Care for bedridden patients in a hospital is a whole complex of measures that is carried out in order to alleviate the patient's condition and ensures successful treatment. The main condition for a successful recovery of the patient is the observance of patient hygiene, the implementation of all the recommendations of the doctor and medical procedures. Responsibilities for caring for and monitoring changes in the patient’s health state lie with the nurse. The suffering of the patient is much easier with proper and careful care, and he quickly recovers, gaining strength.
Rules for the care of bed patients in a hospital
The main care for bed patients is to create the following favorable conditions for recovery:
- Ensuring sanitary and hygienic norms of the room - systematic ventilation, wet cleaning.
- Correct transportation of the patient to medical procedures - use a stretcher and a wheelchair, avoid sharp shocks, movements and bumps.
- Hygienic procedures - feeding the vessel, changing diapers, linen, leather processing.
- Monitoring the patient's condition - examination of the skin, measuring heart rate, temperature, blood pressure.
- Procedures for the care of bedridden patients in the hospital are the patient taking medications, setting enemas, applying compresses, preventing pressure sores and trophic ulcers.
- Feeding - through a probe, intravenously or from a spoon.
Patient care is not a treatment method, but complements it and helps to avoid many complications.
The role of a nurse for the care of patients after a stroke
At the beginning of the rehabilitation period after a stroke, the patient is in the hospital and medical staff is looking after him. The duties of a nurse for the care of bedridden patients after a stroke include:
- During each hour, make an assessment of the patient’s health status.
- Observe the conditions for the positive dynamics of physical functions.
- Change the position of the patient every two hours.
- Constantly monitor changes in blood pressure.
- Feed the patient, check the swallowing reflex. If the patient is unconscious, monitor feeding through a tube or intravenously.
- Monitor bowel movements and urination.
- To be able to determine the dynamics of the patient's condition.
- To learn to perceive and reproduce speech.
When discharging a patient, it is necessary to give recommendations to relatives on caring for the patient at home.
Hospital bedsore prevention
A person bedridden occurs tissue necrosis, in order to avoid this, special measures are necessary. The algorithm for the care of bedridden patients in the hospital for the prevention of bedsores is as follows:
- Turn the patient to one side. Treat the lateral surface, back, buttocks and limbs with a solution of camphor or ammonia. Pay attention to natural folds. After treatment, blot the body with a dry soft towel.
- Massage all places of contact of bone protrusions with the bed with anti-decubitus drugs.
- Turn the patient on the other side and do the same actions.
- Turn the patient on his back and treat the axillary and inguinal region. To prevent diaper rash, use special ointments, powder or oil.
- Carefully spread the bedclothes so that there are no wrinkles or foreign objects.
All manipulations are performed with rubber gloves. They are included in the daily bedridden care kit.
Equipment for the care of bed patients
For a lying individual, special conditions for his being in a hospital are necessary. The bed should have a flat surface, a semi-rigid mattress, with a covered oilcloth covered with a sheet on top. If the spine is damaged, the mattress is placed on a hard shield. The bed needs easy access on both sides. It is necessary to ensure that the heating battery and heaters are not located near the patient. The following items will be required for a bed patient:
- lining oilcloth;
- urinal;
- vessel;
- rubber circle.
In bed, the patient lies completely undressed or in pajamas.
Speech rehabilitation after a stroke
After a stroke in a patient, speech functions are often impaired. Any form of speech disorder adversely affects the patient’s emotional state. Relatives or nurses can help cope with this problem when caring for bed patients in a hospital. To do this:
- Constantly maintain voice contact.
- If the speech centers are damaged, do not interrupt the patient and do not end the phrase that he started.
- Learn to communicate with the patient using non-verbal communication.
- Exercise regularly for the tongue, lips, and facial muscles.
- For training, use automated speech series: listing of seasons, days of the week, months, ordinal score.
Speech disorders in stroke should be controlled by a speech therapist-aphasiologist.
Change of linen in bed patients
Medical care for bedridden patients includes a change of linen. It is important for the patient that the underwear and bedding are clean. This procedure should not cause pain or inconvenience. To do this, you must:
- Move the patient to the edge of the bed.
- Roll the sheet to the body and lay clean linen on the vacant place.
- Move the patient to a clean sheet.
- Remove the dirty and straighten the clean until the end.
- Change the duvet cover.
- To change the shirt roll it from the lower back to the head.
- Remove from one hand, then from the other and from the head.
- They begin to put on a shirt from the head, then they put their hands in turns.
Dirty linen from blood and secretions change immediately.
Nursing care
An essential role in the recovery of a patient who cannot move is played by the attitude of the staff towards him. Nursing care for bedridden patients in a hospital includes: feeding, performing procedures (replacing vent tubes, enemas), gymnastics, massaging. Bedridden patients, unlike the others, require:
- mandatory preventive measures against bedsores and pneumonia;
- increased attention;
- assistance with hygiene procedures.
They, like the walking patients, want to communicate, look good, have fun, they really need care, a friendly attitude.
Feeding bed patients
One of the important measures for the care of bedridden patients in a hospital is feeding. It occurs according to the following algorithm:
- Notify the patient about a meal in a quarter of an hour.
- Ventilate the room. Release the bedside table or table.
- Place a pillow under the patient’s head or raise the edge of the bed.
- Wash and disinfect the patient's hands.
- Put a napkin on the patient’s chest.
- Bring food whose temperature should not exceed 50 degrees.
- During feeding, it is advisable to name each dish. Feed slowly, filling a spoon with food by one third. When a spoon touches the lower lip, the patient opens his mouth. Putting food on the tongue, you need to remove the spoon from the mouth and wait for the patient to chew and swallow it. Next offer a drink. To do this, attach the cup nose to the lower lip. Pour the liquid in small portions. After eating, wipe your mouth with a napkin.
- Remove dishes and food debris.
- Pull out the pillow and lay the patient in a comfortable position.
It should be noted that bedridden patients need to be fed at the same time.
Bed Care Tips
Caring for a patient in a lying state is a complex process both physically and morally. You should communicate with him correctly so that he feels necessary. To do this, you can use the following tips:
- Avoid phrases that worsen the mood of the patient. All the time he should be reminded that he is appreciated, loved and respected.
- Patient requirements are often conflicting. However, we must try to fulfill them all, but at the same time not to allow frank manipulations.
- To communicate with the patient, his close friends can come to whom he is glad to see. No need to feel sorry for the patient, you can cheer him up and tune in to positive.
- When the forces are over or there is no time to look after the patient, you can contact the patronage service. Qualified staff will contribute to recovery.
You should always remember that people who cannot service themselves are made touchy, moody and irritable. Often, disorientation, forgetfulness, and a number of other problems that complicate the care of bedridden patients in the hospital and at home join in this. Sometimes it looks like a whim or a spoiled character, but in fact such changes occur in all people who are forced to lie for a long time.
Conclusion
The basis for caring for bedridden people is the organization of such a regime that is able to protect the patient’s peace and mental state from negative influences and create a cozy atmosphere around him. In this case, the individual feels comfortable, he appears optimistic and inclined to recover. In addition, people who care for patients should show sympathy for them and provide support. Attentiveness and concern makes patients recover.