First Clinical Prep - Help Me Please!

[land64shark]

This is not going to be graded, but I'd just like to know anyway. We were to go in and get familiar with the chart and write up the etiology, pathophysiology, diagnostic tests associated with diagnosis, clinical signs and symptoms, and medical treatments.

My patient's medical diagnosis is: Left foot pain, necrotic left foot. Huh? What am I supposed to do with that?

[shock-me-sane]

i would imagine there are secondary dx that would explain the reason for the necrotic foot. usually in the chart there is a medical history along with onset of current problem. the admitting dx is just the main issue that is being treated, but not the only pathology the pt has

[land64shark]

Yes, there were other things going on as well. The man was diabetic as would be suspected. He also had heart issues that had warrented open heart surgery. I was confused because we were supposed to look only at the medical diagnosis, but I was unsure how to seperate that out from the diabetes. It was only meant to get our feet wet anyway. I think it was not a good choice to give to such a novice as myself. Well, that's water under the bridge now. Moving on to a new week.

Thanks for the help.

[shock-me-sane]

most times ALL the diagnoses both present and previous are relevant and will provide you with a huge amount of information and will allow you to make the best nursing diagnoses/interventions. EVERYTHING is important. it is hard, but it is about systems thinking. like the effects that diabetes can have on the heart, eyes, circulation etc. it is almost all related. physiology is your best friend.