Nursing process for patients with neurological complications, based on the functional health patterns

Abstract

The present work is a nursing process applied to a male patient in the neurosurgery section of the high-specialty medical unit at the Dr. Victorio de la Fuenta Narváez Hospital for Traumatology, Orthopedics, and Rehabilitation. The patient was suffering from long-term damages due to cranio-encephalic trauma, valvular hyperfunction, and bleeding in the lower digestive tract. The following important were identified: external ventriculostomy, tracheotomy, bilateral pulmonary rales, hyperthermia, and melena. Heart rate was 68/min; breathing frequency, 23/min; blood pressure, 110/70 mmHg; temperature, 38.2ºC. The patient was cared for from May 2 to 5, 2017. During his stay, Marjory Gordon's eleven functional health patterns were applied in order to provide the patient with integral care. The patient's health state was assessed in order to identify and prioritize his real and potential needs (according to nursing diagnostics) and to intervene and prevent the processes relating to complication, treatment, central and peripheral access, and pharmacological therapy. Dependent, independent, and interdependent actions were effected in order to care for the patient's health.