Need help for writing a pathos statement for Altered MS

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I have identified some of the causes of Altered MS, but I cannot figure out how to write the pathophysiology statement to begin my care plan. I am in a LVN program in Dallas, TX, and luckily, my clinical instructor is helping us with the care plan. So, my biggest issue is putting the right words on the paper! Can someone please help me figure out how to properly word a pathos statement for a pt admitted with altered MS?

Some of the diseases/infections my patient has that relate to altered MS are: Hypertension, MRSA in urine, side effects from Dorzolamide/Timolol, urine retention, & PVD.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

what is "altered ms"? is the ms multiple sclerosis?

you can find lots of weblinks to get disease and pathophysiology information on diseases at this thread:

i suggest you pull up any of the articles on emedicine (http://www.emedicine.com/) since they always include a discussion of the pathophysiology of the disease they are talking about. many of the other of the physician sponsored websites that are listed on the above thread will have information that will be easier to read.

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Specializes in LTC, Nursing Management, WCC.

Maybe mental status??

Great link Daytonite... Thanks

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i am guessing you are talking about mental status?

My initial question would be is there any hypoxia? What are the electrolyte levels, how about ammonia? What does the patient have going on that would affect their mental status. I don't see hypertension as much of an issue, is the patient going septic, how much medication are they on and the side effects? Is it possible that they have any sort of dementia?

Altered mental status is a bit vague. Are they climbing the walls, not knowing who/where they are etc?

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I'm sorry...yes, MS was the abbreviation on the admission form. No, he wasn't climbing the walls, and honestly, by the time I was assigned to him, he was Alert & Oriented X3. I picked a new patient to do my care plan on. We have to have 1 diagnosis and 2 "problems". I'm sorry for wasting your time, but my program experience hasn't been the best due to the program director being completely un-organized. I think I might be able to complete a better care plan database with the patient I have now though. He was admitted for chest pains and he has been diagnosed with CHF and a whole slew of other illnesses and diseases. Anyhoo...Thanx again!

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

a nursing diagnosis and "problems" are one and the same. the nursing diagnosis is merely a label you place on a patient's "problem".

(from page 8 of nursing care plans & documentation, 3rd edition, by lynda juall carpenito)

"a
nursing diagnosis
is a clinical judgment about individual, family, or community responses to actual or potential health
problems
/life processes."

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a nursing diagnosis and "problems" are one and the same. the nursing diagnosis is merely a label you place on a patient's "problem".

(from page 8 of nursing care plans & documentation, 3rd edition, by lynda juall carpenito)

"a
nursing diagnosis
is a clinical judgment about individual, family, or community responses to actual or potential health
problems
/life processes."

thank you for all of your help. i guess i have to get over the fact that our instructors haven't really provided us with much assistance and just do the best i can with the information i have found on this forum. i am so grateful for this forum and for all of the help everybody gives to one another.

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