Peripheral Nerve Stimulation Peripheral nerve stimulation assesses and monitors the depth of neuromuscular blockade in patients receiving neuromuscular-blocking drugs, which are administered to produce paralysis. Neuromuscular-blocking drugs may be given…
Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter Use A peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) is a catheter that’s inserted percutaneously into a peripheral vein. The catheter tip resides in the lower one-third of…
Perineal Care Perineal care, which includes care of the external genitalia and the anal area, should be performed during the daily bath and, if necessary, at bedtime and after urination…
Pericardiocentesis, Assisting Pericardiocentesis is a needle aspiration of pericardial fluid. This procedure is both therapeutic and diagnostic. It can be performed as an emergency measure to relieve cardiac tamponade and…
Passive Range-of-Motion Exercises Used to move the patient’s joints through as full a range of motion (ROM) as possible, passive ROM exercises improve or maintain joint mobility and help prevent…
Patient-Controlled Analgesia Patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) is a drug delivery system providing IV analgesia, usually morphine, when the patient presses a call bell at the end of a cord. Analgesia is…
Parenteral Nutrition Monitoring Parenteral nutrition requires careful monitoring. Because the typical patient is in a protein-wasting state, parenteral nutrition therapy causes marked changes in fluid and electrolyte status and in…
Parenteral Nutrition Administration When a patient can’t meet his nutritional needs by oral or enteral feedings, he may require IV nutritional support, or parenteral nutrition. The patient’s diagnosis, history, and…
Pain Management Considered the fifth vital sign, pain is defined as the sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage. It includes not only the perception of…
Oxygen Administration A patient will need oxygen therapy when hypoxemia results from a respiratory or cardiac emergency or an increase in metabolic function. In a respiratory emergency, oxygen administration enables…
