How to Plan for the Discharge of a PTB Patient

Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The disease is spread by inhaling particles spread in the air by infected persons who sneeze or cough. Treating the disease requires medication and a possible stay in the hospital. If you're a nurse or health care practitioner, it is important to ensure that your patient understands the severity of his disease and accepts the responsibility of caring for himself when he leaves the hospital.

Instructions

Release Procedures

• 1

  According to the website Medline Plus, as a health care professional, you must report to the local health care department any patient who presents with TB. TB is an infectious disease.

• 2

  Plan your discharge procedures for your patient days in advance, so that you can go over the plan with your patient and make sure he fully understands what is necessary for his continued treatment after he leaves the hospital.

• 3

  If your patient has family, give them any instructions and information needed for the care of your patient. This might include information on medications the patient needs to take, any other treatments, diet and follow-up visits. Before your patient leaves, make sure he and his family understand instructions for his care.

• 4

  Before you release your patient, assess how your patient is breathing. PTB can cause breathing difficulties, and it is important to make sure that your patient can breathe unassisted.

• 5

  Make sure that before your patient has left the hospital, he has taken all required medications. If your patient is still contagious, he cannot leave the hospital until the disease is contained and no longer poses a risk to others.

• 6

  Give your patient and his family a copy of his discharge plan. Provide the family with any other information that might be beneficial for your patient's care at home.

• 7

  Ensure that your patient understands that he will need a follow-up visit after he is released from the hospital. This is necessary to ensure that your patient is coping well after being released from the hospital.