, the patient is prescribed bed rest.

To reduce the formation of toxic products of protein metabolism, it is necessary to sharply limit the protein content in food, to approximately 0.5 g per 1 kg of body weight. Food should mainly consist of fats and carbohydrates. To improve the excretion of toxic products by the kidneys, in the absence of edema and high blood pressure, you should give plenty of fluids (water, mineral waters, juices) up to 2-3 liters per day, adding baking soda (10-20 g per day). Toxic products are also released through the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract, so it is advisable to regularly rinse the stomach, give enemas, and give the patient saline laxatives. In the absence of edema, salt may not be limited.

Chronic pyelonephritis– inflammation of the urinary tract with subsequent transition to the kidney tissue. The development of the disease is facilitated by all conditions in which the outflow of urine is disrupted.

To prevent exacerbation of the inflammatory process, you should avoid hypothermia, and also regularly wash the perineal area. It is necessary to monitor timely urination. To facilitate the act of urination, you can use heating pads on the lower abdomen, general or local thermal baths, and warm water enemas. Sometimes the urination reflex is triggered by the sound of a stream flowing from a faucet. If these measures are ineffective, you should seek medical help for bladder catheterization. Sometimes the opposite phenomenon of urinary incontinence is observed. In such cases, you should use a glass urine bag (for men) or a rubber bedpan (for women) in bed, and wash them thoroughly at least 3-4 times a day with warm water and soap.

For walking patients, there are urinals made of elastic material.

Kidney stone disease may be a consequence of a violation of the outflow of urine, metabolic disorders, especially mineral ones, or poor nutrition.

The diet prescribed by the doctor is important for treatment. It depends on the chemical structure of the stones.

In case of oxalaturia (the presence of oxalates in the urine), sorrel, spinach, beets, beans, parsley, plums, strawberries, gooseberries, tea, coffee, cocoa, and chocolate should be excluded.

If urates (uric acid salts) are present, limit meat, fish and dairy products, broth and sauces, mushrooms, and legumes. In addition, urine may have an acidic or alkaline reaction, which requires the use of either oxidizing (lemons, hydrochloric acid, sour berries and fruits) or alkalizing (soda) agents.

For renal colic, thermal procedures are performed, hot compresses and heating pads on the lumbar region, general hot baths, if there are no contraindications. If there is a prolonged attack of pain, you should call a doctor.

Endocrine system diseases

Diabetes develops due to a lack of pancreatic hormone insulin in the body, which leads to impaired absorption of sugar (glucose) by the liver and tissues and an increase in its content in the blood and urine.

In the treatment of diabetes mellitus (DM), a major role is played by diet and monitoring the state of water and carbohydrate metabolism. In mild cases of the disease, especially in middle-aged and elderly patients with increased body weight, treatment with diet alone is possible. In this case, restriction of fats and especially carbohydrates is required (2-3 times less than normal). Sugar, sweets and confectionery products are excluded. Sugar is replaced with other substances that have a sweet taste (sorbitol, xylitol). Give sufficient quantities of meat, fish, milk and dairy products, vegetables (preferably boiled), unsweetened fruits, butter, limit bread, potatoes and cereals.

When compensation for the disease is achieved, the diet is gradually expanded, but in any case, its calorie content should not exceed values ​​​​corresponding to the proper body weight and type of daily activity. When drug treatment is included, the diet of patients with moderate and severe diabetes mellitus should correspond to the physiological norm (see “Nutrition of patients”), but with the exception of easily digestible carbohydrates (sugar and sweets).

In all cases, regular meals must be provided, and insulin injections must be given exactly at the time specified by the doctor.

Any treatment of patients with diabetes requires systematic monitoring of sugar in the urine. A deterioration in carbohydrate metabolism is indicated by an increase in thirst, the amount of liquid drunk and urine excreted, and the appearance of weakness and lethargy.

The motor mode of a patient with diabetes in a non-severe course and in the absence of complications is not limited. Moderate physical work and exercise are even beneficial, as they promote better absorption of sugar. With diabetes, there is a decrease in the patient's body's resistance to infections. Most often the skin and mucous membranes are affected.

Much attention should be paid to body hygiene (regular washing with hot water and soap, washing), especially in the area of ​​physiological folds, including under the mammary glands. Patients with diabetes require special attention during various types of overload (pregnancy, childbirth, acute illnesses, operations), which can lead to the development of comatose states.

Hyperglycemic coma develops with a lack of insulin, often with improper treatment. It is characterized by slow development, usually over several days: increasing weakness, lethargy, drowsiness, headache, nausea, vomiting, dryness and coldness of the skin, muscle weakness appear, appetite worsens, there may be a smell of acetone (rot apples) from the mouth, subsequently - impaired consciousness. This condition requires emergency medical attention.

At home, the patient should be given as much fluid as possible, including alkaline drinks (add soda). The main method of treatment is the administration of insulin under appropriate supervision.

Another type of coma is hypoglycemic coma– develops with an overdose of insulin or physical overload. At the same time, the blood sugar level sharply decreases, which immediately affects the state of the central nervous system: suddenly a feeling of hunger appears, chills, profuse sweating, the face turns red and loss of consciousness develops.

Acute development and moist skin distinguishes this condition from hyperglycemic coma. In this case, help depends primarily on the patient himself or those around him. A timely intake of a piece of sugar, sweet tea or bread completely and quickly restores the patient’s well-being.

Each patient with diabetes should always keep a certificate about the disease and the treatment received among his personal documents. In addition, the patient should always have a few pieces of sugar or cookies with him to take at the first sign of a hypoglycemic state. You should not skip regular meals while taking insulin.

Rheumatism and joint diseases

Rheumatism is an inflammatory disease of an infectious-allergic nature.

Its causative agent is streptococcus, so the disease often occurs (or worsens) after a sore throat, upper respiratory tract disease or other focal infection.

The main task in rheumatism is to prevent return (relapse) and further progression of the disease.

To do this, it is necessary to eliminate all foci of infection, nutritious nutrition, careful hardening, avoidance of hypothermia, and drug prevention. For chronic joint diseases, after exacerbation is eliminated, which is carried out in a hospital, the main goals of care are pain relief, further restoration of joint function and prevention of exacerbations. Pain relief, in addition to drug treatment, is achieved by a comfortable and physiological position of the limbs in bed and the use of thermal procedures (heating pads, warming compresses). Restoring and developing the functions of affected joints is the second important area of ​​care. To do this, it is necessary to perform joint exercises: first passive, then active movements of the joints and atrophic muscles. As the condition improves and the inflammatory process is eliminated, the patient should walk and fully take care of himself. To prevent muscle atrophy, massage is recommended.

Diet is important for metabolic-dystrophic polyarthritis and is aimed at reducing body weight and eliminating metabolic disorders. For example, for gout, it is necessary to limit caloric intake and exclude foods rich in purines (liver, brains, kidneys, sprats, fried meat and fish, broths, sorrel, spinach, mushrooms, legumes).

The first sign of any disease in a child is a change in his behavior. Lethargy, drowsiness or anxiety, agitation appear, the child cries and refuses to eat. Most often, children experience fever, cough, runny nose, gastrointestinal disorders - abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation.

For any illness, it is necessary to call a doctor at home; you cannot take a sick child to the clinic. Before the doctor arrives, put the child in a clean, warm bed, isolate him from other children and measure his temperature. In young children, it is better to measure the temperature in the anus. In case of diarrhea and vomiting, you can only give the child boiled water or tea, and infants - expressed breast milk. Remember that timely consultation with a doctor allows you to make a correct diagnosis, prevent complications and reduce treatment time. A sick child often has a poor appetite, so he is fed more often, choosing tasty and favorite foods for the child, approved by the doctor. It is better to give food in liquid, semi-liquid and puree form, adding butter, cream, pureed meat, juices.

For infectious diseases, boil the child’s dishes for 15–20 minutes with soda or chloramine. Medicines should be given to children in liquid form or in powder form dissolved in water with sugar syrup. To prevent diaper rash, you need to regularly wash the skin, especially in the folds, wipe dry and powder with talcum powder. Mustard plasters are placed through gauze soaked in warm water. They need to be kept for 3–8 minutes. It is better for infants to make mustard wraps. For this, 2 tbsp. l. dry mustard is diluted in a glass of warm water and warm water is added to 1 liter. A soft diaper is moistened in the resulting solution, wrung out, and placed on a dry sheet with a blanket placed under it. A soft diaper is placed in the perineal area, then the baby is quickly wrapped in a blanket. The duration of the procedure is 10–12 minutes. After this, the child is washed with warm water, put on warm underwear and put to bed.