MicahSmithRN

If opens, sterile pressure never take off the old saturated bandages, medical emergency.

Well as tedious as they are, like it or not, the nursing diagnosis is what makes nursing a profession. No they are not used in real life AS MUCH as nursing school (just like care-plans/maps) but they are important to teach people off the street how to think like a nurse. NANDA legitimized nursing in many ways. However, even NANDA will tell you on their website statement that they will not provide a list of nursing diagnosis because it limits the nursing process by narrowing interpretation. http://www.nursing-care-plans-911.com

this is right up my alley. 1) Assess sight for drainage, amount of drainage, and characteristics of drainage. 2) Assess surrounding skin for warmth, swelling, hardness 3) Ensure suture/staples are clean, dry intact 4) Change all dressing per M.D. orders and PRN to ensure they are clean, dry, intact 5) Monitor for s/s of pain 6) Ensure the patient has good caloric intake (body needs more calories and protein) 7) Monitor for edema distal to sight (possible clotting problems) 8) Monitor labs especially if they are getting Low MoL weight heparin like Lovenox to prevent clots. 9) Encourage patient to clean the site well with soap et water during showers (yes this is ok, and no most regular dicks and janes don't know this!) 10) If patient is discharging soon, teach s/s of infection, the importance of keeping follow up appointment especially for suture/staple removal (generally 2 weeks.).

Well, I see no reason to go the LPN route if you know you want to do this for a living and you can get/stay in the program. Dust off one more time if needed imho. I went from Nurse Aid off the street to CNA, to LVN (texas LPN), to RN and honestly wasted a lot of time and earning power. HOWEVER, there is a lot to be said for experience (sounds like you already have more than most LPN's though so I don't personally see the point).