Final answer:
For a 17-year-old male in a vegetative state, multidisciplinary care including frequent repositioning, proper nutrition, hydration, pulmonary hygiene, passive range of movements, and symptom monitoring is required. Collaboration between healthcare professionals is essential, and emotional and psychological support for the patient and family is also important.
Step-by-step explanation:
The health care intervention that should be implemented for a 17-year-old male in a sustained vegetative state since suffering a fall is to ensure regular and comprehensive multidisciplinary care. This includes frequent repositioning to prevent pressure ulcers, maintaining proper nutrition through enteral feeding if necessary, assuring adequate hydration, pulmonary hygiene to prevent pneumonia, regular passive range of motion exercises to prevent contractures, and constant monitoring for signs of infection or other complications. Collaboration between the nurse, surgeon, and anesthesia professional is vital for the recovery and care of the patient.
It's important for the healthcare team to communicate regularly about the patient's condition and care plan. This includes discussing key concerns for recovery, monitoring progress, and revising the care plan as necessary. The nurse plays a crucial role in the daily monitoring of the patient's condition, keeping track of any changes, and implementing physician-directed interventions promptly.
In addition to medical interventions, emotional and psychological support for both the patient and the family is crucial. While the patient may not be able to interact, the presence of familiar voices and a comforting environment may be beneficial. Families should be supported and counseled on the long-term nature of the care, potential outcomes, and community resources available to them.