Question

Mrs James is a 65 year old woman admitted to your aged care facility five days ago. Mrs James has a history of Alzheimer's disease and UTI. Since arriving Mrs James has been prescribed 40mg Frusemide (a diuretic) for 8.00 PM. You have noticed in her notes that she has recently had trouble sleeping and is appearing dehydrated.

1.1)   What might you communicate to the RN and why?

Answer 1

1.1)The following thing has to be communicated to the nurse are

• Diuretics are usually prescribed before evening time because this lead to increase in the number of urination. Administration of this medication at 8pm near to bed time can disrupt sleep by waking up in the middle of the night frequently to void.Hence the patient will have a poor sleep pattern and a very low quality sleep.q
• As this patient has a medical condition of Alzheimers where impaired memory is greater,patient may even fail to inform this sensation if needed help and can increase voiding in the bed or making diaper wet frequently .Thus increases the discomfort zone of the patient.
• The wet diapers if not informed to the staffs at right time for changing can put the patient at risk for pressure ulcer.