High School

**Patient Case Summary: Sara Lin**

**Diagnosis:** Appendicitis
**Location:** Medical-surgical unit
**Time:** 0800
**Patient Background:**
- **Age/Gender/Ethnicity:** 18-year-old Asian female
- **History:** Previously healthy with no prior surgeries

**Situation:**
- Sara Lin presented to the ED with nausea, vomiting, and severe abdominal pain.
- Diagnosis of appendicitis confirmed by CT scan.
- Scheduled for appendectomy later today.
- Received IV antibiotics in preparation for surgery.

**Assessment:**
- Alert and oriented, appropriate for age.
- Heart rate and rhythm are regular.
- Lungs are clear to auscultation; oxygen saturation is 96% on room air.
- Abdomen is slightly distended, tender to light palpation with rebound tenderness.
- Last pain medication: 5 mg IV morphine 1 hour ago for stabbing pain (10/10) in the right lower quadrant.

**Tasks:**

1. **Nonpharmacologic Pain Management:**
Discuss additional nonpharmacologic actions that would be appropriate for managing Sara Lin's pain.

2. **Preoperative Teaching:**
What preoperative teaching topics would be relevant to Sara Lin at this time?

3. **Handoff Report:**
Describe the information you would include in a handoff report to a fellow nurse.

4. **Safety Measures:**
Discuss the safety measures to be implemented in Sara Lin's care.

Answer :

Additional nonpharmacologic actions that would be appropriate for managing Sara Lin's pain include positioning for comfort, relaxation techniques, distraction techniques, cold or heat therapy, and deep breathing exercises.

1. Positioning for Comfort: Assisting Sara in finding a comfortable position can help alleviate pain. This may involve propping her up with pillows or allowing her to lie on her side with knees bent.

2. Relaxation Techniques: Encouraging relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, guided imagery, or progressive muscle relaxation can help reduce pain and promote a sense of calm.

3. Distraction Techniques: Engaging Sara in activities or providing distractions such as listening to music, watching TV shows or movies, or engaging in hobbies can divert her attention from the pain and provide some relief.

4. Cold or Heat Therapy: Applying cold packs or warm compresses to the abdominal area can help reduce inflammation and provide localized pain relief. It's important to ensure appropriate temperature and duration to prevent any skin damage.

5. Deep Breathing Exercises: Teaching Sara deep breathing exercises, such as diaphragmatic breathing or pursed lip breathing, can help promote relaxation, increase oxygenation, and reduce pain perception.

Implementing these nonpharmacologic actions can complement the use of pain medication and provide holistic pain management for Sara. Each approach aims to address different aspects of pain perception and provide comfort and relief throughout her preoperative and postoperative period.

To know more about nonpharmacologic refer here:

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