Discussion postings from Answering the tough questions from patients

There are three postings from others responses to Answering the tough questions from patients. You are to respond to each postings as to whether you agree or disagree and if you agree (why) and if you disagree (why) Please identify your responses by highlighting your response to each posting 1)I would educate the patient on the CDC guidelines and with the information I provide the patient can make an educated decision on the pneumococcal vaccine. Even no the nurse believes her grandfather became acutely ill after receiving pneumococcal vaccine the patient still needs to be educated on the vaccine and the risk factors so the patient can make a educated decision. I would offer the patient a handout on the pneumococcal vaccine provided by the CDC. I would discuss with the patient that the pneumococcal vaccine is a leading cause of vaccine preventable illness and death in the united states (www. cdc.gov/vaccines). The patient is at greater risk if he is, 65 or older, young, heart disease, lung disease, sickle cell disease, diabetes, alcoholism, cirrhosis, have a condition that lowers the body's resistance to infection. Pneumococcal disease can make you susceptible to infection of the lungs, blood, and brain. Since you have a lung disease you may be more likely to die the CDC says. The risks from the vaccine include reddness or pain where the injection was given. Less than 1% develop fever, muscle aches, or more severe local reactions (www. cdc.gov/vaccines). The risk of a vaccine causing death is very small. I would give the patient information on the CDC website and phone number, and let the patient know that they can call their local or state health department for more information. 2) A patient with chronic lung disease asked me if they should get the pneumonia vaccine. I personally have mixed feelings about the pneumonia vaccine because when my grandfather had received it in the past he became ill. On the other hand I have administered the pneumonia vaccine in the course of my job as a RN many times and have noted that not all people get ill after the vaccine. I would inform/educate this person that the pneumonia vaccine protects against 23 types of pneumonia and that the pneumococcal disease is caused by Streptococcuspneumoniae bacteria. Pneumonia is a leading cause of vaccine-preventable illness and death in the United States. In the past pneumonia was treated with common antibiotics such as penicillin, but now it has mutated and become more resistant to modern antibiotics which is why doctors are now recommending that anyone with certain health conditions such as chronic lung disease get vaccinated. (Center for Disease Control web site, 2012) As with any medication or vaccine there can be side effects and/or an allergic reaction in anyone who receives it. I would encourage this person to talk with their physician regarding their overall health and chronic lung disease, as well as evaluate their current medication regime. It has been discovered that people who take an Advair Diskus for lung conditions are more susceptible for developing pneumonia. (GlaxoSmithKline, 2011) Ultimately I would tell this person that getting a vaccination is a personal choice, but if I had a chronic lung condition and I could potentially avoid getting pneumonia by getting the vaccine I would definitely get the vaccine. 3) A patient with chronic lung disease asked me if they should get the pneumonia vaccine. I personally have mixed feelings about the pneumonia vaccine because when my grandfather had received it in the past he became ill. On the other hand I have administered the pneumonia vaccine in the course of my job as a RN many times and have noted that not all people get ill after the vaccine. I would inform/educate this person that the pneumonia vaccine protects against 23 types of pneumonia and that the pneumococcal disease is caused by Streptococcuspneumoniae bacteria. Pneumonia is a leading cause of vaccine-preventable illness and death in the United States. In the past pneumonia was treated with common antibiotics such as penicillin, but now it has mutated and become more resistant to modern antibiotics which is why doctors are now recommending that anyone with certain health conditions such as chronic lung disease get vaccinated. (Center for Disease Control web site, 2012) As with any medication or vaccine there can be side effects and/or an allergic reaction in anyone who receives it. I would encourage this person to talk with their physician regarding their overall health and chronic lung disease, as well as evaluate their current medication regime. It has been discovered that people who take an Advair Diskus for lung conditions are more susceptible for developing pneumonia. (GlaxoSmithKline, 2011) Ultimately I would tell this person that getting a vaccination is a personal choice, but if I had a chronic lung condition and I could potentially avoid getting pneumonia by getting the vaccine I would definitely get the vaccine.