NURSING DISCHARGE PLAN: PREVENT FURTHER PULMONARY EMBOLISM

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Medical-Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Menoufia University, Egypt

Abstract

Pulmonary embolism is a serious condition that can cause permanent damage to the affected lung, low oxygen levels in blood, damage to other organs in body from not getting enough oxygen and if a clot is large, or if there are many clots, pulmonary embolism can cause death. Pulmonary embolism (PE) usually is treated in a hospital. After patient leaving from the hospital, may need to take medicine for 6 months or longer at home. Nursing discharge plan should include very important instructions and teaching as perform exercise at least 30 minutes on most days, avoid sitting for long periods of time, when traveling by car, make frequent stops to get up and move around, on long airplane rides, get up and move around when possible. If the patient can’t get up, wiggle his/her toes, move your ankles and tighten your calves to keep blood moving. Avoid crossing the legs and ankles when you sit. Keep his/her legs raised when you are in bed or sitting down. Leg elevation promotes the return of blood through the leg veins. Other instructions wearing elastic stockings and teach patient how wear it correctly.

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