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INTRODUCTION BB, 86, presented to EMCH with pneumonia and a history of COPD and heart failure.

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INTRODUCTION BB, 86, presented to EMCH with pneumonia and a history of COPD and heart failure. The chief complaint for admission was shortness of breath and chest pain. She was put on many medications to help her conditions. A patient with COPD has weakened lungs already so getting control over her pneumonia was that much more important. General overall health is key to preventing infections in COPD patients (Faris, 2012).
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM The first system we will cover with her medications is the Respiratory System, since that is why she was admitted. For people who have both COPD and heart failure, identifying the cause of breathing symptoms can be challenging (Gerace). Patients with COPD will have a more difficult time …show more content…

Together these medications were used to open the airways and make breathing easier for her and teaching was done before, during and after medication administration. She was also given a discharge packet that had all instructions written down.
GASTROINTESTIONAL SYSTEM
The second system we will cover is the Gastrointestional System. All medications in this system were used based upon the manufacturers intended use as referenced by Davis’s Drug Guide. The first medication she was put on relating to the GI system is polyethylene glycol which was used to draw water into the lumen of the GI tract and aid in the evacuation of the GI tract without causing electrolyte imbalance. The teaching that was given to her for this medication was to take the medication until gone even if she is feeling better, avoid alcohol and products that contain aspirin or NSAIDs and to avoid foods that may cause an increase in GI irritation. She was also told to report any black and tarry stools, diarrhea or abdominal pain immediately. The second medication she was put on relating to the GI system was furosemide which was used to prevent edema and encourage excretion of sodium and water (Valerand, 2013). We informed her that she should not double the doses, and that if she started to get a rash, muscle weakness, cramps, nausea, diaainess, numbness or tingling she needed to contact the physician immediately. The final

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