Checking Height and Weight of a Patient

Checking Height and Weight of a Patient

Purposes

• to evaluate the patient's fluid balance if they suffer from fluid retention, renal issues, or cardiac issues.
• to evaluate the therapy's effectiveness.
• to evaluate the reaction to recommended diets or physiological changes, such as pregnancy or a high-calorie diet.
• to get initial information about the patient's health.

Articles

• Weighing machine,
• Measuring tape,
• Ruler,
• Procedure.

Checking Weight

• Examine the patient's independence while standing on the weighing machine.
• Asking the patient to void after explaining the procedure to them. Give the patient instructions to put on a hospital gown. Voiding will decrease the amount of pee in the bladder, and wearing too much garments will result in inaccurate weight readings.
• Place the scale close to the patient.
• Set the scale to zero and turn it on.
• As the patient steps onto the scale and stands motionless and upright, ask them to take off their shoes and any bulky clothing.
• Once digital numbers have stabilized, read the weight. To help the patient get back into a chair or bed, ask them to stand up.
• Hand washing
• Please note the date, time, and weight of the surgery.

Measuring Height

• Make the patient take off their shoes.
• A measuring stick or tape can be held vertically or fastened to the wall.
• Tell the patient to keep their heels together and stand straight.
• Your height is measured in inches or centimeters using a stick or ruler that has been put horizontally on your head at an angle of 900 with the measuring tape.
• Assist the patient in finding a cozy sleeping posture.
• Change out the articles.
• Hand washing
• Add the procedure's date, time, and height to your notes.

Laboratory and Rediology Diagnosis

A lab test is a procedure for examining clinical samples collected from a patient. A sample is a small amount of a material that reveals the nature and magnitude of the whole.

The term "specimen collection" refers to gathering the necessary quantity of tissue or fluid for laboratory analysis. The quality of the specimen the lab receives and the amount of time it takes to process it have a direct impact on the value and dependability of laboratory reports, in addition to the testing procedure itself.

Purposes

• to assist in diagnosis and treatment
• to monitor a disease's progression or remission.
• to study the effects of particular care and medication.
• to evaluate the patient's overall health.
• to learn more about the disease's nature.

Collecting, Labeling and Dispatching of Specimen

Type of Specimen

• The correct type of specimen to collect will depend on the test to be done e.g. in case of respiratory tract infection, sputum is collected but not the saliva.

Time of Collection

• Specimen such as urine and sputum are collected soon after the patient's wake up (first morning sample).
• Blood for culture and for malaria is collected when patient's temperature begins to rise.
• Every effort must be made to collect specimens for microbiological investigation before anti-microbial treatment is started.

Collection Techniques 

• Aseptic procedure is essential for collecting sample. As aseptic technique not only prevents contamination of the specimen but also protects patients from further complications.
• Specimens are collected in a clean, dry, leak proof container free from all traces of disinfectants, sterile container for microbiological investigations.

Labeling Specimen

• The time and date of collection must be written on the label of each specimen. In the case of a hospitalized patient, the patient's full name, age, sex, bed number, and inpatient number, together with the desired test(s).
• Each specimen must be sent with a properly filled-out request form.
• Use a lead pencil or ballpoint pen for labeling instead of an ink pen.
• A "High Risk" label should be placed on samples that are likely to include highly contagious organisms, such as sputum that likely contains Mycobacterium TB, feces that probably contain Vibrio cholera, and samples from individuals who may have HIV infection.

Request Form

It must be clearly written and completed. It must include:

• Date and time of sample collection.
• Patient's full name, age, sex.
• Hospital identification number; in patient number; ward, bed number.
• Name of the referring doctor.
• Provisional diagnosis.
• Type of specimen and test requested.

Preservation and Transport of Specimen (dispatching)

• It is best to get samples to the lab as soon as possible for lab examinations.
• Use of a proper chemical preservative or transport medium is required when a delivery delay is preventable.
• Neiseria and hemophilus isolation specimens must never be refrigerated since the cold kills the germs.
• Transporting the specimen to the lab should be done with the lid securely fastened on the container.
• If the container's outside has been contaminated, a cotton swab or tissue should be dipped in a disinfectant.
• Never include a sample in a request. Sample contamination on the request form necessitates its replacement.
• Record the date, time, and fact that the sample was sent for a lab test in the patient's medical record.
• Collect the specimen by following the method used in hospitals.

Sputum Collecting, Labeling and Dispatching for Routine and Culture Test 

Sputum

Sputum is secretion of lungs, trachea and bronchus. It is known as phalegum.

Types

Mucoid Sputum: When sputum is clear, thin mucous and semi white in colour. (mixing with mucous)

Purulent: The colour of sputum varies from a white to yellow to green. (mixing with pus)

Mucopurulent: Mixing of pus and mucous.

Haemoptysis: Blood is seen in the sputum. Blood may be fresh, black or rusty.

Foetid Sputum: Sputum with foul smelling, seen when the part of lungs is damaged.

Characteristics of Sputum

Quantity: Normally, no sputum is expectorated. The amount of sputum coughed in 24 hours varies with the disease.

Consistency: The sputum may be classified into various types according to its consistency and appearance e.g. serous, mucoid, purulent, and hemorrhagic.

Odour: Normally the sputum is odourless. In case of lung abscess, carcinoma and bronchoatelectasis the sputum will be foul smelling.

Color: Sputum consists of mucous; it may be colorless and translucent.

Yellowish Color: presence of pus.

Blackish Sputum- excessive smoking.

Blood- hemoptysis.

Red and Frothy Sputum - Freshly bleeding from lungs.

 Rusty Color- altered haemoglobin as seen in pneumonia. 

Grenis color- bronchiectasis.

Brown Color- gangrenous condition of the lungs.

If sputum is examined microscopically a few WBC and epithelial cells may be seen. Eosinophils are found in such conditions as asthma. RBC is found only when there is hemoptysis.

Method of Collecting

General Instruction

• On the previous evening, provide a water-resistant disposable sputum cup and urge the patient to cough up the material to be removed from the lungs rather than using saliva.
• Sputum should be collected in the morning.
• Request that the patient rinse their mouth with water. No antiseptic mouthwashes should be used.
• The patient is provided a sterile vial with a lid if sterile specimens are needed.
• Children who frequently swallow sputum should not be given sputum, thus lavage or a laryngeal swab should be used instead.
• To stop the spread of illness and avoid contaminating the container's outside, adequate safety measures must be followed.

Procedure

• To the patient: Describe the procedure.
• Place the items next to the bed.
• Tell them to gather the sample in the morning before they clean their teeth so they can get the secretions that collected over night.
• Tell them to cough very hard and to expel their expectoration right into the specimen container.
• Gather a minimum of 10 ml of sputum.
• The patient's name, age, sex, date, bed number, and ward should be written on the container.
• Send the sample and the laboratory request form as soon as possible.
• Maintain the patient's comfort.
• Change the articles.
• Hand washing