Typical Medical cases

[Florence NightinFAIL, BSN, RN]

Hi,

I'm nervous about starting my clinical at a sub-acute medical ward next term. I haven't much experience in it last semester. I just remember doing a lot of basic care and med administration.

What kinds of things happen in an acute, sub-acute medical ward? What are the typical patients? CHF, pneumonia, COPD comes to mind..what else?

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

could be anything. Diabetes, fractures - that is why they put you there, so you can get a chance to see a lot of different situations.

[AnnaMary]

Everything you said above. We also get elderly patients from home with general deterioration, not coping at home and waiting for placement with 24 hour nursing care. They come in with dehydration, malnutrition, screwed up electrolytes and pressure sores from being on the floor of their bathroom for 3 days. Usually these are elderly people who live alone with no one to check in on them and notice that they are going downhill and cannot care for themselves.

Acute confusion query cause.

COPD is a biggie and so are diabetic emergencies. CHF is also big.

Collapse query cause.

We take GI bleeds, pancreatitis, and palliative care when there is no room at the hospice. UTI's. Pneumonia. Here in England nursing homes usually do not give IV meds or fluids of any kind so any unwell patient who needs that kind of thing or an xray etc has to get admitted to hospital.

Overdoses.

ETOH detox.

CVA's and TIA's when there is no room on the stroke ward.