Nursing Interventions: Goodpasture’s Syndrome

1. Elevate the head of the bed and administer humidified oxygen to promote adequate oxygenation.
2. Encourage the patient to observe his energy.
3. Assist with plasmapheresis as ordered.
4. Administer blood transfusions to treat severe iron deficiency anemia, and administer corticosteroids, as ordered.
5. Prepare the patient for dialysis or kidney transplantation to manage renal failure.
6. Assess the respiratory rate and breath sounds regularly.
7. Monitor the patient’s vital signs, arterial blood gas levels, hematocrit, and coagulation studies.
8. Monitor the patient’s daily intake and output, daily weight, creatinine clearance and BUN.
9. Watch closely for signs of a transfusion reaction or an adverse reaction to the corticosteroids.
10. Stress the importance of conserving energy, especially if the patient develops iron deficiency anemia.
11. Teach the patient to follow low protein diet.
12. If the patient has a sore, dry mouth, advise him to suck on sugarless hard candy.
13. Teach the patient and his family the signs of respiratory or genitourinary bleeding.