XV.

DISCHARGE PLAN
METHODS – Medication, Exercise, Treatment, Health Teaching, Out-patient, Diet, Sexuality/Spiritual

METHODS INSTRUCTIONS

MEDICATIONS  Advise the patient to comply with the home medications that is/are prescribed
to ensure optimum recovery such as Iron and Folic acid supplements to
increase RBC and hemoglobin levels.
 Explain the medications name, actions, and side effects in a way that the
patient could understand.
 Advise the patient that if iron supplement intake causes constipation, bowel
movement softeners may be needed.
 Tell the patient that Iron supplements and other medicines may not work
properly if you take them at the same time.
 Instruct the patient not to chew iron supplements if it is in capsule or tablet as
it could stain their teeth.
 Inform the patient that if you miss a dose of iron supplement, take it as soon as
he remember unless if it’s almost time for the next schedule.

 If the patient’s condition is chronic then exercise are not advisable because
EXERCISE blood contains low iron which is responsible for the formation of hemoglobin.
 Advise the patient to create pauses while walking towards his home as the
geographical location of it could possibly cause him shortness of breath.
 If it is mild, advise patient to have exercise such as walking, slow jogging and
activities that the patient is comfortable and doesn’t feel strained.
 Advise the patient that if chest-pain, extreme fatigue or labored breathing
occurs, contact the physician as soon as possible.
Iron Supplements:
TREATMENT  If the doctor recommends iron pills, instruct the patient to take them as
directed:
 Try to take the pills on an empty stomach about 1 hour before or 2
hours after meals. But the patient may need to take iron with food to
avoid an upset stomach.
 If you forget to take an iron pill, do not take a double dose of iron the
next time you take a pill.
 Keep iron pills out of the reach of small children. An overdose of iron
can be very dangerous.
 To improve the chances that the body will absorb the iron in the tablets, the
patient will be instructed to:
 Take iron tablets on an empty stomach. If possible, take your iron
tablets when your stomach is empty. However, because iron tablets
can upset your stomach, you may need to take your iron tablets with
meals.
 Don't take iron with antacids. Medications that immediately relieve
heartburn symptoms can interfere with the absorption of iron. Take
iron two hours before or four hours after you take antacids.
 Take iron tablets with vitamin C. Vitamin C improves the absorption of
iron. Your doctor might recommend taking your iron tablets with a
glass of orange juice or with a vitamin C supplement.
  Iron supplements can cause constipation so the doctor may also recommend a
stool softener. Iron may turn the stools black which is a harmless side effect.
Blood Transfusion
 Red blood cell transfusions may be given to patients with severe iron-deficiency
anemia who are actively bleeding or have significant symptoms such as chest
pain, shortness of breath, or weakness to replace deficient red blood cells and
will not completely correct the iron deficiency but it will only provide
temporary improvement.
 Instruct the patient the signs and symptoms of anemia such as headaches,
HEALTH TEACHING palpitations, paleness of skin, dizziness, increased sensitivity to cold, brittle
fingernails and hair, difficulty swallowing, tiredness, etc.
 Instruct the patient that anemia is a condition characterized by an inadequate
amount of red blood cells, which are produced in your bone marrow.
 Instruct the patient about increasing ingestion of ferrous-containing foods such
as: liver, red meats and green leafy vegetables. This simple eating change will
increase the production of red blood cells and decrease anemia.
 Instruct the patient to get emergency medical help if you have any of these
signs of an allergic reaction from ferrous sulfate: hives, difficulty breathing,
swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
 Encourage the patient to seek care immediately if:
OUT-PATIENT  He have dark or bloody bowel movements.
 He is too dizzy to stand up.
 He have trouble swallowing because of the pain in his mouth and
throat.
 Encourage the patient to contact his healthcare provider if:
 He have heartburn, constipation, or diarrhea.
 He has nausea or is vomiting.
 He is dizzy or very tired.
 He have questions or concerns about his condition or care.
 Encourage the patient to have regular follow up with his healthcare provider as
directed:
 Write down questions so he will remember to ask them during your
visits.
 Instruct the patient to eat iron-rich foods such as meat, chicken, fish, eggs,
DIET dried beans and fortified grains. The form of iron in meat products called heme,
is more easily absorbed than the iron in vegetables. If you are anemic and you
ordinarily eat meat, increasing the amount of meat you consume is the easiest
way to increase the iron your body receives.
 Instruct the patient to eat foods high in folic acid such as dried beans, dark
green leafy vegetables, wheat germ and orange juice.
 Instruct the patient to eat foods high in vitamin C such as citrus fruits and fresh,
raw vegetables.
 Advise the patient that prayer will help in aiding psychological, emotional and
physiological recovery.
SEXUALITY / SPIRITUAL  Advise the patient to reach out in case depression or anxiety related to his
condition occurs.
 Instruct the patient to possibly avoid crowded religious activities as the more
 crowded an area is the lesser the oxygen he could grasp.
 Suggest the patient to avoid religion related activities and practices that might
worsen his condition.
 Instruct the patient and the significant others how emotional support could
contribute positive impact in terms of the patient’s recovery and well-being.
 Make sure it’s private when telling the patient that his condition may alter
some sexual function such as how it affects oxygenated blood distribution to
produce an erection and it could go back to normal if his condition is well
managed.

XVI. REFERENCES (APA 6TH Ed )

Iron Deficiency Anemia. (2020, February 3). Drugs.Com. https://www.drugs.com/cg/iron-deficiency-

anemia-discharge-care.html

Iron Supplementals,Oral. (n.d.). Summitmedicalgroup.Com.

https://www.summitmedicalgroup.com/library/medications/pma_iron_supplements_oral

Exercising with Anemia: Prescription Health. (2020, April 1). Medscape.Com.

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/719391

Iron Deficiency Anemia. American Society of Hematology. 2020. Web (September 03, 2020).

https://www.hematology.org/education/patients/anemia/iron-deficiency#:~:text=Red%20blood%20cell

%20transfusions%20may,completely%20correct%20the%20iron%20deficiency .

Iron Deficiency Anemia.Mayo Clinic. 2020. Web (September 03, 2020).

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/iron-deficiency-anemia/diagnosis-treatment/drc-

20355040

World Health Organization. Iron Deficiency Anaemia: Assessment, Prevention, and Control: A Guide for

Programme Managers. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; 2001.

Lamers, S. (2011, September 15). The impact of emotional well-being on long-term recovery

and survival in physical illness: a meta-analysis. Ncbi.Nlm.Nh.Gov.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3439612/

How iron deficiency affects sexual performance in men. (2020, June 9).

Healthwise.Punchg.Com. https://healthwise.punchng.com/how-iron-deficiency-affects-sexual-

performance-in-men-nutritionist/