Nursing Care for Patients with Hepatitis C

This week I will provide information for nurses regarding care for patients with hepatitis C. I will specifically talk about nursing care related to inadequate nutrition, dehydration, and fatigue. 

Problem	Nursing care
Inadequate nutrition	Keep track of calories consumed each day Suggest eating for frequent small meals Suggest eating the largest meal for breakfast when appetite is the greatest Encourage good oral hygiene before and after meals to improve the taste of food Encourage the patient to sit upright, at a table if possible, for every meal Tailor the diet to each individual to meet their dietary needs and tolerance to fats and proteins Monitor blood glucose
Dehydration	Monitor patient intake and output Monitor patient weight daily Regularly assess blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation, respiratory rate, and temperature Assess peripheral pulses, capillary refill, and skill turgor for signs of deficient fluid volume Assess for edema Provide fluids and electrolytes through oral intake and IV fluids
Fatigue	Promote rest and relaxation by providing a quiet environment, limiting activity and visitors, and “clustering” care Provide good skin care to reduce the risk of skin breakdown Turn and reposition a patient on bedrest with limited mobility every 2 hours to prevent skin breakdown Encourage rest during and in between activities of daily living Encourage activity as tolerated including active and passive range of motion exercises in bed

Check out the following website for more information about nursing care plans for patients with hepatitis C:

http://nurseslabs.com/7-hepatitis-nursing-care-plans/

References: 
http://nurseslabs.com/7-hepatitis-nursing-care-plans/