Question

Tina is 5 years old, lives with her mother and grandmother. Mother works 2 jobs to help support her mother and her daughter. Tina is well cared for but is now admitted for a cardiac catheterization due to the Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) that was noted at birth. Tina has an extensive history of respiratory infections and a nursing diagnosis of 'activity intolerance.' Her mother relates that she does not allow her to play organized or competitive games due to her health. Tina smiles broadly when you come into the room to begin the pre-operative checklist. She starts to ask you a question when her grandmother tells her she must stay in bed. "The nurse knows what she is doing, and you will just be in the way." Tina continues to smile at you but moves back to the bed. You begin to explain that the first thing you will need to get done is an I.V. Tina's grandmother doesn't give you a chance to ask her to help. She excuses herself and says she can't watch. She will go to the cafeteria and return later. Tina starts to cry and begins to suck her thumb.

What tools have you brought with you?

How can you comfort Tina?

What methods of communication might you use to help relieve anxiety?

Can you give Tina choices?

How can you successfully get the IV in?

Answer 1

Ans.)

The tool brought for cardiac catherization is a long, thin and flexible tube (catheter). It is inserted into a blood vessel in the leg that leads to the heart.

To comfort the patient, cardiologist prescribed the whole diet i.e., what to eat and drink during the 24 hours before the test.

To relieve the anxiety, you should talk to patient before, during and after the procedure with familiar words which is easy to understand and let the patient also communicate.

This procedure is only performed in the supervision of a cardiologist who guides the tube into the heart to make measurements of blood flow, pressure, and oxygen levels in the heart chambers. A experienced nurse will put an IV (intravenous) line into a vein in patient’s arm so she can get medicine which helps to relax.