Neurovascular assessments are essential when we come across injuries and wounds. When assessing distal limbs we must keep in mind to pay attention to any difference between the injured limb and the non injured limb in regards to the color, warmth, movement and sensation.

It is also important to recognize the signs of an acute ischemic limb. These are known as the 5 P’s:

1. Pallor –  Pale in color, can be dusky or mottled in appearance. Severe ischemia may present as marble white or gangrene.
2. Pain –  Sudden onset of pain starting distally. Pain can eventually decrease if nerves die from ischemia
3. Pulselessness –  Absence of distal pulses.
4. Paralysis –  Loss of function of the affected limb and late paralysis.
5. Parasthesia –  Burning, tingling feeling that may develop to complete loss of sensation.

Another important component when assessing patients is asking about their immunization history. Immunizations are essential for preventing diseases and it is crucial that adults remember to get boosters as they get older. This will ensure that they remain immune as well as keep providing herd immunity to people who are unable to get vaccines.

Feeding and providing oral hygiene to patients is a necessary component of working with elderly patients. What I noticed in class, when we brushed our fellow student’s teeth, is that it is much harder than it looks and it my actually be harder than brushing children’s teeth. Also, while none of my fellow students denied consent to having their teeth brushed or resisted to being fed, I think there could be elderly patients who do and navigating those situations correctly could be anxiety inducing.

We also did a CPR refresher during our lab and I (pretending to be Mr Jones, in the bed next to the guy being resuscitated) believe my fellow students did a terrible CPR job and killed my hospital bed neighbor. RIP dear friend and I hope those students never do CPR on me.