Contenido:

NURSING

We should take into account that the patient will be overwhelmed and scared about his or her condition, so that treating him kindly and paying attention to details may positively influence the patient's mood, raising confidence and reassurance in the care provided.

Cases of illness or accident requiring special care should be handled in the infirmary on board the ship or in an isolated cabin, to ease and provide such care, besides reducing the risk of spreading unknown infectious diseases while providing the patient with more peace.

To avoid dust build up and ease the cleaning of the cabin, it is convenient to remove all unnecessary accessories, such as pictures, furniture, etc.

The floor should be cleaned daily, and at least twice a week a thorough cleaning of the floor and walls using a disinfectant solution (bleach) (OTHER MATERIAL OUTSIDE THE DRAWERS, First Aid Boxes A and B) should be done.

The cabin ventilation, either with air-conditioning or through breaches, must be enough to ensure an adequate air renovation, without producing sudden temperature changes or air currents, that may disturb or even harm the patient. The ideal temperature of the infirmary or cabin used for the same purpose should vary between 16 and 19ºC.

The first aid care of the patient will be in many cases to help him undress, as he may have difficulty doing so himself or may be unconscious, and put him to bed. Shoes and socks should be removed first, then the trousers, and finally the shirt.

In case of severe injuries to the legs, the trousers may be removed cutting first through the stitching of the injured side. If the injury is located on an arm, remove the sleeve from the healthy side first, then the head, and finally with extra care, the sleeve from the injured side.

It is convenient, for hygienic purposes, to dress the patient with pyjamas or clean and comfortable clothes, which may be substituted with underwear in very warm environments. If the patient is unconscious, it will be more comfortable for him or her not to wear anything below the waist.

If the crewmember cannot get to the dining room, food will be provided in the cabin used as an infirmary, removing cutlery, crockery and leftovers as soon as finished. Only in certain infectious diseases, such as hepatitis, is it better to wash the crockery in the cabin, and in such cases it will be of strict personal use, to avoid passing the disease on.

For infectious diseases such as hepatitis, cholera, etc. pour a drop of bleach in the chamber pot at let it stand for a few minutes before pouring it all down the drain.

In lung diseases with associated cough and expectoration (or digestive ones, with vomiting) the patient must be provided with an adequate container, which may be reusable, after washing and disinfecting with bleach, or disposable; it should be stored in a plastic bag which should be incinerated if possible.